Vegan Cotija Cheese

Vegan cotija is a delicious dairy-free alternative to traditional cotija cheese. It is made with a variety of nuts and seeds, such as cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, or hemp seeds, and is seasoned with nutritional yeast, salt, and spices to give it a cheesy flavor. Vegan cottage cheese can be used in a variety of dishes, just like cotija cheese. It’s perfect for topping tacos, salads, nachos, and burritos, It can also be used in dips, soups, and pasta dishes.

Here are some benefits of making your vegan cotija cheese

• It’s dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
• Good source of protein and healthy fats.
• It’s easy to make and customize to your taste.
• It’s a more affordable option than buying store-bought vegan cheese.

Vegan Cotija Cheese Recipe

 

Cashew Creaminess Ingredients

• 1  cup raw cashew soaked overnight
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

• Drain and rinse your cashew.
• Blitz them in a food processor with the nutritional yeast, lime juice, and salt.
• If the mixture seems too dry, gradually add water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Remember, adding water is easy, removing it is tricky.
• Taste it and adjust it with seasonings of your liking.

Soaking Tips

While soaking cashews isn’t mandatory, it makes them softer and easier to blend, resulting in creamier cheese soaking for 4-6 hours or overnight is ideal, but even a quick 30-minute soak can make a difference.

Nutritional Benefits

Nutritional yeast is a vegan best friend, adding a cashew umami flavor and a boost of B vitamins. You can adjust the amount depending on how “cheesy” you want your final product.

Sunflower Seed Savory Recipe

• 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• Toast the sunflower seeds in a dry pan for a few minutes to enhance their flavor, adding a nutty depth to the cheese.
• grind them in a food processor with the nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
• Pulse until you achieve a crumbly texture, similar to traditional cotija.
• Feel free to experiment with different spices and herbs! Garlic powder and onion powder are a classic combo but smoked paprika, cumin, or even a dash of cayenne pepper can add unique twists.
• Grinding granularity Depending on your food processor and desired texture, you might need to adjust the grinding time for a crumbly texture, not a fine powder

Almond Tang Recipes

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive brine
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• Pulse the almonds in the food processor until finely ground.
• Add the lemon juice, olive brine, and salt
• the texture should be crumbly but slightly moist due to the olive brine. if you prefer it drier, simply pulse the mixture for a longer time to remove excess moisture.
• The olive brine from a jar of olives adds a unique salty flavor to the almond cheese. If you don’t have any, you can substitute it with a little bit of soy sauce or miso paste diluted with water.
• lemon gives an extra burst of citrusy freshness, grate some lemon zest into your cheese mixture before processing.

General Tips

Nuts allergies

If you have nut allergies, you can still enjoy vegan cotija cheese! Try making it with pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, or even pepitas

Once you have mastered the basic recipes, get creative! add sun-dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, or even a touch of sriracha for unique flavor combinations.

For a longer storage you can freeze your cotija vegan cheese spread it out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid.

Vegan Cotija Cheese Substitutes

Store Bought commercial vegan cheeses several brands offer vegan cheeses similar to cotija in texture and flavor. Look for options like violife just like Feta like Parmesan, wedge, or Kite Hill Ricotta vegan cheese.

Homemade Substitutes

• Firm tofu crumbled and seasoned with salt, nutritional yeast, lime juice, garlic powder, and onion powder can mimic the crumbly texture and savory flavor of cotija cheese.
• Similar to Tofu, crumbled tempeh seasoned with similar spices can offer a chewier texture and a slightly different flavor profile.
• Marinated olives chopped can add a salty, tangy punch similar to cotija cheese, especially when used on savory dishes like salads or pizzas.