[DingsInsainity]

Hi there guys, I have a questions for you UK vegans...

...which (if any) vegan "cheeses" so you use, I have tried some but not liked a lot of them, I have had lots of recommendations but they are US brands which you can't get in the UK.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated as I'm trying to cut out dairy and go back vegan!

 

[AeryFairy]

The Sheese cream cheese is ok when you cook with it (using it in sauces etc), Tofutti slices are pretty good if you want something to put on a burger, and the 'Life Free From' Parmesan is awesome. I use that the most, to make alfredo sauce and sprinkle on pasta dishes. But I don't use an awful lot of cheese substitutes... mostly because a lot of them are awful.

 

[lucky_charm]

Cheezly!!! Soya free cheddar is probably the best, but the mozzarella and Edam 'melty' varieties are pretty awesome especially when meltability is required. I'm not a huge fan of the regular or red cheddar and the gouda tastes like sick. The nacho style was great but I don't think you can get that any more. The pepperjack cheezly bites are the best thing ever, absolutely to die for!!! If you can get them, try them, honestly they're awesome.

I'm not a fan of sheese or tofutti slices. I like garlic and herb tofutti 'better than cream cheese', and the pure vegan cheese slices I used to see at the supermarket were ok on a burger or melted in a toastie... Haven't seen them in a while though.

Patmazano is awesome and Cheddarese is ok.

I think that's all the cheese substitutes I can think of... I have found a dairy free cheese sauce mix in supermarkets before that's pretty tasty though

 

[IamJen]

Honestly, I think they're mostly gross, too. The Cheezly brand soya versions are tolerable, but I wouldn't buy it if the man didn't like it. The soy free one is decent though. I wouldn't really eat it plain, but it's great in dishes.

We tried some Vegusto cheese from a shop in London, and it was fairly good too. One of the kinds was quite dry, but I think it was more like dairy cheese than anything else I've tried.

My other half really likes Sheese's "cream cheese" and the Tofutti as well too.

 

[Earthling]

I can barely tolerate one or two of the Sheese and Cheezy varieties, but it was such a struggle to eat them that it's about 18 months since I had either. The rest I can only describe as foul, especially Toffuti which made me feel sick.

I think the best thing to do is forget what cheese tastes like, then try one of the fake ones in the hope that you will like it as a separate product. If you're looking for something that tastes like dairy cheese, you won't find it.

 

[Identity_thief]

I haven't like any I tried. Sheese cream cheese's are fine - they're edible and taste pleasent if not nice - but why would I pay quite a lot of money, for something that's not particularlly nice? Give me hummus, or bean dip, or something else any day of the week! So I don't buy any personally, I always gobble up the free sheese on crackers at vegan festivals because they're free and I like the crackers

but aside from that I never eat them.

That doesn't mean you wont like them, although a lot of them are awful, sheese and cheezly seem to get the best reveiws so I'd start there. I tried rice cheese once and it actually tasted of vomit. Never again!

I know it's not the same, but I really want to try nutritional yeast since it has such rave reveiws but in the six health food shops within walking distance not ONE had it

sad.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I use the Cheezly mature cheddar for making cheese sauces for macaroni cheese, and in potato cheese...I think their pretty good for that.
macaroni cheese is/was one of my favourite foods, and nutritional yeast really didn't cut it, when making the cheese sauce, so I was glad when Cheezly was fairly successful.

 

[IamJen]

IT...if you don't find any nutritional yeast near you, I'll send you some. It's delish.

 

[mazikeen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJen

We tried some Vegusto cheese from a shop in London, and it was fairly good too. One of the kinds was quite dry, but I think it was more like dairy cheese than anything else I've tried.

Which shop in London did you get it from, Jen?

 

[IamJen]

It was a Vx. They have a FB page, and have just posted that they got some more in. There's a UK-based place to buy it online fairly reasonably too, but I'll have to hunt for the name as I saw it on (gasp) another board.

ETA: I'm hoping they'll have it at VegFest, as there are several flavors which we've not tried.

 

[lucky_charm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJen

It was a Vx. They have a FB page, and have just posted that they got some more in. There's a UK-based place to buy it online fairly reasonably too, but I'll have to hunt for the name as I saw it on (gasp) another board.

ETA: I'm hoping they'll have it at VegFest, as there are several flavors which we've not tried.

Alternative stores sell it: http://www.alternativestores.com/eth...e/cat_396.html

 

[IamJen]

Ah, that's it! Someone posted it at Vegan Forum in a thread about Vegusto!

 

[lucky_charm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJen

Ah, that's it! Someone posted it at Vegan Forum in a thread about Vegusto!

Yeah that's where I saw it

. I'm a forum slut, I need to use several forums to satisfy my vegan-chat needs

 

[Identity_thief]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJen

IT...if you don't find any nutritional yeast near you, I'll send you some. It's delish.

Aw thats kind! Where do you get yours from?

 

[IamJen]

There's a local hfs here that sells it. I think we've gotten it once from here too: http://www.veganstore.co.uk/mm5/merc...egory_Code=002.

It's really good for me at filling that "cheesy" gap. I just ate some yesterday!

 

[Identity_thief]

Ahh I see, I think I might order it online

People talk about it so much I was supprised it seems so allusive - thanks a lot, I hope it's as good as everyone says!

ETA:

ordered!

 

[1986]

I'm new to veganism and have avoided any vegan cheese unless added to cooked dishes as I don't think any will cut it for me until I am further away from the real thing.

I have, however, tried Cheezly - the melting Mozarella and Edam ones - and the non melting Cheddar and found they are OK as pizza and lasagne toppings and stirred into risottos, pasta bakes etc.

I have also used the tofutti cream cheese and the toffuti slices, and I have liked the taste of dishes with nutritional yeast flakes added. I bought some Parmazano dried flakes months ago and have still only got as far as sniffing them. One day I will pluck up the courage to use them but they smell so foul....

As far as subs for uncooked cheese go, at the moment I am focusing more on hummous, guacamole, veg pates and soya yoghurty type dips to get a creamy texture, and sliced smoked tofu or vegan bacon or deli or cooked cold Frys slicing sausage for something a bit more solid and sliceable for sandwiches. In time I may try some unadulterated vegan cheese but for now I am looking at other options so I don't get put off and tempted back to dairy.

Wish there was a suitable sub for hard boiled eggs though....

 

[Spidergrrl]

This recipe fulfils all our cheese craving needs. you can eat it hot on mexican food or nachos or let it get cold and spread it on bread or crackers. http://vivelevegan.blogspot.com/2009...heese-dip.html we up the nutritional yeast to 1/4 cup because we like it cheesier.

As for cream cheese i found the way I like it is to buy a pot of alpro plain soya yogurt pour it into a tea towel or cheese cloth, hang it from the tap and let the liquid drain out into the sink for several hours until it is really thick. then spread on bagels and stuff.