Vegan Mozzarella Recipe | How to make vegan mozzarella that melts! (2024)

FAQs

Does plant-based mozzarella melt? ›

BEST Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (Melts and Stretches)

The BEST Vegan Mozzarella Cheese recipe is melty and stretchy, just like the real thing. Enjoy on top of pizza, pasta bakes, or making gooey vegan grilled cheese sandwiches. 7 simple ingredients and 10 minutes are all you need.

Without casein, cheese may look and even taste similar, but it won't melt the same.

Vegan Mozzarella is typically made from a combination of plant-based milk, such as soy, almond, or cashew milk, and a coagulant, such as agar agar or carrageenan. Some vegan mozzarella brands may also include starches or proteins to improve texture and flavor.

For the best melting results, we turn up the heat. An oven set to 425°F will help you get the creamiest, dreamiest results. Another trick: Try microwaving your recipe before moving it to the oven or stove. This jump-starts the melt, so you have less cooking time in the oven or skillet.

Additionally, casein ratios determine dairy cheeses' stretch and melt abilities. This meltage action can be replicated in dairy-free cheese by adding plant-based fats, such as olive or coconut oil. Full-fat plant-based milk, like coconut milk, can be substituted for the traditional dairy component.

One of the most common ways to help cheese melt smoothly is to add starch: this is a process that works in sauces like mornay, or nacho cheese sauce. Starches and other thickeners will physically impede fat molecules from joining up into larger droplets, as well as making the water phase of the cheese more viscous.

The best vegan cheese for melting

Here are our favourite plant-based cheeses for their superior melting abilities: VioLife's vegan Prosociano wedge – perfect for grating (liberally) on top of pasta dishes and risotto. Follow Your Heart's dairy-free Gouda – ideal for an indulgent toastie.

Not all cheeses melt equally, so steer clear of acid-set cheeses. Chevre goat cheese, farmers cheese, feta, halloumi, ricotta or paneer do become softer with heat, but they won't spread out and melt. Aged cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano aren't a great choice, either.

Mozzarisella makes some fantastic mozarella vegan cheese alternatives an even supply some high street pizza and italian restaurants in the UK. MozzaRisella melts nicely on vegan cheeses, has a subtle taste and we highly recommend it if you're looking specifically for a mozzarella vegan cheese that melts.

What's the difference between vegan mozzarella and mozzarella? ›

Vegan cheeses are typically lower in fat, protein and calcium than regular cheese and are likely gluten-free. Because vegan cheese is a processed food, it tends to be higher in sodium, so check your labels.

This shredded, yellow-white cashew-milk-based vegan mozzarella had some vanilla and coconut notes, which, while not unpleasant, weren't exactly the flavors we thought we'd encounter. Raw, Parmela Creamery Plant-Based Mozzarella had a nice mouthfeel and a dairy cheese-like texture.

A resounding yes, it sure does, not all of it, but vegan cheese does melt and melt well. Just like non-vegan cheese, there will be some that aren't created to melt, nor do it well, it's just the same. Make sure to cook vegan cheeses on a lower heat than you would normally and keep an eye on them.

Violife Foods (rating 4.5/5) – Dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, lactose-free, nut-free, and preservatives free (WOW!). This one was the favorite for all but one of us. Very creamy and best melt most similar to traditional mozzarella. Good flavor (doesn't taste like almond-based cheeses).

Smoked Block Cheese

If a good vegan cheddar is hard to find, a vegan smoked cheddar is the holy grail. This Smoked Block of cashew-based cheese not only slices up perfectly for a cheese board, it also melts onto your burger like a dream.

STOVETOP OPTION: Place vegan cheese shreds in a small saucepan. Add the vegetable broth and nutritional yeast flakes. Cook over medium heat until the cheese melts, around 3 to 5 minutes. Stir regularly, until it's smooth.