Easy Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (Stretchy)

This stretchy vegan mozzarella cheese is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches and on top of pizza. Just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes are all you need to make this dairy free alternative!

Stretchy, gooey, savoury and delicious! If you've been searching for the perfect dairy-free alternative to traditional mozzarella cheese, look no further. I think this is the best dairy-free mozzarella I've tried.

This vegan mozzarella is made from simple ingredients and will elevate your pizza and lasagna with its creamy flavour and texture.

My favourite way to enjoy it is in a veggie burger, or in a grilled cheese sandwich served with cherry tomato soup or carrot apple soup and some of red cabbage sauerkraut on the side.

I sometimes even add it to my vegan cheese board as a creamy dip-style cheese!

I love that unlike most vegan cheeses on the market, this mozzarella is essentially made from whole foods (cashews).

Add some tapioca starch for stretchiness and texture, nutritional yeast for flavour (optional) and lemon juice, and you've got one incredibly satisfying but still healthy treat to add to your pizza!

Why you'll love this

It's stretchy - Yup, this stretches like real mozzarella. Thanks to the tapioca starch you can get that satisfying stringiness and perfect texture. Makes a great vegan pizza cheese!

Tastes mild but creamy & savoury - It's the perfect amount of flavour to go in a grilled cheese sandwich or on pizza, not overpowering but savoury enough to be satisfying.

Made with whole foods - This cheese is cashew-based (see Variations below for nut-free option) and made with whole food ingredients, unlike vegan cheeses from grocery stores like Daiya, which rely on starches.

Oil free - This recipe relies on healthy fat in cashews, as well as tapioca starch for its texture, making it naturally oil free. No coconut oil or olive oil needed!

Recipes this dairy free mozzarella works great in

(Psst! If you're new to a vegan diet, check out my 28 Easy Vegan Recipes for Beginners.)

What is tapioca starch?

Tapioca starch is a dried white starch extracted from the cassava root, a plant native to South America. Sometimes it is referred to as tapioca flour.

Naturally gluten free, it is almost pure carbohydrate and contains few nutrients.

Tapioca starch is used a lot in gluten free baking as well as in bubble tea (tapioca pearls).

It is also a natural thickener and gives sauces a stretchy consistency, which is why we're using it in this vegan mozzarella recipe!

Ingredients

Cashews - These are the base ingredient, and provide creaminess as well as some protein. (See my variation below for a nut-free version.)

Tapioca starch - What makes the cheese stretchy and gooey. Do not try using another type of starch, only tapioca! (Corn starch will not work.)

Nutritional yeast - Totally optional but provides a really nice cheesy flavor. You could also try using herbs, spices or onion/garlic powder if nutritional yeast isn't your thing.

Lemon juice - Adds a little acidity to the mozzarella which makes it taste more authentic I find! You could use apple cider vinegar as an alternative.

Salt - I use 1 teaspoon here, but feel free to use less if you prefer a mild cheese.

Variations

Nut free - Obviously, this homemade vegan mozzarella recipe relies on cashews, but if you're looking for a nut free version I suggest my tofu cheese recipe.

This is a very similar stretchy, gooey recipe, it just makes a slightly thicker cheese (it was created as cheese curds for vegan poutine).

Flavours - You can easily flavour this cheese with fresh or dried herbs and spices if desired. Either add them in before blending (though this might affect the colour!) or while cooking.

Basil is a favourite of mine and works really well on pizza. I just stir it into the cheese after cooking.

How to make vegan mozzarella

1) Optional step: If you don't have a high-powered blender, soak cashews in boiling/hot water first for up to an hour to soften them. (If you have a strong blender like a Vitamix you won't need to do this.)

2) Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high power for 30 seconds, or until completely smooth (your cheese will be liquid at this point).

3) Pour into a small saucepan and cook gently on medium heat - stirring constantly - for 3-5 minutes.

The cheese will begin to form odd clumps - keep stirring! Eventually the clumps will transform into stretchy, gooey mozzarella-like cheese with a smooth consistency.

4) Remove from the heat and ideally use immediately. Dollop the cheese on pizza in balls - patting them down slightly - or spread on a grilled cheese sandwich.

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See how to make this delicious dairy-free mozzarella.

Expert tips

Browning. To make this cashew mozzarella brown in the oven, once you've added it to your pizza, lasagna etc., just brush or spray it with a little oil. I recommend using a spray as you'll get more even coverage.

How to store

Store this mozzarella in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

It's best used fresh and will thicken up when cool, but it can be reheated to achieve the same stretchy texture. If it looks too thick, just add a little water while reheating until you get the texture you're after.

FAQs

If you’ve tried this recipe, please leave a comment or tip for others below.

I'd love to know how you’ve made it your own!

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