Cheese Replacers

I really really really wanted to believe in faux cheese, but was soundly disappointed in my first few attempts. In fact, some of them taste like CRAP. For the most part, I can get around the need for a cheese replacer pretty easily by staying away from foods that require it. I also found that I could simply leave it off of foods that use cheese as a side-note (like veg burgers or burritos). However, there are two things I simply wouldn't give up, and the possible absence of either was enough to motivate me to find a good vegan cheese: pizza and nachos, baby.

So, off to the store I went! This is what I found:

Galaxy Foods Rice Cheese turned out to be my ultimate cheese replacement. SOOOO amazing on pizza, it melts into delicious creamy goodness that's friend-tested and AJ-approved. In fact, we love it so much that vegan pizza and beer has become a twice-per-week occurrence (and I look forward to it all day long).

Follow Your Heart is the ultimate for many other vegans, and is generally touted as the industry standard. It's good if it's been shredded, is remarkably widely available (I even found it in Livingston, MT), and comes in cheddar, monterey jack, mozzarella, and nacho.

Teese Cheese makes an outta this world faux fresh mozzarella.

Sheese has by far the most variety, including a cheshire goat cheese, garlic and herb, gouda, and a blue cheese that is indiscernible from the real pus-ridden kind! Sheese takes some effort to find, but is SO worth the search.

There are also lots of faux cheeses that are made with nuts! Who'd've thunk it, right? Though I'm partial to a homemade nut cheese (surprisingly easy and delicious...recipe coming soon), there is a brand called Dr. Cow that specializes in nut cheese. The Aged Cashew Cheese is creamy like goat cheese and is totally awesome spread over crackers, but try making your own first. You won't regret it!

I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at the yumminess of fake cheese, not to mention how much weight you'll lose when you give it up. I recently served a guacamole dip with faux sour cream and vegan cheddar cheese...no one could even tell the difference. See? You can have your grilled cheese and eat it too!