Beat thing to replace cheddar and Parmesan?

[Becks9800]

I’m edging towards going from being vegetarian for the last ten years to full vegan. I’ve cut out milk, eggs and most cheese such as halloumi. Found good replacements for yoghurt and oatly creme fraiche for sauces etc.

The only thing I can’t seem to find a good replacement for is cheddar or Parmesan. I love pasta, pasta baked...baked veggie pies with cheddar on mash etc. All the vegan cheeses sound awful / have bad reviews. I nearly bought some nutritional yeast but then read something about MSG which put me off. Are there any homemade recipes that are any good?

I would say nutritional yeast for Parmesan I’m afraid

Applewood smoked for cheddar. I mean it’s not the same but I use it where I’d use cheddar

No help, but i have struggled to find anything good to replace those hard, sharp, crumbly cheeses. I think its because most of the vegan cheeses are made from coconut oils or nuts which are squidgy. I jave found the applewood smoked cheese ok in sauces , but its still a bit cloying texture in the mouth

Hopefully someone will come along with a good suggestion!

I try not to make recipes that ask for dairy. The alternatives are all ultra processed anyway. Nothing is going to give you that salty fatty taste so might as well stop looking for it.
Pasta is fine without cheese, so much fresher.
Sorry if I come across as grumpy, but the vegan food industry is mostly junk and best avoided.

Thanks I guess it’s one of those things I’ll have to accept there is no replacement for! When I first went veggie it was like this with bacon...all bacon substitutes were awful but eventually you forget I think ..or I think hard about where it comes from and that’s enough.

Cheddar is horrified you would want to replace her! Misses point of threat entirely.

I find the Sainsbury's cheddar block the best substitute, and then Follow Your Heart does an amazing vegan parmesan

https://www.soulbia.com/products/follow-your-heart-parmesan-grated-142g

For other cheeses I order from Kinda Co - their Nacho cheese dip is incredible https://shopkindaco.com/

I have a recipe for vegan 'parmesan' which is toasted sesame seeds blended with nooch. Its pretty good and keeps in the fridge for ages.

It depends on your reasons for going vegan. Personally, I’m vegan as I don’t wish to exploit animals so that I can live. I can live without behaving like a cunt to animals so I choose that.

Wtf does that have to do with fake cheddar?

I know of some decent veggie parmesan substitutes (Parmesan contains rennet so is not veggie) but no vegan alternatives unfortunately

Violife parmesan is good. I’ve not tried their cheddar. FYI their Greek white (feta dupe) tastes great though the texture isn’t crumbly.

Good carma do a good range of vegan Parmesan https://www.yumbles.com/good-carma-foods/flavour-fusion-trio-vegan-parmesan-cheese.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwiLGGBhAqEiwAgq3qikXtUQygeX2X3ZAtoUIFmrvcLj-0Q-Rl7XxoyCt4gSLIcLwXyTQlRoCR3wQAvDD_BwE

For a good strong cheddar substitute I like Tesco own brand. Their vegan parmesan is a good sub as well imo.

I have never tried this myself but I know some people make their own parmesan by blending cashews and nooch.

I think you'll really struggle to commit to vegan cheese while still eating dairy or the taste will be too different to enjoy as cheese. You need a few weeks break at least then start with melting. Saying that, my mum (none vegan) will quite happily eat melted supermarket or Violife mature cheddar, or Koko. Ocado do a Parmesan sub which is OK

Apologies, you've given up dairy. In which case Violife mature or Asda mature would be worth a try

For parmesan use nooch (nutritional yeast) I'm sprinkling it on everything and getting a leetle bit addicted lol

Nutritional yeast is good for you so I wouldn't worry about that in your diet.

Cashew nuts blended with nutritional yeast makes a lovely pasta topping. My non vegan DF can't get enough of it.

Violife 'epic' mature cheese makes a lovely cheese sauce made using the standard roux method and put some nutritional yeast in the sauce at the point you add the flour.

Also breadcrumbs mixed with the cashew Parmesan makes a nice crunchy pasta topping.