Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (2024)

Published on by Kate, Updated on - 49 Comments

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Creamy, sliceable, shreddable and meltable, this Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese recipe is completely irresistible and can be created in your very own kitchen in just minutes!

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (1)

I'm so excited to be sharing with you another rendition of my blender-based, no 'cook' vegan cheese!! Today we're going to go over how to make a sumptuous block-style Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese. But first, some questions and answers....

Can you make Vegan Cheese?

That is a million dollar question and I'm here today to tell you YES YOU CAN! A thousand times YES! Don't let the whole idea scare you. You are going to feel like a master chef in minutes!! This cheese is such a confidence booster and a game changer!

This cashew cheese can be used in any recipe because it is sliceable, meltable, shreddable like regular cheese. It is also fantastic as part of a vegan charcuterie board.

What does this Vegan Cheese taste like?

Obviously, it's not quite like dairy cheese - BUT the texture, flavor, richness, and creaminess of this vegan cheese will literally knock your socks off! It satisfies a major cheese craving for me, and it even meets the expectations of my non-vegan friends!

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (2)

Why would you makevegan cheese?

  • it's non-dairy
  • it tastes amazing
  • it's cheap
  • it's easy to make
  • it cooperates (will slice, shred, melt)
  • it is low in fat compared to dairy-cheese
  • it is low in fat compared to non-dairy store-bought cheese
  • it's also soy-free and gluten-free

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (3)

What's in this Smoked Gouda Vegan cheese??

The one challenge of making this cheese is that it takes a few unusual ingredients that not everyone has on hand - but please believe me - it is SO worth the effort!! Really, only #3 is harder to find. Here's the short list:

  1. REFINEDCoconut Oil -(Please don’t miss the word refined.)Refined coconut oildoesn’t taste like coconut but it still turns solid at cooler temps, thus adding firmness and richness. It's available at many local grocery stores in the health food section.
  2. Tapioca Flour -a thickener with a slightly 'stretchy' texture. I usually buy online but many local health food stores sell this.
  3. Kappa Carrageenan -This is the most unusual ingredient and somewhat difficult to obtain. A derivative of sea weed, this ingredient is vital because it is what makes the cheese able to go from liquid to solid and back to melted state. It’s a wonder ingredient and not widely sold.
  4. Wright's Hickory Smoke Flavor- It adds a lovely smoke flavor and can be widely obtained.
  5. Seasoned Salt - I use Johnny's that I buy at Costco, but you can also get it here!

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (4)

Steps to Make Vegan Smoked Gouda:

Assemble all your ingredients (Photo above). Rinse Cashews under hot running water for several minutes. (Photo 1 below)

Add all the ingredients to the blender except for the water. (Photo 2)

Add boiling water to blender and blend until smooth. (Photo 3)

Pour immediately into heat safe dish (your mold) and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours to harden. (Photo 4)

Slice or grate, and enjoy!

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (5)

Cooking tip:

Don't skip the 'rinse your cashews under HOT tap water for several minutes' step. Not only does this soften the cashews for blending, but it removes that 'cashewy' flavor so the final cheese doesn't taste nutty.

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (6)

Super excited for you guys to experience the joys of making awesome vegan cheese at home! Let me know how it goes, and if you have any questions, leave a comment and I'll try to help out!! (For a video tutorial of making this style cheese, please see the links for my vegan mozzarella cheese recipe below. )

Check out these other vegan cheese recipes:

  • Vegan mozzarella cheese
  • Vegan cheddar cheese
  • Vegan herb cheese
  • Vegan cheese ball
  • Vegan feta cheese
  • Vegan pepper Jack
  • Best vegan cream cheese
  • Vegan parmesan cheese
  • Vegan nacho sauce

If you’ve tried this Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese recipe or any other recipe on my blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I LOVE hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME onFACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food!!!

Recipe

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (7)

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese

Creamy, sliceable, shreddable and meltable, this Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese recipe is completely irresistible and can be created in your very own kitchen in just minutes!

4.55 from 72 votes

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Course: Appetizer, cheese

Cuisine: American, French

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 people

Calories: 97kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Select a heat-safe preferably glass dish that can hold approx 3C and set aside. (This is your cheese mold.)

  • Rinse the c¼ashews under HOT water for several minutes.

  • Put your water in a small pot on the stove to boil.

  • Add all ingredients (except the water!) to the blender. Add the cashews first and then everything else on top of the cashews.

  • Carefully add (so you don't burn yourself!!!) the boiling hot water into your blender. Put the blender lid on! And blend immediately until completely smooth.

  • Stop blending once if need be to quickly scrape sides of blender and resume blending right after.

  • Immediately transfer your cheese to your chosen dish/mold as it will start to solidify quickly as it cools.

  • Place in refrigerator to chill. No need to cover yet.

  • After 2-3 hours or when fully chilled, remove cheese block from dish/mold and wrap in paper towels and then tightly plastic wrap. The flavor gets better over a day or two but it’s great as soon as it’s hardened, too. Yeay! You are officially a cheese-maker!

Notes

This Cheese recipe is one of my saltier options. If you're not a salt-lover you may want to scale back on the salt by a ¼ tsp. I often use Himalayan salt, although not "Kala Namak" or "black salt" in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 457mg | Potassium: 61mg | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is there a big difference between Gouda and smoked gouda? ›

Smoked Gouda is a bit nuttier tasting than the regular Gouda. Containing 45% butterfat, it's buttery, creamy and smooth with sweet and salty notes. As with all cheeses, be sure to enjoy it at room temperature and it will literally melt on your tongue.

What is vegan Gouda cheese made of? ›

📋 Ingredients

Raw cashews - Soaked, plump and buttery cashews eliminate the need for thickeners or starch. Pink Himalayan salt or sea salt- For natural minerals. Onion powder and garlic powder - Spices that bring pizzazz to mild cashews. Smoked paprika - Adds color as well as a smoky flavor to the cheese.

What is the closest cheese to smoked Gouda? ›

Smoked Alternatives

For those who appreciate the smoky notes in Smoked Gouda, a suitable substitute could be a smoked cheddar. This cheese delivers a comparable depth of flavor with its robust smokiness, ensuring a seamless transition in recipes that require smoked cheese.

Can you eat the rind on smoked gouda? ›

The one exception to the 'rinds are edible' rule is a dry, natural rind that's on cheeses like imported Parmigiano-Reggiano and Gouda. Oil or wax is brushed on the outside of the cheese to prevent unwanted molds forming, so these rinds should be cut away before eating.

Why doesn't smoked Gouda melt? ›

Smoked gouda cheese maintains its melting qualities: unlike aging, smoking doesn't affect how melty it is, so younger, semi-soft smoked gouda cheese melts just as well as a non-smoked one.

Is smoked gouda a healthy cheese? ›

The answer is yes! Smoked Gouda contains protein, calcium, and healthy fats that make it a great addition to a balanced diet. One ounce of smoked Gouda cheese contains about 8 grams of fat, which is a reasonable amount for a serving of cheese.

Does vegan gouda cheese melt? ›

With a score of 9.8 out of 10, Follow Your Heart Smoked Gouda vegan cheese is one of the best vegan cheeses for melting. One of the highest rated vegan cheeses out of hundreds within the discovery app, this smoked gouda is perfect for a home made pizza or grilled cheese sandwich.

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese? ›

Common Ingredients in Dairy Free Cheese
  • Soy Based. Soy is unsurprisingly one of the most common bases for vegan cheeses—and is popular in many plant-based animal-product substitute. ...
  • Coconut. ...
  • Flour. ...
  • Tree Seeds and Nuts. ...
  • A Safer Alternative.
Apr 29, 2020

What pairs well with smoked gouda? ›

For a cheeseboard or a small snack plate: pair our Smoked Gouda with raw vegetables (think broccoli, cucumber, & tomatoes), cured meats, and pumpernickel bread. Enjoy it with an Amber ale or Lager. For a simple meal: Smoked Gouda adds great flavor atop sandwiches, melted on burgers, and shredded into dips & spreads.

Why is smoked gouda so good? ›

Smoked Gouda is popular because of its comforting combo of smokey flavor and springy texture. Cheese is traditionally smoked by placing whole blocks or pieces in a smoke house, which also preserves the cheese.

What cracker is best with smoked gouda? ›

The caramel and butterscotch flavors in Gouda make it taste like cheese candy. So it needs a cracker that can balance out the sweet, but also handle a sturdy cheese. Your favorite multigrain cracker will do the trick. It's less yeasty than other crackers and its crunchiness will enhance the texture and flavor.

Is there a difference between smoked gouda and regular Gouda? ›

One of the reasons why smoked Gouda cheese stands out is its distinct flavor profile. The combination of traditional Gouda cheese and the smokiness from the smoking process results in a flavor that is both rich and savory.

How do you know if Gouda has gone bad? ›

Smell Cheese should typically have a characteristic smell related to its type, but if it smells sour, rancid, or like ammonia, it's a sign of spoilage. Mould Visible mould on cheese is a sign that it has spoiled.

How long does smoked gouda last? ›

Medium cheese

The types of cheese, such as gruyere and gouda, that fall between the hard and soft categories, can be kept in a fridge for two to three weeks after they have been opened. In the freezer, this type of cheese can last for two months if the packet is still intact.

What is the best type of Gouda cheese? ›

Young gouda is very mild and sweet, with a high moisture content and a smooth texture. It's a great table cheese, perfect for everyday eating. Aged gouda is similar to parmesan in texture, developing crunchy cheese crystals and a more crumbly texture.

Is smoked gouda good for cheese board? ›

Typically this will include soft and semi-soft cheeses as well as semi-firm and hard cheeses, along with a sample of blue cheese and perhaps some specialty cheeses like herbed havarti or smoked gouda.

Can I substitute smoked Gouda for Gruyere? ›

Gouda is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese that has roots in the Netherlands. It's best known for its wide range of uses and flavors depending on how long it's been aged. If you're in a pinch, you can use younger gouda in place of Gruyère since it melts easily, but just know that it won't have the same flavor.

Is all Gouda cheese the same? ›

Various sources suggest that the term Gouda refers more to a general style of cheesemaking rather than to a specific kind of cheese, pointing to its taste, which varies with age.

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