Variety Of Vegan Cheeses And Their Contributions
Have you ever tried vegan cheeses? Do you think it could have more benefits than those derived from milk? Then keep reading that in this article we tell you more about it.
The vegan diet can also be known as strict vegetarianism. These people are characterized by abstaining from eating meat and any food of animal origin. This category includes products such as milk and its derivatives, eggs and all products from animals.
What is vegan cheese?
One of the favorite foods is cheese. The variety is enormous and the consumer options are endless. However, many people have had to stop ingesting it due to medical conditions, such as lactose intolerance or an allergy to milk protein.
On the other hand, other people, on personal initiative, have opted for a lifestyle without dairy products, such as vegans, whose presence has increased in recent years at a global and local level.
The traditional types of cheeses that we know are made from casein, a type of milk protein that is obtained from animals such as cow, goat and sheep. During production, a group of enzymes that are generated in the stomach of animals, known as rennet, are added to the milk.
On the other hand, vegan or vegetable cheeses are made from plants, generally organic and involve the consolidation of protein mass from different vegetable sources, such as soybeans, solidified vegetable oils, nutritional yeast and grains.
Since this type of cheese does not undergo the natural aging process of proteins, it does not have the flavor profile of a dairy cheese that has been aged.
Benefits of consuming vegan cheeses
As we have seen, vegan cheeses have their own characteristics that make them different from cheeses of animal origin. But, in addition, these have a series of very prominent benefits that makes them an ideal food to include in any type of diet.
- The great benefit of choosing these products is that they are much lower in cholesterol and fat than alternatives of animal origin. In this way, the risk of suffering from obesity, diabetes, heart problems and some types of cancer is reduced.
- When it comes to protein, vegan cheeses contain 1 to 2 grams of protein per serving. Therefore, it constitutes a good protein intake.
- Another of the outstanding benefits of eating vegetable cheeses is its high content of minerals, such as phosphorus and potassium, both very necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system and for the maintenance of our muscles.
There are 3 large groups of vegan cheeses
First, it is made up of the tofu. Tofu is also called vegan cheese. It’s nothing more than fermented soybeans. This fermentation gives an appearance of vegan cheese with a high protein level.
In second place are cheeses based on coconut fat and starch (usually potato). These cheeses achieve the characteristic texture of cheeses of animal origin.
And thirdly, cheeses made from nuts. The two most commonly used nuts are cashews and almonds. As a downside, it is very difficult to mask the cashew or almond flavor, but if you flip this drawback, you will have original flavors.
How many kinds of vegan cheeses are there?
In Spain the variety of cheeses of animal origin is innumerable, more than 200 denominations. Vegan cheeses have only been around for a few decades, but little by little the varieties are growing. Here is a list of vegan cheese varieties that you can taste:
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Vegan mozzarella cheese
- Vegalloumi, the cheese to eat hot
- Vegan cheddar cheese
- Vegan smoked cheese
Where can they be obtained?
Vegan cheeses can be found in ” vegan friendly ” food stores and in healthy and organic food stores, as well as in vegan fairs and restaurants.
Finally, if you want to prepare a delicious vegan cheese yourself, below we tell you how to do it.
