A simple stretchy, gooey and delicious vegan mozzarella recipe. Perfect for pizzas, pasta dishes, salads and more. With all the stretch and flavour of dairy-based mozzarella, but completely dairy-free.
This vegan mozzarella recipe is a simple plant-based cheese recipe using easily-found ingredients. Plus, it’s super quick to make and a simple recipe. Because why shouldn’t everyone get to enjoy the delicious stretchy mozzarella style cheese regardless of if they’re lactose-free, vegan etc.?
In fact, this recipe is not only dairy-free and vegan it’s also gluten-free. Plus, you don’t have to worry about some of the less than desirable additional ingredients found in store-bought vegan mozzarella.
Vegan cheesy stretchy mozzarella is one of my favourite dairy free cheeses to have on hand as it is so versatile. As a cheese with a fairly neutral flavor, I love to pair it with intense flavours like homemade pesto. It also works wonderfully within pasta, salads, on pizza etc.
In fact, I argue with anyone that avoids mozzarella for its ‘lack of flavour’. That just means that you can pair it with delicious flavours, jazz it up with marinades, herbs and seasonings etc.
Plus, it’s unique in its stretchy texture and works so well even in this Vegan version. In fact, you’ll be amazed at just how gooey and stretchy this vegan cashew mozzarella is. Tapioca starch and psyllium husk are the wonder ingredients to get the perfect texture for this cheese. They will give you amazingly stretchy, stringy, gooey mozzarella that’s perfect for so many recipes.
You can even make this recipe into mozzarella balls or cheese slices ( for dishes like Caprese salads). To do this, form into balls/slices and leave in a briny mixture or pour into silicone moulds. That’s what I did for this recipe and I love the smaller portions of mozzarella. Plus, with no additional liquid or flavouring, it can be individually seasoned for each recipe.
How to Make This Vegan Mozzarella
For this dairy-free mozzarella you only need a few main ingredients:
- Activated/sprouted Cashew Nuts: This means cashews that have been pre-soaked in filtered water overnight (or at least six hours). Alternatively, soaked in hot water for thirty minutes if you’re in a pinch but definitely better overnight.
- A Stretching Agent: There are two ingredients that you need: tapioca starch and psyllium husk. These will give it that stretchiness and stringiness that is synonymous with Mozzarella.
- Nutritional Yeast: Used to give the vegan cheese its ‘cheesy’ flavour and deliciousness when mixed with the rest of the ingredients.
- Lemon Juice: Will provide acidity and flavour when mixed with the other ingredients. You could also use a mixture of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. However, I prefer to use just one ingredient and love lemons.
- Filtered water: Whenever using water within a recipe like this I always aim to use filtered water.
- Coconut Oil: I’ve found coconut oil to be the best ‘fat’ to use to give your cheese it’s melting properties. It’s best to use refined coconut oil for any vegan cheese recipe as it is odourless.
This means it won’t impact the flavour of your cheese at all. However, if you don’t mind a hint of coconut flavour, then you can use regular coconut oil. - Salt: a bit of salt together with the nutritional yeast works wonders for the “cheesy” flavour
- Other optional add ons: Dried herbs like thyme, oregano or rosemary are a wonderful flavouring option. Also, garlic or onion powder work well to flavour the vegan mozzarella to your personal taste. Experiment with your favourites on smaller portions of the mozzarella.
The How-To
To begin this recipe, soak the cashews in cold filtered water overnight (or for at least 6 hours). Alternatively, soak the cashews in hot water for 30 minutes*. Once the cashews have soaked, rinse them thoroughly.
Note* Although I give the 30 minute quick-soak as an option, I really suggest leaving them to soak overnight. This will be better in terms of the cashews beginning the sprouting process too.
Soaking overnight will begin breaking down the compounds that can cause digestive issues. Soaking nuts also reduces phytate content and allows us to absorb more nutrients.
Mix the psyllium husk flakes and 1/2 cup water and leave to rest for approximately 10 minutes. Meanwhile, you can prepare the rest of the recipe.
Add the cashews, nutritional yeast, coconut oil, salt and lemon juice into a high-speed food processor. Add the psyllium husk mixture.
Blend until you get a smooth consistency. Season and taste, using extra salt if needed.
In a saucepan, add the tapioca starch and water. Stir over medium heat until the starch has dissolved. Then add the blended cashews and stir until the mixture starts thickening.
Pour the mixture in a glass round bowl and refrigerate for about 2 hours. Now, your mozzarella is ready. Tip the bowl upside down to release the cheese and enjoy. Alternatively, pour the mixture into silicone moulds and leave to set in the fridge.
I then transfer these to an airtight container in the fridge and portion is out as and when needed. It’s also a wonderful option to serve as part of a cheeseboard, along with a drizzle of olive oil.
To Store the Vegan Mozzarella
It’s best to store the mozzarella in an air-tight container, in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. You can also freeze it for up to a month, in a freezer-safe container.
This Mozzarella cheese is then ready to be used for a variety of delicious recipes. This includes within paninis, on top of pizza, in pesto pasta. I also like to use it as part of a three-cheese blend with my homemade smoked cheddar and feta.
Let me know your favourite ways to use this dairy-free mozzarella in the comments below.
Other Vegan Cheese Recipes You Might Like
Because one type of cheese is never enough, here are more vegan cheeses to choose from. For example, you may like this melty Vegan Smoked Cheddar Cheese. Alternatively, this Vegan Feta Cheese is a personal favourite of mine for its tangy flavour and crumbly texture. Lastly, for something a little ‘fancy’, you might like this cashew-based Vegan Cheese Wheel.
I also have a variety of other interesting DIY’s that you might like including homemade Vegan Coconut Oil and Vanilla Powder. To see them all then just check out the DIY section of my blog.
If you try this Vegan Mozzarella Cheese Recipe let me know what you think in the comments. Also, I’d love to see your recreations and uses for this cheese, so feel free to tag me @AlphaFoodie.
Easy Vegan Mozzarella Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashew nuts soaked
- 1 tablespoon Psyllium husk flakes
- 2 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1 cup filtered water separated into two 1/2 cups
- 2 tablespoon tapioca starch
- 1/4 cup unflavoured coconut oil
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in filtered water overnight (or for at least 6 hours). Alternatively, soak the cashews in hot water for 30 minutes. Once the cashews have soaked, then rinse them thoroughly.
- Mix the psyllium husk flakes and 1/2 cup water and leave to rest for approximately 10 minutes.
- Add the cashews, nutritional years, coconut oil, salt and lemon juice into a high-speed food processor. Add the psyllium husk mixture, too. Blend until you get a smooth consistency. Season and taste, using extra salt if needed.
- In a saucepan, add the tapioca starch and 1/2 cup water. Stir over medium heat until the starch has dissolved.
- Add the blended cashews and stir until the mixture starts thickening.
- Pour the mixture in a glass round bowl and refridgerate for about 2 hours. Now, your mozzarella is ready. Tip the bowl upside down to release the cheese and enjoy. Alternatively, pour the mixture into silicone moulds and leave to set in the fridge. Transfer these to an airtight container in the fridge and portion is out as and when needed. It can be stored in the fridge for a week or the freezer for a month.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Sasya
Hello Samira, The amounts of Cashew is measured before soaking or after soaking? Cz after soaking, they will go bigger right?
What if I use regular cooking oil(vegetable oil) is that okay?
Will try this receipe asap
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Sasya,
You need to measure the cashews after soaking them. They go bigger indeed.
If you use regular cooking oil, that might affect the taste/flavor too much. That’s why unflavored/odorless coconut oil is recommended. It also gives great “meltiness” to the cheese.
Keana
So good! I made this using macadamia nuts instead of cashews (that’s what I had on hand) and 1/2 tbsp agar agar powder instead of the psyllium husk and it turned out amazing! The flavour is delicious but the real great thing is the texture! Instead of putting it into molds I scooped some into a bowl of ice water and it looks just like little balls of mozzarella! I haven’t tried melting it yet so excited to see how that turns out. I would definitely make it again.
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thanks for your feedback Keana, I’m happy to hear it worked with macadamia nuts.
Chandni
This was an amazing mozzarella! Had to use a little more lemon/apple cider vinegar for tartness than the recipe mentioned; I also added a little garlic powder and onion powder. I stretched and spread this on homemade pizza and the result was amazing — much better than store bought vegan mozzarella shreds! I loved how the pizza turned out – tasted almost exactly like pizza with dairy cheese but without the strange aftertaste that store bought vegan cheese normally has! Thank you!!
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you so much for your comment, Chandni. Glad you adjusted the recipe to your liking.
Cheryl
Mine did not turn out white, it was light brown…. any idea what went wrong?
Samira @ Alphafoodie
Hi Cheryl, that’s totally normal depending on the ingredients you’re using.
Rose
I tried this recipe and was amazed at how it tastes like mozzarella. Cheese was my hardest food to quit when I went Vegan two years ago and it is still my cheat. This recipe came together easily but I was not sure how long to cook it for. I heeded the advice found in the comments and went longer to be safe. Now I can enjoy the satisfaction of “cheating” and not really cheat.
Thanks bunches!
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you so much for your comment and feedback, Rose. Glad you are enjoying the recipe.
Ilina
Hi!
I do not have and can’t obtain nutritional yeast or tapioca starch (I do have sabudana/tapioca balls though). Please advise.
Thank you.
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Ilina,
These are hard to substitute.
Tapioca starch is really essential for the recipe – it’s what gives the stretchy texture. It’s also known as tapioca flour in some places – maybe you can find that? You could substitute it with cornstarch but it won’t yield the same result and this vegan mozzarella might not be as stretchy and melty.
Regarding the nutritional yeast – it’s what gives the “cheesy” taste so it’s also hard to substitute it. You could use a bit of onion and garlic powder.
I hope this helps.
Keana
Hi. Is there any substitute for the psyllium husk flakes? Like could I maybe use agar agar?
Support @ Alphafoodie
I saw you managed with the agar agar Keana 🙂
Amelia
Hi,can I change psyllium husk to chia seed instead?Can I just check again do mix tapioca and water first than put it in the pan or put both in the pan on medium heat than stir it?Do I use raw cashew or roasted cashew will do?
Samira
Hi Ameli,
I wouldn’t substitute the psyllium husk with chia seeds in this recipe – the texture and look would be too different. You could try using agar agar. Personally, I haven’t tried it yet in this recipe.
You need raw cashews.
You first add the tapioca and water to the pot and start heating it up. Stir a few times for the tapioca to dissolve and then add the rest.
I hope this helps.
Marty Wierzba
Is Psyllium powder the same as the flakes? Should I buy flakes or is powder good? I just want to have good results. 😉
AlphaFoodie
Psyllium powder is ground psyllium flakes so you would need to use about half the amount in powder. Hope that helps and you get great results :-).
Lisa
Hi, can I change psyllium husk to chia seed instead?
Samira
Hi Lisa,
I wouldn’t use chia seeds for Mozzarella – the texture and look would be too different. Some others try using agar agar. I haven’t tried it myself though.
Lucy
I made this a couple of days ago. Luckily, I had all the ingredients at home. And I must say …. OMG! THIS IS THE BEST VEGAN CHEESE EVER!!!!! Tastes great by it self and also in a toasted sandwich.
Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you so much for your comment, Lucy. Glad you tried and liked the recipe 🙂
Nikki
Hello 🙂
Love the recipe idea, I was just wondering how well this ‘cheese’ melts? Thanks!
AlphaFoodie
It doesn’t melt the exact same way that dairy mozzarella melts but it is melty , for sure 🙂
Carol
Can I replace cashews with almonds?
AlphaFoodie
I haven’t tried it using almonds, however, I do know that it’s possible – the results will differ slightly but if you give it a go, let me know how it goes.
Linda
There seems to be a missing step in the directions/method section. The video shows a tapioca starch and water slurry being added to the mixture before being heated with the other blended ingredients until thick, then transferred into the molds. Please confirm.
AlphaFoodie
Hi Linda, sorry about the missing step, it’s now in the recipe card.
PK
Shouldn’t I cook the mixture if it includes tapioca starch?
AlphaFoodie
Hi, yes! the recipe card has now this step.
Manuela
Hi Samira, thank you so much for this amazing recipe.
Would it also work with arrow root starch instead of tapioca?
Thank you
Manuela
AlphaFoodie
Hi Manuela, you’re very welcome. Yes of course, arrowroot starch works perfectly. Hope you’ll like it!
Samira x
Daria
Hello! How can I replace psyllium husk?
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Daria,
It’s possible to use agar agar instead of psyllium husks. Personally, I haven’t tried it yet in this recipe.
Let me know how it goes if you do. 🙂
shivani
Hi Is there any other flour i could use instead of Tapioca Flour?
AlphaFoodie
I haven’t tried it with any other starch, so I’m not sure how this will affect the end texture. Tapioca flour gives it a lovely stretchy quality. Any other starch that I often use would thicken it but not give that same ‘stretch’
Kerri
I set in refrigerator but seems still soft ??? Was I suppose to heat with tapioca starch ? After I made the tapioca mixture I added cashew mix and removed from heat ? Do you think my bowl was to deep “HELP”
Samira
Hi Kerri,
Yes, you need to add the tapioca starch and continue heating and you will notice that it will start thickening (keep stirring so it doesn’t stick). If it’s not setting yet, just pour it back into a pot and heat it over low to medium heat until it thickens a bit, if you want it to be really thick, then you can add more starch (I would first dissolve the starch like explained in the blog post). I hope this works. Note: as you refrigerate it, it will also thicken further once it cools down just keep that in mind.