Description
This homemade vegan halloumi recipe creates a delicious dairy-free cheese alternative using cashews and agar agar to mimic the traditional halloumi’s texture and flavor. It is perfect for frying to achieve that classic crispy exterior and warm, chewy inside, making it a great addition to vegan or dairy-free meals.
Ingredients
Cashew Mixture
- 1 cup raw cashews
- ¼ tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1.5 tbsp light olive oil
- ½ tsp white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- ½ cup + 1 tbsp cold water
- 2.5 tsp agar agar
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (cornflour in UK)
Instructions
- Boil cashews: Place the raw cashews in a medium pan and cover with boiling hot water. Boil them for 15 minutes to soften. Drain well to remove any excess liquid.
- Add ingredients: Put the boiled cashews along with dijon mustard, lemon juice, sea salt, olive oil, white wine vinegar, nutritional yeast, cold water, agar agar, and cornstarch into a blender or food processor.
- Blend: Blend the mixture on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes until completely smooth and creamy.
- Heat up: Transfer the blended mixture to a nonstick pan and heat on medium, stirring continuously to prevent sticking.
- Thicken: Continue stirring as the mixture heats; it will start to thicken within 5 to 10 minutes and should become firm and no longer liquidy.
- Set: Pour the thickened mixture into a shallow dish and allow it to cool slightly. Then place it in the refrigerator to set for about 3 hours until firm.
- Slice: Once set, slice the cheese into 6 equal portions for serving.
- Fry and serve: Lightly oil a pan and gently fry the slices for 5 minutes on each side until they are hot and slightly crispy. Serve warm as a cheese alternative.
Notes
- Soaking and boiling cashews helps achieve a smooth, creamy texture essential for the cheese.
- Agar agar is crucial for setting the cheese, providing a firm, sliceable texture.
- Frying the cheese slices gives a traditional halloumi-style crispy surface and warm interior.
- This vegan halloumi can be stored refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Use a nonstick or well-oiled pan to prevent sticking while frying.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes boiling + 10 minutes thickening + 10 minutes frying
- Category: Cheese Alternative
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Vegan
