Vegan 'cheese' ... phooooey! help!

peanutpie05

I've been a vegetarian for over 20 yrs now ... but only in recent months have ventured into vegan products.

For the longest time I've been wanting to give the vegan cheese a go ... so today bought myself a (rather pricey) peice from the health food shop and proceded to make my family HM pizza topped with the cheese.

OMG! the first thing that hit me was the very overwhelming smell (my 7yr old commented on it even though I just said it was regular cheese ) Also, it didn't melt at all but went rather 'crispy' (nice!?). All in all 3 x DD's ate it (thankfully dh at work - I know he would not have eaten it) but it wasn't a complete disaster.

I'm wondering if I got the wrong type - has anyone else succesfully used vegan cheese for pizza?

Alternativly ... any vegans out there who just go 'cheese free' and if so what are their toppings?

Lastly - I have a piece of this horrendous smelling stuff left which I am loathed to chuck (not very ms) ...is there any way of using it to it's 'best advantage' ??

Any help much appreciated!

Pooky

I think I'd be tempted to grate it, wrap it well and freeze it until you need more pizza toppings for DD's....if they'll eat it then best let them get on with it.

Must admit I've never seen it or smelt it but it's just put me off.

Sarahsaver

It is gross. Look up a recipe for pissaladiere, or there are all sorts of bread in Italy with onions/tomato on top and no cheese. If you go cheese free try roasting/frying/grilling the veg first before putting on the pizza.
If you are a vegan you should be prepared to live without cheese!

Dobie

Hi peanut - I'm vegan & don't bother with cheese substitutes although I know that some are designed to melt & some aren't. You probably picked up the wrong sort by mistake.
If I make pizza I spread the base with the tomato sauce then roast veg (including plenty of roast garlic) & top it with a vegan version of pesto - blitzed up pine nuts, basil & a bit of oil then seasoning to taste. It works for me.
There are masses of vegan recipie sites available but my absolute favourite is called parsleysoup.co.uk. The carrot cake is to die for.

peanutpie05

Dobie wrote:

Hi peanut - I'm vegan & don't bother with cheese substitutes although I know that some are designed to melt & some aren't. You probably picked up the wrong sort by mistake.
If I make pizza I spread the base with the tomato sauce then roast veg (including plenty of roast garlic) & top it with a vegan version of pesto - blitzed up pine nuts, basil & a bit of oil then seasoning to taste. It works for me.
There are masses of vegan recipie sites available but my absolute favourite is called parsleysoup.co.uk. The carrot cake is to die for.

Thanks Dobie ... the pesto idea sounds great .... I'll definately give it a go. I'm not actually vegan ... but have been trying out alot of the vegan alternatives available and I think you're right - I probably picked up the wrong type (it is cheddar style ... I probably needed mozarella style or sim).

Thanks again, xppo5