The Difference Between Vegan Cheese & Dairy Cheese
Photographer: Say cheese!
Vegan: Only if it’s Fauxmage…
Around the world, Cheese is known to be derived from milk (cow, goat, or sheep).
Yet, over the last few years, there’s been a surge of new solutions for those who are lactose intolerant or simply embrace the plant based lifestyle. Over the last few years, a number of companies have been developing delicious vegan cheeses completely free of milk and any form of animal enzymes. The latest trend, Fauxmage has resulted in many chefs, cheese lovers and foodies turning their heads and taking notice.
Roasted Garlic and Fresh Herb Cream Cheez (Vegan and Gluten Free)
What Is Fauxmage Cheese?
Fauxmage is the cheese that will please everyone at your next dinner party — or, your new favourite midnight snack, straight from the fridge — and best of all, it is completely vegan and plant based!
“Fauxmage” is the new term being used for artisanal cheese that is made without dairy. It will hit the spot for if you are transitioning to a plant based diet, have issues with lactose or dairy, or perhaps you have been living a vegan lifestyle for years but still crave the rich creaminess of artisanal cheese.
Fauxmage cheese can be made with ground almonds, cashews, and coconut milk and there are variations which simulate the taste of chevre (goat’s cheese), cheddar, gouda, and feta. It can be sliced into triangles like brie or camembert, spread on toast, crumbled into a salad, or even melted into a creamy pasta sauce.
Three Fauxmage Cheeses That Will Blow Your Mind
Fauxmage (Cheese From Trees) Olive and Rosemary Fauxmage
A husband and wife duo from Seattle, WA set out to create the most delicious plant based cheese on the market during their transition from a vegetarian lifestyle to a plant based diet. They believed that giving up cheese was the hardest part of the transition, and so they were highly motivated to create a delicious vegan cheese from cashews without using any preservatives, oils, gums, stabilizers, or thickeners. We think they succeeded!
Fauxmagerie Zengarry
This Glengarry, Ontario based fauxmage company, founded by a plant based government scientist turned full time vegan cheeseologist, is dedicated to providing delicious vegan cheese and making it as accessible to as many people as possible. It is lacto fermented for 24-28 hours to culture probiotics that aid in digestion.
Fresh Start Fauxmage
This premium fauxmagerie was started a woman in Prince Edward Island, Canada, who has been a vegan for almost thirty-five years. She found that the vegan cheese products on the market were not satisfying and overly processed. In 2016, she decided to start producing her own artisanal vegan cheese and distributing it at local farmers markets. She has an impressive variety of flavours and variations, including creamy herb, chili lime, monk’s cheddar, pesto, and baked feta style.
Six Fauxmage Recipes For When Only Dairy Will Do
Cheese Ball With Fresh Rosemary, Cranberries, and Fauxmage Cheese
This cheese ball is completely vegan and will be a festive addition to any gathering, especially around the holidays. The recipe also suggests great variations like adding olives and rosemary and rolling the cheese ball in capers and sun dried tomatoes.
Creamy Spinach Pasta
Make this pasta when you only have twenty minutes but are in need of a rich and satisfying meal. It is simple to put together, very healthy, and will satisfy your craving for cheese and carbs.
Presto Pesto Pasta
While this recipe seems similar to the spinach pasta above, its benefit is that you could make the pesto portion ahead of time (or make a double batch) and keep it in the freezer for super quick and healthy meals. Pesto freezes very well and the addition of fauxmage and nutritional yeast makes this taste so authentic.
Blueberry cheezecake
I love that this recipe uses fauxmage in a dessert. This blueberry cheezecake is perfect to make for a summer gathering, especially when blueberries are at the peak of their season. Best of all, the crust is gluten free, so all of your guests will be able to enjoy!
Vegan Mushroom Risotto
Zengarry’s Gruyere-style fauxmage makes this vegan mushroom risotto taste nutty and buttery, just like the real thing. Risotto is the ultimate comfort food, and it makes great leftovers. This recipe would make a very filling main course.
Vegan Lasagna with Basil Cashew Cheeze
Oh She Glows uses fauxmage in her delicious vegan lasagna to create a “Lemon Basil Cashew Cheeze” which is definitely the highlight of this recipe. The lightness and tanginess of ricotta cheese is definitely present in her lemon basil cheeze because it is whipped in the food processor. Best of all, you can make it ahead of time. This is the perfect lasagna for meal prep!
Let us know if you’ve tried any of these recipes, or if you have a great recipe of your own that we should feature on the site! Please share this article on social media and join the conversation on Facebook.
