Every day thousands of people around the world discover that their bodies are unhealthy and dull. This results in avoiding the consumption of cheeses and animal milk at all costs. For this reason, the use of Cheese is becoming more and more common. The truth is that we can enjoy a rich vegetable cheese without using animal milk. In this article we will show you how to do it.
How to get vegetable milk?
Plant milks are obtained from various nuts and seeds. They are processed with water to release their milky content, resulting in an extract of what is known as plant milk. Some of the most used are almonds, soybeans, cashews, walnuts, oats and rice. Let’s see next, how you can make vegetable cheese or also known as lactose-free vegan cheese in an easy and nutritious way.
Why use soy milk?
Soy milk is one of the most widely used plant milks due to its high amount of vitamins and organic compounds that are beneficial to the human body. Some studies on the properties of soy milk indicate that it is useful for people who suffer from allergies, even babies.
The human body digests it quickly and safely, thanks to the fact that it does not need any enzyme to be processed. It is used for diabetes and to regulate high cholesterol, among many other things. For this reason, your vegan cheese will be phenomenal and very nutritious, you can even make a rich vegan cheese pizza.
Vegan soy cheese
This vegan cheese recipe is very versatile. It can be used in both desserts and cheesecakes, and in many other dishes. You could say that its flavor is better than that of tofu and other similar products, and best of all: it is very easy to make and it is lactose free.
Ingredients:
To make approximately 250 g of vegetable cheese, you will need:
- 1 liter of unsweetened soy milk. For example, you can get it at a health food store or make your own soy milk at home using dried soybeans.
- 2 large lemons.
- 1/2 cup of boiled or mineral water.
- Salt to taste.
- 1 Gauze.
- 1 Large sieve (cheese press).
- 1 large bowl or vat.
- 1 saucepan with a lid.
- 1 large spoon.
- 1 blender.
If you want your cheese to have a rich flavor and flavored smell, you can make it with these additional ingredients, or you can just skip this part.
- 2 garlic cloves (crushed).
- Green or black olives (according to taste and well chopped).
- Chunks of paprika or your favorite vegetables, chopped into small pieces.
Process
We will break down the procedure into three parts, to make it easier for you to prepare.
First procedure
Once all the ingredients, utensils and the kettle are ready to boil on the table, we will proceed. You need to cover the sieve with the gauze and place it on top of the large bowl or cup, so that it is aligned with each other. This will allow you not to spill the excess liquid from the pressing. Now heat the milk in the pan. When it starts to bubble, turn off the heat. Squeeze the lemons into the 1/2 cup of hot water, and pour half into the hot milk from the pan. Incorporate carefully, close the lid (the heat is what will start the solidification process), now wait 5 minutes.
Second procedure
From the water that was left, remove half and add it to the preparation. Add gently (you should start to see the milk solidify), close the lid and wait another 5 minutes. Lastly, add the rest of the water to the pan. Add carefully and close the lid, now wait about 15 minutes. The water will turn yellowish and the milk will have solidified in small groups, so it can be said that you already have tofu.
Third procedure
Now everything is ready to go to the sieve with the gauze. Pour in the mixture, allowing the liquids to drain into the bowl. You can also wrap the cheesecloth and gently squeeze the cheese to drain it.
If you squeeze, most of the liquid outside of your cheese will turn hard, which is good for a textured ricotta. To obtain a soft cheese, it is best not to drain all the water and with the help of a blender, beat it to obtain volume and a creamy consistency or until it reaches the desired texture.
Preparation of other vegetable cheeses
This is the theory for almost all vegetable cheeses. So with it you can make almond milk cheese, oatmeal, rice, cashews, among others. There will always be variants, and it will be due to the fats that each milk contains. You can add fat to your milks to make a stronger and more stable cheese.
Vegetable flavored cheese
If you want to include a natural flavor in your cheese, we will show you how to do it. For the following recipe we will work with the texture of the soft cheese. Thus, while the cheese is in the blender, the garlic, olives, pieces of paprika or greens of your choice will be added, along with a little salt to taste.
Now you can enjoy your cheese, and use it as a spread, to fill some crepes, lasagna or as a complement to other pasta dishes.
Depending on the season of the year, you can make use of the different vegetable milks available. Substituting lactose is the best nutritional idea you can undertake, your body will thank you. We hope you can make a rich cheese from soy milk or other milk with these easy and practical recipes to make from the comfort of your home.