Basil Sundried Tomato Vegan Cheese

by Edward Daniel
Basil Sundried Tomato Vegan Cheese is vegan, raw and paleo. Image by Edward Daniel (c).

Aromatic anise-like basil with tart chewy sun kissed dried tomatoes in a velvety soft cultured vegan cheese packed with mouth-watering flavours; Basil Sundried Tomato Vegan Cheese.

Give into temptation and overindulge into a guilty pleasure that will have you yearning for more… And, simper.

This dish will kiss goodbye to vegan food (particularly cheese) having no flavour.

Make this:

  • When your non-vegan friends for the umpteenth time complain they can’t a vegan cheese that’ll help them to convert to veganism
  • When you’ve got a swinging 18th birthday party organised and you want to show your mates that your family’s cooking is where it is at – get this party started now…
  • When you’re wanting an intimate spread with your beau/belle and secretly wanting to end with action in the bedroom

Basil Sundried Tomato Vegan Cheese was inspired by a raw vegan festival on the outskirts of quintessential Ascot. This was where chef, Muriel’s stall was bursting with freshly home-made regal food.

Cheesemaking traces back as far as Ancient Egypt. What makes cheese is the fermentation process allowing microbes to breakdown organic matter, giving a distinct sourness. Almonds with probiotic cultures make a super base for vegan cheesemaking.

Sundried vine ripened tomatoes capture and preserve rich tomato flavours. Basil has a melt in the mouth and anise-mint-like smell to it that makes you want to lounge into a chair.

Almonds, I purchase from a nifty Asian outlet in Hayes.  It has an online presence too which can be found here – I love it because it is reasonably priced and tends to be good quality stuff which I use.

Basil Sundried Tomato Vegan Cheese is vegan, raw and paleo.

What to do next

Tag me on @ethiveganquantum on Instagram to show me what you’ve made and let me know you’re happy for me to share.

My recipes are featured in vegan speciality publications: Nourished, Vegan Life, Plant Based and Vegan, Food and Living.

Order my first self-published book, “Essence: The Beginner’s Guide to Veganism” part of the three-part Circle of Food series. My second book “Presence: The Ascending Vegan” – which explores how to maintain a vegan practice is out in 2027 – I have compiled all the chapters including recipes.

Going strong since 2013.

Love.

Edward x

Basil Sundried Tomato Vegan Cheese is vegan, raw and paleo. Image by Edward Daniel (c).
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Serves: 6 Prep Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 1 voted )

Ingredients

  • 200g almonds, unblanched
  • 200ml filtered water
  • 1 tsp probiotic powder or 2 x 20 billion live cultures
  • 1tbs garlic powder
  • 1tbs onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp brown rice miso
  • ½ lemon, juice
  • 6 sundried tomatoes, dried, chopped
  • Few basil leaves, chopped

Instructions

  1. Soak the almonds in filtered water overnight.
  2. Boil some water. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Dunk the almonds into them and remove each almond to remove skin.
  3. In a high-speed blender, whizz together the almonds, water, and probiotic. Transfer the cheese to a bowl and cover with cling film, ensuring any air is removed.  Place in the fridge for at least 3 or 4 days. The longer you leave the more mature the cheese will become.
  4. Transfer the cheese to a mixing bowl and add in the garlic and onion powders, salt, lemon juice, miso, sundried tomatoes and basil leaves. Leave to stand a few minutes.
  5. Transfer the cheese onto a Teflon sheet and onto a dehydrator tray. Shape into a cylinder by wrapping the Teflon sheet over and around. Lay on a flat Teflon sheet.  Dehydrate at 43 degrees for about 8 hours, turning over every couple of hours or so now; a golden coat should form.
  6. Serve with crackers or bread, as necessary.

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