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    You are at:Home»Dairy-Free Recipes»Cheese Subs»Homemade Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese that’s Unbelievably Easy

    Homemade Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese that’s Unbelievably Easy

    13
    By Alisa Fleming on June 16, 2022 Cheese Subs

    Like many of you, I’m often wary of cheese alternatives. But this homemade dairy-free Swiss cheese won me over. It’s quite delicious, more nutritious than most store-bought varieties, and takes just 15 minutes of hands-on time to make! Once set, it slices and shreds quite well, and adds that perfectly pungent, salty flavor to sandwiches, vegan cheese boards, and all types of recipes.

    Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese Recipe - an easy, homemade, vegan alternative. Just 15 minutes to prepare! Also gluten-free and optionally soy-free

    Homemade Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese that’s Unbelievably Easy

    This dairy-free Swiss cheese recipe was share with us over fifteen years ago by The Vegan Chef, Beverley Lynn Bennett. We’ve updated the post and adapted the recipe ever-so-slightly, but have stayed true to her unique formula. And we have a few quick ingredient notes.

    • Agar: Remember that this is the flakes. If using agar powder, you will need much less. We haven’t tested it, but if using powder, around 1 1/2 tablespoons might work fine. Agar is what helps the dairy-free Swiss cheese set up into a block, and is used as a vegan alternative to gelatin. Without it this recipe makes more of a thick dairy-fee Swiss cheese sauce.
    • Nuts: The blend of cashews and almonds creates a great flavor and creaminess. In a pinch, you can use all cashews or all almonds, but the latter option will have a more pronounced flavor. As noted, do not pre-soak the nuts. They absorb a lot of the liquid in the recipe. If you are using soaked nuts, you will need to reduce the water by quite a bit.
    • Miso: This pungent condiment adds an umami flavor that helps with the cheesiness. You can find it in most grocery stores, sometimes refrigerated, and sometimes in the Asian food section. Check with the store staff if you don’t see it. Most mainstream varieties are soy-based, but there are soy-free varieties, too. South River Miso makes chickpea miso and azuki bean miso, and Miso Master makes chickpea miso.

    Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese Recipe - an easy, homemade, vegan alternative. Just 15 minutes to prepare! Also gluten-free and optionally soy-free

    Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese Alternative

    By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.

    5.0 from 1 reviews
    Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese Alternative
     
    Print
    Prep time
    10 mins
    Cook time
    5 mins
    Total time
    15 mins
     
    This plant-based, vegan cheese alternative is surprisingly fast and easy to make. You just have to be patient - it needs to refrigerate for several hours to set up. Please note that the Prep time is hands-on time only.
    Author: The Vegan Chef
    Recipe type: Snack
    Cuisine: Swiss
    Serves: 1 (3-cup) block
    Ingredients
    • 1½ cups water
    • ⅓ cup agar flakes
    • ½ cup raw cashews (do not soak)
    • ⅓ cup blanched almonds (do not soak)
    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • ⅓ cup unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage
    • ⅓ cup nutritional yeast flakes
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon light or mellow miso (use soy-free, if needed)
    • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    Instructions
    1. Place the water and agar flakes in a small saucepan, and simmer over low heat to thoroughly dissolve the agar flakes, about 5 minutes.
    2. Meanwhile, place the cashews, almonds, and oil in a blender or food processor and process for 1 to 2 minutes, until a smooth paste forms.
    3. Scrape down the sides of your blender or food processor, and add the milk beverage, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, miso, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Process for 1 minute, or until smooth.
    4. Add the dissolved agar mixture to your blender or food processor and process for an additional 2 minutes.
    5. Lightly oil a 3-cup mold, plastic container, or small loaf pan. Pour the cheese mixture into the mold. If holes are desired, place a few chopsticks or thicker heat-safe and food-safe tubes in the mixture at various angles.
    6. Cover the dairy-free Swiss cheese mixture, and refrigerate overnight.
    7. Un-mold the cheese alternative, and enjoy it sliced or shredded (easier if there are no holes in it!) in your favorite recipes, on sandwiches, with crackers, etc.
    8. Store the Swiss cheese alternative in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 to 10 days.
    Nutrition Information
    Serving size: 1/12 block Calories: 82 Fat: 5.6g Saturated fat: .9g Carbohydrates: 6.1g Sugar: .8g Sodium: 121mg Fiber: 2.3g Protein: 3.9g
    3.5.3229

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    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

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    13 Comments

    1. CAROL DELONG on June 17, 2022 3:44 pm

      Can I substitute gelatin instead of the Agar. I am allergic to sea vegetables because of the iodine.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on June 17, 2022 4:54 pm

        Yes, if you prefer!

        Reply
    2. SJ on April 22, 2020 10:26 am

      Introductory comments say this is soy free but this is not the case. This has miso which is soy based.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on April 22, 2020 10:34 am

        I will hopefully be updating this post with more information soon. When I do, I will add details about soy-free miso. And it should state “optionally soy free” – I will edit that now. There are soy-free chickpea miso and brown rice miso products available. They work well.

        Reply
    3. Jana on April 7, 2020 6:17 pm

      This is delicious! I really missed Swiss cheese and found the taste from this recipe similar. I used pumpkin seeds because that was what I had on hand. Paired the cheese with a fruit and bread plate.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on April 9, 2020 4:56 pm

        That’s wonderful! Thank you for your feedback Jana and I’m so happy to hear it worked with pumpkin seeds for you!

        Reply
    4. Deborah Taylor on November 10, 2017 6:27 am

      Thank you Miss Meagan. I am so happy to find your wonderful recipie.

      Reply
    5. Aman bhullar on December 9, 2015 12:41 pm

      Hi my son is allergic to soy and cow milk also goat milk
      So what to do
      Really upset

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on December 9, 2015 8:26 pm

        Start here Aman – http://www.godairyfree.org/dairy-free-information/new-to-the-dairy-free-diet-start-here

        Reply
    6. Meghan on December 6, 2015 1:05 pm

      My son is allergic to soy…is there a substitute for the miso? Thank you! Excited to try this

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on December 6, 2015 1:17 pm

        Hi Meghan, you don’t have to use a soy miso. You can use chickpea, barley or rice miso instead!

        Reply
    7. Brandi on February 12, 2013 12:39 pm

      I think my son is allergic to nutritional yeast. Is it neccessary for the recipe or is it just for flavor?

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on February 12, 2013 4:26 pm

        It is pretty necessary – it provides the “cheesy” flavor.

        Reply

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