As I, Line mentioned in an earlier post, we have been experimenting with making Miyoko Shinner‘s artisan vegan cheeses (from her awesome cookbook http://www.amazon.com/Artisan-Vegan-Cheese-Miyoko-Schinner/dp/1570672830/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354818488&sr=8-1&keywords=artisan+vegan+cheese)

What I have been working on, and finished quite a while ago is the brie. It is really, really good…. If I can do it you can too, it’s not that hard 🙂

Vegan brie

Prep: 9 minutes

Soak: 3 hours

Cook: 7 minutes

Rest: 2 days, 16 hours

Servings: about 16, one 6-inch round

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for 3 hours, drained

1 cup water

½ cup plain unsweetened soy yogurt

½ cup refined coconut oil

1 teaspoon nutritional yeast

1 ¼ teaspoons sea salt

2 tablespoons tapioca flour or starch

1 teaspoon agar agar powder or flakes

1. Combine cashews, water, yogurt, coconut oil, nutritional yeast and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender; process until smooth. Transfer mixture into a large bowl, cover with a towel. Let sit at room temperature, 24-36 hours.

2. Pour mixture into a medium saucepan. Whisk in tapioca flour and agar; heat over medium heat, stirring frequently. Cook until mixture is thick and pulls away from the side of the pan, about 5 minutes.

3. Line a 6-inch cake pan with cheesecloth; pour in hot cheese mixture. Spread mixture evenly; cover with cheesecloth. Let cool in refrigerator until firm, 4 hours. The inside will still be very soft.

4. Remove cheesecloth. Wet hands; sprinkle them with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Rub wet salt over cheese. Place cheese on a wire rack; let sit in a cool corner, 24 hours. Flip cheese over; let rest until it appears dry, 12 hours. Wrap in wax paper; store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, freeze in a sealed plastic bag.

I have made to rounds, and in the second batch I substituted the water for some rejuvilac (it’s an important ingredient in many of Miyoko’s cheese recipes, you’ll learn alot more about it once you buy the book… Go on! You know you want it)

It takes a few days, but believe me, it’s worth it. It’s so creamy and feels as unhealthy as real brie, except it pretty surely isn’t… A good day to be vegan 🙂