Brie Cashew Cheese with Rind
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If you are seeking raw, vegan, cultured alternatives for cheese, I encourage you to try your hand at this amazing recipe. I think you might be pleasantly surprised as to how easy and tasty it can be. I promise I am not telling you…
Dairy-Tales!
There are just a few key ingredients and elements that can turn a basic nut into a “cheese”! Stay with me–I know for many of you this may sound bizarre, but let your adventurous side shine through. I am right beside you in this crazy quest.
To help you better understand how we can make “cheese” from nuts, I will go over the key ingredients and talk about their role in this recipe.
Cashews
- Nuts are a healthy fat that coats the tongue, which carries flavors evenly over the taste buds.
- They also play the leading role as the base of this “cheese,” giving it that creamy texture.
Probiotics
- Probiotics bring in healthy bacteria that are great for your digestive system, and they are the magical ingredient that gives the “cheese” that fermented flavor. I have captivated you already, haven’t I?
- Probiotics come in powder form and capsule form. I have used only the capsule version. They easily pull apart, and I just pour the powder into a teaspoon.
- Once the recipe is mixed together, you leave the “cheese” to culture on your countertop for 24-48 hours. The longer it cultures, the stronger the “cheese” flavor will come through. Once you place the cheese in the fridge, the culturing process slows down tremendously.
Nutritional Yeast
- Along with the culturing step, I added nutritional yeast to the recipe, which has a cheesy flavor. It is commonly used in vegan recipes.
- Nutritional yeast naturally supplies fiber and protein (a complete, bioavailable, and vegan source) with 18 amino acids and a multitude of different minerals (including iron, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc).
- Not all nutritional yeast brands are equal in quality, so always double-check your resources. I provided a link down below to the one I use.
Herbs (so many options)
- I didn’t mix any herbs into this recipe, because I wanted plain cheese. But you can add your favorite herbs and spices to fit any occasion or craving.
Dehydration
- This is the crucial step in creating a rind. The drying process takes about 24 hours. Placing the cheese in the dehydrator it creates a rind on the outside of the cheese. You can see the color difference between the outside and the inside. The rind is quite thick on mine.
Ingredients:
6″ cheese disc
Preparation:
- First and foremost, make sure all of the utensils and pieces of equipment you use for culturing are sterilized to avoid growing bad bacteria.
- If at any time you see fuzzy, black, or pink mold, the cheese will need to be tossed.
- Place the cashews in a bowl, adding twice the amount of water. During the soaking process, the cashews will absorb water and swell.
- After soaking the cashews, drain and discard the soak water. The process has a twofold purpose:
- To soften the cashews, so they blend perfectly smooth.
- To reduce phytic acid, which can be rough on your digestion.
- In a high-powered blender, combine the cashews, water, and probiotics. Blend until the mixture is velvety smooth.
- This can take 2-4 minutes, depending on your machine.
- Test occasionally by rubbing the mixture between your forefinger and thumb. If you feel any grit, continue blending.
- Be careful that you don’t overheat the mixture. If the carafe is feeling warm to the touch, let the mixture rest to cool before proceeding.
- If you have a low-powered blender, I would suggest blending the water and the cashews first. Once smooth, then add the probiotic. We don’t want to kill the good bacteria by overheating it.
- Prepare a stainless steel mesh strainer by placing it in a large bowl. Then line it with a double layer of cheesecloth.
- Pour the “cheese” mixture into the center of the cloth.
- Gather all the edges of the fabric together, twist tight, and fold it over onto itself.
- Lay a small plate on top of the bundle, followed by a weight.
- Use a mason jar filled with water, beans, flour, or whatever.
- You want the weight to be heavy enough to put pressure on the “cheese” but not so much that it forces the cheese to leak through the cheesecloth.
- The bowl is under the strainer to catch the “whey” that will slowly drip out. It won’t be much, just enough to leave a mess if unattended.
- Cover the bowl with a towel and set the mixture aside on the countertop for 24-48 hours to culture.
- The temperature of the house will affect the culturing time. The warmer the house, the quicker it will start to culture, so keep an eye on it.
- It will develop a pretty strong cheese-like odor during this time.
- After it has cultured, scoop the mixture into a clean bowl.
- Add the salt and nutritional yeast. Mix well.
- Transfer to a ring mold or the ring of a Springform pan, lining the base with plastic.
- Place the mold in the freezer for several hours, so it sets up nice and firm.
- Carefully remove the cheese from the mold, place it on a non-stick sheet, and slide into the dehydrator.
- Dry for 1 hour at 145 degrees (F). Click (here) to read why.
- Reduce the heat to 115 degrees (F) and continue to dry for up to 24 hours.
- Halfway through the dry time, remove the teflex sheet and place the cheese on the mesh sheet for the remainder of the dry time. This will speed up the process and allow air to flow around it.
- This process will cause a rind to develop around the edges.
- Once done, enjoy! There should be a nice rind on the outside and creamy cheese on the inside.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for approximately 7 days. The cheese will continue to culture, but once chilled, it slows down considerably.
© AmieSue.com
Tags: Dehydrated, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Vegan
I am wondering if the expiry date on the probiotic is crucial to follow. I bought some but it expired quite a while ago. I can’t bring myself to throw it out because it was expensive and I can’t find anything online that says not to eat it past that date.
Hi Zoe,
I did a little research myself and this is what I found from various sites:
“Watch the expiration date. Because probiotics are living organisms, the amount placed in the container or capsule when it was manufactured may not be the same as when you consume the product. You must use these products before the expiration date to be sure the probiotic is still effective.”
“One final note: Remember to store your probiotic according to package instructions and make sure the product has a sell-by or expiration date. Probiotics are living organisms. Even if they are dried and dormant, like in a powder or capsule, they must be stored properly or they will die. Some require refrigeration whereas others do not. They also have a shelf-life, so make sure you use them before the expiration date on the package.”
From a few others that I have scanned through, it is best to use the probiotic before it expires. That is my personal recommendation.
Probiotics should be LIVE. I prefer RAW (five day fix is LOOSE powder, no capsules) It’s found in the refrigerator of health food stores, or can be purchased online. It’s made by Garden of Life. Probiotics that are dried and unrefrigerated are DEAD and won’t do the job properly.
Thank you for your prompt reply! Is it that the organisms are not effective anymore? or is it that it may cause “discomfort” if ingested? I’m wondering if it may still work flavour-wise but not make anyone sick…
Zoe,
These are great questions but I am totally sure. My feeling is that the organisms wouldn’t be effective, which may effect the culturing process. I don’t think it would cause any “discomfort”, it is more about the fact that you may lose the potency of the probiotic over time. I have read that you can take vitamins beyond the expiration date as long as they have been stored properly, etc. But as is, with the probiotic, we are already dealing with a supplement that is volatile to many factors. Unfortunately, most Probiotics are delicate, and are sensitive to various conditions. The following things can kill your expensive probiotics:
Heat: the best probiotics are prepared using a low heat process to avoid damaging the organisms
Moisture: probiotics must be kept dry until they enter your system; a rainy or humid day can be all that is needed to kill a probiotic preparation
Oxygen: all probiotics naturally live in an anaerobic environment – without oxygen; oxygen will kill probiotics
Stomach acid: our stomach acid is designed specifically to kill bacteria that we ingest; stomach acid will rapidly kill most probiotic strains
That being said, I wouldn’t trust a probiotic that is past it’s expiration date. Not only may it not work in giving that cultured flavor it won’t have any health benefits in it.
I hope this helps Zoe. I know it’s a drag to have such expensive items expire before they get used, but I tend to error on the cautious side of things. You have to decide if it is best to toss the bottle and get a free one (losing the cost of the unused portion) OR taking the risk / gamble of having to toss all the ingredients used in the cheese recipe AND the expired bottle of probiotics. Even if the expired probiotics works in giving the cultured flavor, you most likely won’t be getting the help benefit from it and isn’t that why we are eating raw foods in the first place?.
Let me know what you think Zoe. amie sue
OMG, I have one of those circular, unpredictable dehydrators that I attached a variable light switch to so I could control the temp ;) My Jerry-rigged lovely piece shot up to 140 degrees while I went out for an hour and when I returned the cheese was very warm and a rind had already ssemd to take hold.
I was gone for about an hour and a half…do you think my probiotics are now ineffective and that the cheese is now cooked?
Thank you!
I-want-an-Excalibur-Now-Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
So the cheese was only at 140 degrees for 1 hour? Due to the moisture content level it might still be raw but I really can’t speak for the probiotics. I have a write up on dehydrating at 145 degrees for one hour, if you haven’t read it before, please do so. https://nouveauraw.com/?p=10398. I wish I knew about the probiotics to better help you. (sends you a cheezy smile :)
I am making this now..it has been “fermenting” on my table for 36 hours..I can’t wait to get that “cream cheese” taste that I have been craving..I made a raw cheesecake with cashews, lemons etc..but it was still missing that “cheesy” taste and this may help..thanks for all your cool and TASTY recipes..I am about to make your cinnamon rasin bread but use coconut flour instead of almond flour due to allergies..I’ll let you know how it comes out..
Wonderful Dee! Her is a recipe where I did that very thing of adding in “cheese” into the cheesecake mix. LOVED it! Do keep me posted on the bread, new things to learn! Have a blessed day, amie sue
Hi Amie-Sue,
I want to make this so that I can then make the maple cheesecake! I just need some clarification on the probiotic powder. If I have Acidophilus & Bifidus capsules, is that what I’d use? Just pop ’em open and measure out the powder inside?
Thanks!
Anastasia, that is what you use. Pop them open and pour into a measuring spoon! Let me know how it turns out. Have a great day, amie sue
I just finished letting it sit for 1.5 days and pulled this recipe up to get the next stage going. It smelled so wonderfully cream cheesy that me and my 4 year old had some as soon as we added the nutritional yeast and salt. We decided it was perfect for spreading on my last batch of raw bread and decided to skip the dehydrating step.
This stuff is amazing, thanks for the recipe. I ended up scooping half into a glass jar for the fridge, and putting the other half in the freezer.
Awesome Janie… thank you for sharing. :) I love it when kids love these raw recipes. That is a testimony within itself. Happy Holidays!
Hi,
Can a nut milk bag be used instead of a cheese cloth? I have both but I was wondering if the result would be the same.
Thanks!
Yes Igloo, a nut milk bag would be just fine. :)
Thank you so much for the recipe! Cheese was finally ready to eat today and tasted really good! I loved the rind as well! Thank you! :-)
Your welcome Irina, so happy that you are enjoying it! I have been spreading this on Bob’s wraps throughout the week, yum! Have a great day, amie sue
HI Amy Sue, I just made this cheese for the first time and it was absolutely amazing. I am so excited to incorporate this into my favorites for parties and then to continue to explore more nut cheese recipes! My only question is about the 24 hour dehydration process. Can we dehydrate it for a shorter time frame? 24 hours is going to make a huge spike in our electric bill…my boyfriend definitely complains about how long this huge machine runs–as he’s stuffing his face with cashew brie cheese and your world famous chocolate chip cookies (best I’ve ever made, by the way) Thank you so much for being a magical gift to the planet!!!! I admire you beyond words.
Hello Melissa,
Thrilled to hear that you are enjoying the “cheese” … as well as your boyfriend :)
You can always shorten the dry time but you won’t get the same effect. One way that you can make the best of the dry time, is to make other foods that requiring dehydrating as well. Such as drying fruit or making crackers. That way you are getting more bang for your electric buck. Does that make sense?
Thank you for your kind words. They blessed my day! amie sue
Dehydrators are very noisy and it may SEEM as if it using a lot of electricity, but most dehydrators actually use very little power. In fact, I’ve read that they use about as much power as an incandescent lightbulb. You will have to check your particular model (maybe it is very old?) but if it’s a standard model, don’t worry about the electric bill!
Just FYI, Excalibur only cost $0.03 – $0.06 a day to operate 24 hours. What brand do you have?
Hi!! I love your recipes!!
Can you clarify how many capsules of the PB8 would be equivalent to the 1 tsp for this recipe?
Thanks!
Roughly 7 Juliet. Have a great evening, amie sue
Hi Amie Sue,
I just opened my cheese that was fermenting on the counter for 2 days and it looks discolored with some dark flecks that look like it could be mold. I just read the post above that says to use 7 PB8 capsules… I used 3. Is this normal and should I continue with the next steps?
Thanks :)
Black specs are not normal and I wouldn’t proceed. It sounds like mold to me and I for one wouldn’t risk it. Perhaps one of the ingredients or utensils that you used had some of the wrong bacteria on it and created mold spores. Sorry Sophie. amie sue
Hi Ami-Sue
Can i use macadamia nuts instead of cashew in your cheese recipe
Thank in advance
love your work
Monique
Yes you can Monique :)
Hi!
Thank you so much for this recipe. It is not one I have tried yet, but am hoping to buy a dehydrator in the new year. I’m lactose intolerant (and have a very pro-vegan diet) and have missed some of my favourite cheeses for a long time now, so am very excited to see that there are dairy free alternatives!
I just wanted to ask; if I wanted to make less cheese, would I need to reduce the dehydration times? Also, is it possible to freeze this at all? Just I only live with my boyfriend and fear that we would not finish a whole 6″ brie in a week!
Many thanks,
Malice
You are welcome Malice. I hope in time you fall in love with the dairy-free alternatives. (sorry to hear you are intolerant regardless)
If you wanted to make less cheese it is possible that it won’t need the full dehydrator time, you will just want to check in on it and pull it out when it reaches the right texture. There isn’t an exact science to it, so don’t let that make you nervous.
You can freeze the cheeses but it does change the texture some. Still taste good though.
I hope this helps, many blessings, amie sue
i’ve made it yesterday. not so thick pe rind, but all over i’m very happy with my “brie” :) thanks a lot again for your wonderful recipes !!
Dehydrating a bit longer will increase the thickness of the rind, but happy to hear that you are enjoying it. Thank you for keeping me posted. Have a wonderful day, amie sue
Hi,
This cheese looks delicious! but 7 days seems too short and I won’t be able to finish it. What would go wrong if I keep it longer than 7 days in the fridge? Thanks
All expiration times are just a range. Just like any unprocessed foods that live in your fridge… use all your senses to determine if and when it goes bad. :) Many blessings, amie sue
Hi, I really would love to make this. I was wondering if there is a way to do it without the dehydrator? I know I wouldn’t get the rind but, is there another reason for dehydrating? -Thanks
Good morning Natacha,
Yes, you can place it in the oven. Here is a post that I did that ought to help you… https://nouveauraw.com/dehydrating/conventional-oven-food-drying/. I dehydrated it to create the rind and to help set the texture. I hope you find this helpful. Many blessings and let me know. amie sue
Can I use one cup of home made rejuvelac instead of the probiotics
Rejuvelac will work but I haven’t tested it Helen. Be sure to check the culturing flavor through out the culturing time frame. Keep me posted on how it goes. Blessings, amie sue
Back in the U.S. The best brie, Amie-Sue. I’m trying the pepper jack cheese this weekend. Thank you.
Welcome home Ben. :) I hope you get some time to relax! You will enjoy both of these cheeses. I am pretty sure of that. Take care and say hi to that family of yours. Blessings. amie sue
Thanks, Amie-Sue. Photography & filming takes me away for long spells; I still manage to stay vegan & as raw as I can get. My pepper-jack’s going to have enough heat to fell my clan. I’ll report on how it turns out.
Oh, I didn’t know that you were into photography and filming. I would love to learn more. :) I can imagine that staying raw/vegan can be challenging based on your travels. All we can do and ask of ourselves is to do our best. I believe our bodies will honor us in that alone. I hope the cheese worked out. Keep me posted. Blessings, amie sue
Thanks, Amie-Sue. Being vegan’s an ethical commitment for me; I never waver from that, even if it means I have to miss meals. Getting complete raw meals is a challenge, though, but I manage to get fresh fruits and raw nuts.
The pepper-jack cheese turned out great; I had to experiment a bit, since I use agar sticks and not powder. I’ve got the hang of it now, and can see a whole new world opening up–thanks to you!
Your dedication is admirable Ben. Bob joined the vegan movement back in the early stages of it and he has shared many stories of what it was like back then. A true pioneer. So happy to hear that the cheese turned out well. I’ve never worked with agar sticks. If you would like to share how much you had to use, it might help other readers who read through the comments and find themselves in the same predicament. :)
Have a blessed evening, amie sue
Thanks, Amie-Sue. I used one-and-a-half agar sticks (a stick about 8 inches long) to get the amount of nuts the recipe calls for to set.
Awesome, thank you for sharing that Ben. I’ve never seen agar sticks before. :) Have a blessed weekend. amie sue
Hi Amie-Sue,
Hope you’re having a great day.😀
What will happen, I’ve put the salt and the nutritional yeast in step one with 2 recipes ???
Thanks for your help.
Oups I should have said at step 3 in the blender. ..
Good evening Jacinte,
You will be ok. I prefer to leave them out until I am done fermenting. Let me know how it goes! Blessings, amie sue
It worked out perfectly.
I also made a recipe with: Enzyme culture on rice wich is cheaper and it worked out perfectly too the only difference is that with the capsule probiotic there was no water on the bottom of the recipient after step 8 and there was water at the bottom of the recipient with the enzyme culture on organic rice. Thank you so much for your support.
Have a great day.😀
That’s great Jacinte. Thank you for following up and giving me an update. :) Enjoy the cheese and come back to try more recipes. :) blessings, amie sue
Hi Amie Sue,
This is probably a silly question, but do you have any tips and tricks on how you sanitize your utensils and equipment prior to each use?
I have a sanitize feature on my dishwasher, but I figured I’d still ask just incase :)
Thank you!
Hello Roxanna,
I don’t do anything special other than either washing them properly by hand or in the dishwasher. :) blessings, amie sue
Hi Amie Sue, sorry for the all questions today. I’m wondering if I can leave the nutritional yeast out of this? And if yes, would you suggest adding an herb, like rosemary, for flavor?
Hello Mary,
NEVER apologize for asking questions. Never! :) You could leave out the nutritional yeast, it will taste different, losing that “cheesy” flavor but that doesn’t mean that it won’t taste amazing by adding in some herbs. Any herb would work! I hope you give it a try.
One alternative that I thought of for the nutritional yeast is either mellow white miso or chickpea miso to create a slightly cheesy flavor. If you use this, be sure to reduce the salt that goes into the recipe since miso is salty.
blessings, amie sue
Oh great!! I’m going to get going on this one then. What would be your favorite herb to use (rosemary?) and how would you do it? Just chop a couple tablespoons of fresh herb and fold it in after all the culturing and blending is done? Could rosemary be overwhelming? Thank you for your patience! I so appreciate it.
Hi Mary,
It’s always fun to play around with recipes, altering them, because who knows what the next greatest creation will be!
I LOVE rosemary. I grow far too much it. hehe If it were me, I would add an herb mix only because rosemary can be pretty potent on its own. Well, it is at least for my taste buds. What do you think of the following herb mix?
All FRESH herbs
2 tsp minced garlic (optional)
1 tsp chives
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp dill
1/2 tsp thyme
Once you make the mix, add a little bit at a time to the recipe, taste testing. You don’t want to over power the taste of the cultured “cheese”.
If using dried herbs, use a 3:1 ratio. Use 1 part dried herbs for every 3 parts fresh herbs. Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh, so adjust according to your taste. But that’s just an idea. I love the complexity of flavors and how they balance one another out.
Regardless of what herb combo you go with, you have it right… fold it in after all the culturing and blending is done.
Let me know what you come up with! have a wonderful Saturday. amie sue