Lifestyle
Vegan Shopping Basket – The Best Vegan Cheese
by Laura Barns
6min read
A phrase that puts fear into the hearts of the cheese-obsessed, these picks prove (once and for all) that great alternatives DO exist. And whilst they might not be 100% how you remember your cheesy classics, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Violife Mozzarella Flavour Grated Dairy-Free Alternative
The biggest (vegan) beef people tend to have with dairy-free cheese is its lack of melt-ability (we hear you). Enter this option from the most popular vegan cheese brand out there. Pure, melty goodness.
Best for: cheesy pizza lovers
Average price: £2.50
Availability: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Sainsbury’s Cheddar-Style Coconut Based Alternative To Cheese
Shoppers went mad for this cheddar replica when it came out, thanks to its crumbly texture and tangy taste. Slice it, grate it or melt it – it’s one of the favourites for a reason.
Best for: putting in a sandwich or salad
Average price: £2.25
Availability: 3/5
Taste: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Creamy Sheese Original
Free from palm oil and gluten, this soft cheese curbs all your cream cheese cravings. It’s thick, smooth and tastes just as great on a bagel as it does swirled through pasta sauces.
Best for: soft cheese fans
Average price: £2.50
Availability: 4/5
Taste: 5/5
Overall rating: 5/5
Follow Your Heart Smoked Gouda Slices
Our only issue with this one is you can’t find it easily enough. Other than that, it’s a smoky, flavourful dream. Pair with caramelised onions or add to your favourite mac and cheese recipe for the ultimate American experience.
Best for: fans of American-style cheeses
Average price: £3.60
Availability: 2/5
Taste: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Tesco Free From Blue Cheese Alternative
You may be pleasantly surprised to know that Tesco sells a wide range of vegan cheeses, including Wensleydale and Ricotta. This one made our list for tipping the ‘inventive’ scales.
Best for: adding to your vegan charcuterie board
Average price: £2.50
Accessibility: 4/5
Taste: 3/5
Overall rating: 35
Tyne Chease - Truffle Vegan Cheese Block
Currently only found online and in specialist stores, we promise it’s worth the hunt. With a delicate touch of white truffle oil, this ‘chease’ is cultured and aged to bring a rich but delicate flavour.
Best for: impressing your non-vegan friends
Average price: £8.95
Availability: 2/5
Taste: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Nush Natural Almond Cheese & Chive Spread
Another soft cheese, but this one from Nush is made using almonds – 60 in fact, in every 150g pot. So it’s rich in protein, and thanks to the chives, is delicately fragrant, too.
Best for: fans of herby cheese
Average price: £2.99
Availability: 2/5
Taste: 4/5
Overall rating: 3/5
Violife Prosociano Vegan Cheese Style
It’d be rude not to include another offering from Violife. We love adding this one to pestos, sauces and sprinkling on top of pasta. Though it’s not the best one to eat on its own.
Best for: adding some oomph to vegan Italian cooking
Average price: £3.50
Availability: 4/5
Taste: 2/5
Overall rating: 3/5
Honestly Tasty Vegan Blue Cheese
If you're looking for a blue cheese that will have you seriously doubting whether it's vegan or not, your search is sincerly over. This veganzola nails both the taste and texture of gorganzola, and may be the most realistic vegan cheese we've tasted.
Best for: entertaining guests with a vegan cheeseboard
Average price: £6.50
Availability: 2/5
Taste: 5/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Stay tuned for the next instalment in our Vegan Shopping Basket series.
By Laura Barns
Laura is our Copywriter, who is obsessed with the Hearty Roots Stew (and has been known to eat a double serve for lunch on more than one occasion). On her day off you’ll find her walking her puppy Ralph, stopping off at bookshops and cocktail bars along the way.
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