• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Full of Plants
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dish
    • Soups
    • Sides
    • Salads
    • Desserts
  • Shop
  • About
    • FAQ
  • Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Special » Fermented Foods

    Hickory Smoked Vegan Cheese

    By: Thomas Published: 21 Jul, 17 Updated: 29 Nov, 21 320 Comments

    RecipePrintComments
    5 from 51 votes
    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese
    Hickory Smoked Vegan Cheese
    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese

    I'm so excited to share this recipe with you guys, I have been making this cheese since over a year and kept it to myself, until now.

    I can't find words powerful enough to express how much I love this cheese. Honestly, I love it even more than my camembert and blue cheeses, even if they take more time and effort to make. There is just something about it, maybe the comforting smoky smell, the strong umami flavor, or its golden brown color, but this cheese just hit me. And I'm sure you will love it too if you give it a try.

    It's the kind of cheese that brings back memories of smoked cheddar or even bacon. This smoked cheese is seriously delicious. The natural smoking process gives it a warm, comforting flavor you can't get with flavorings like liquid smoke or smoked salt for example. It is aged for a total of 3 weeks, smoked after two and edible one week after the smoking process. If you can wait for one-two additional weeks it will be worth it as the flavors gain in complexity as time passes.

    The advantage of this recipe is that it doesn't require any specific mold. Just 4 ingredients: cashews, white miso, nutritional yeast and acidophilus (or mesophilic culture). You don't even have to take care of the temperature or humidity that much compared to my previous cheese recipes.

    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese

    It starts just like any basic cashew cheese, you let the cashews soak overnight and then blend them with the cultures until smooth. I also added some nutritional yeast and white miso, it gives them a more pronounced nutty flavor. My first tries didn't include them and something was missing, so don't omit those two ingredients.

    Once your cheeses are formed, you let them age for at least 2 weeks. They will firm up, flavors will develop and they will become sharper. After two weeks they should be firm enough to handle and smoke.

    To smoke this cheese, I used a Camerons stovetop smoker, I was hesitating to buy one at first but I don't regret it at all because you can smoke many things in it. Stay tuned for a post on how to use a stovetop smoker!

    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese

    The smoking process is super easy. You sprinkle a tablespoon of wood chips in the bottom of the smoker, add the grid and place the cheeses on top. Then close the lid and heat over medium heat for about 12 minutes. That's it.

    After 10-12 minutes, they should be golden brown. At this step they will be very soft because of the heat, let them sit at least 30 minutes before transferring to a clean grid or bamboo mat.

    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese

    They are not edible right after the smoking process, the smoky taste would be too strong, that's why you need to let them age for at least another 7 days. It will allow the smoke to penetrate the interior of the cheeses and let the flavors merge. I like to wait 2-3 weeks after smoking, they become firmer and taste even better.

    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese

    You can serve it on its own, or with roasted nuts, a drizzle of maple syrup, jam or apple slices. It goes very well with whole wheat bread, crackers, and you can even use it in other recipes like burgers, sandwiches, dressing, and more!

    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese

    Everyone who tried it loved it, non-vegans included so I urge you to try it now, you won't be disappointed! As always, let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese
    Get the Ingredients!
    Hickory-Smoked Aged Vegan Cheese

    Hickory Smoked Vegan Cheese

    Author: Thomas
    Aged cashew cheese that is real smoked over hickory wood chips. Smoky, buttery and full of complex flavors.
    5 from 51 votes
    Print Pin Review
    Servings 3 Cheeses
    Calories 125 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups raw cashews soaked overnight
    • 3 tablespoon sweet white miso
    • 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • 4 tablespoon filtered water
    • 8 capsules acidophilus or ⅛ teaspoon mesophilic culture
    • sea salt
    • 2 tablespoon hickory wood chips

    Instructions
     

    Making the cheeses

    • Drain the soaked cashews and place them in a large glass bowl. Bring a pot of water to a boil and pour over the cashews. Let sit 1 minute, and drain. This step is not essential but will kill possible bad bacterias.
    • Transfer the cashews to a blender, or food processor. Add the white miso, nutritional yeast, and filtered water. Blend on high speed, scraping down the sides from time to time, until you get a very smooth, yet thick texture. If needed, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until smooth. Do not add too much water, you want to use as least as possible otherwise the cheese will be too soft.
    • Stir in the acidophilus powder from the capsules (or use mesophilic culture) and blend again for a few seconds.
    • Transfer the cashew mixture into a cheesecloth and pull it tight. Add a weight above it and let sit at room temperature for about 24 hours. I placed the cheesecloth in a colander on top of a bowl. This step is important to start the fermentation of the cashew cream and drain possible excess water.
    • After one day, the cashew cream should have a slightly sour, lemony taste, like fresh cream cheese. Transfer to a clean bowl, cover with plastic film to touch and place in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.
    • Cut strips of parchment paper and lay them in 3 4-inch springform pans. You want to cover the sides and bottom of the springform pans, you can also use plastic film if you prefer. The goal is to prevent the cheese from sticking to the metal. Fill the pans with the mixture and press it down using plastic film so it doesn’t stick to your hands. Cover the pans with plastic film to touch and place in the refrigerator for 2 days.
    • Then, carefully remove the cheeses from the springform pans and place them on a plate or small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Salt both sides with about ¼ teaspoon of salt. Do the same for the sides. Use your finger to gently spread the salt on the surface of the cheese.
    • Place the cheeses in your refrigerator.

    Aging

    • The next day, your cheeses will have lost some water thanks to the salt. Pat them dry with a paper towel if they are too wet, and replace the parchment paper with a new one.
    • For the next 2 weeks, flip the cheeses every day and change the parchment paper regularly if it becomes wet. Note: Cheeses should always be aged in your refrigerator, not at room temperature. At first, the cheeses will be very soft but as they age they will become firmer. If you see some mold appearing, just scrape it off and re-salt the area.

    Smoking

    • After two weeks, your cheeses should be firm enough to handle, if they are not I recommend you let them age another week.
    • Place one tablespoon of hickory wood chips in the bottom of the stovetop smoker. Place the drip and cooking trays on top of the wood chips. You can now place two cheeses on the cooking rack.
    • Heat the smoker over low-medium heat on a stovetop burner. Once smoke starts to appear, close the lid of the smoker completely and smoke the cheese for about 12 minutes. Some smoke will escape from the smoker, that's normal. I usually carefully flip the cheeses halfway through smoking but it's not essential.
    • After 12 minutes, the cheeses should be golden brown. Remove the smoker from heat and let cool for at least 30 minutes. The cheeses will be very soft because of the heat, so be careful when handling them.
    • Transfer to a bamboo mat or clean grid and place in the refrigerator. Let it age for one more week, flipping every 2-3 days. If you are patient enough, I recommend you let the cheeses age for 2-3 weeks after the smoking process, the flavors will merge and the cheese will become even firmer.
    • This smoked cheese is delicious on its own, or with crackers, whole-wheat bread, a drizzle of maple syrup, jam, nuts, or fruits. It can also be used in other recipes like grilled cheese sandwiches, risotto, hamburgers, etc.

    Notes

    To make this recipe, you will need a stovetop smoker. I recommend the Gourmet Mini from Camerons.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 oz (29g)Calories: 125 kcalCarbohydrates: 3 gProtein: 4.4 gFat: 10 gFiber: 0.5 gSugar: 1 g
    Course : Cheese
    Cuisine : French
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @fullofplants on Instagram and hashtag it #fullofplants
    Sign up to the Full of Plants Newsletter
    Subscribe To Our Newsletter
    Receive new recipes straight to your inbox + a free eBook on Vegan Cheese Making!
    Invalid email address
    Thanks for subscribing!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shannon

      July 21, 2017 at 1:31 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing this! I (1) have a smoker that i don't use nearly enough and (2) have always adored the smoked flavors of Miyoko's cheeses (aged vegan cheese brand that I purchase here in the USA) so this recipe seems totally perfect for me. It looks great!

      Reply
      • Thomas

        July 22, 2017 at 5:38 am

        Thanks Shannon! Let me know if you try it! 😉

        Reply
        • Mike

          August 10, 2017 at 12:49 pm

          Thomas;
          I just smoked my first batch of Hickory cheese......it is making the fridge smell a little smoky.
          Can I place in sealed plastic container for the remainder of aging to keep smoky smell down?

          Also, I making all of your cheeses and will have a large amount at once....what luck have you had with freezing for future use on the three types of cheese.....any suggestions?

          Reply
          • Thomas

            August 11, 2017 at 6:00 am

            Hi Mike,
            I hear you, I usually age my cheeses in another fridge, not my main one, and even after a few weeks it still smells very smoky! Not that I'm complaining but I understand it can be annoying if it's in your main fridge. So, yes you can place them in a plastic container to finish the aging, no problem with that. Just make sure to wipe off any moisture in the container every 2-3 days.

            I never had to freeze the cheeses so I can't really help you with that. Be aware the longer you let them age (wrapper in cheese paper), the better they will taste. Blue and Smoked ones will keep for at least 4-6 additional weeks, and probably more. Camembert also ages well but if you let it age too long it will lose its creaminess, the taste will still be great though. I hope this helps!

            Reply
          • EGBee

            March 01, 2022 at 4:33 am

            I am so looking forward to trying these. As I am on an ant-inflammatory diet, and cashews are supposedly somewhat inflammatory, do you think this recipe could work with sunflower seeds? What other changes to the recipe would be necessary to achieve the right texture?

            Reply
    2. Cee

      July 23, 2017 at 9:31 am

      Oh my, thank for this recipe, I so need to try this !

      Do you know if I can replace the capsules with homemade sauerkraut juice ( or another lacto-fermentation juice) ?
      Thanks again for your work it's amazing 😉

      Reply
      • Thomas

        July 23, 2017 at 9:45 am

        Yes, you can use rejuvelac or any other fermented juice. Use it in replacement of the 4 tbsp water 😉

        Reply
        • Lori

          February 28, 2019 at 3:04 am

          If you use brine from red cabbage kraut the cheese will have a purple hue. Ask me how I know

          Reply
    3. Pat

      July 23, 2017 at 11:27 am

      I do not have a smoker - I've avoided it because my smoke detectors are very sensitive. Can anyone who has one tell me if these tend to leak smoke enough to set detectors off?

      Reply
      • Peggy

        July 24, 2017 at 4:19 am

        I can't speak about this particular smoker, but when I roast chillies,eggplant etc on the stovetop I wrap the smoke detector in plastic until I'm done. Anything to avoid that ear piercing noise!

        Reply
      • Thomas

        July 24, 2017 at 7:13 am

        It really depends on where your smoke detectors are located. There is obviously some smoke escaping from the smoker but if you have a kitchen hood you should be okay. According to some reviews on Amazon, it doesn't trigger the detectors.

        Reply
      • bansidhe

        March 10, 2021 at 11:33 pm

        Our smoke detectors are very sensitive also and we have not set them off with this smoker. Mind you, if I feel there is a gap I sometimes put a heavy object like a pyrex measuring cup full of water on it. Some smoke will leak out, so keep your exhaust fan on.

        Reply
    4. Jolisa

      July 23, 2017 at 12:35 pm

      Amazing!!! Have to try this recipe. Thank you for such dedication & sharing!

      Reply
      • Thomas

        July 24, 2017 at 7:07 am

        Thanks Jolisa!

        Reply
    5. Sandy

      July 24, 2017 at 12:08 am

      Thanks so much Thomas for sharing a new cheese recipe! I've successfully made many batches of Camembert and Blue, they are the best! Quick question..... when you put this cheese in the refrigerator at step 8 of "Making the Cheeses", are they in a container or covered like the other cheeses or are the open? Also, did you experiment with other wood chips before deciding on hickory?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        July 24, 2017 at 7:07 am

        You're welcome Sandy!
        I keep the cheeses uncovered in the refrigerator so they become firmer more quickly. It's the opposite of what you do for the camembert and blue cheese.
        Yes, I tried with apple and oak wood, there is a slight difference between each one. In the end, my preference went to Hickory. Probably because it's the flavor we are the most used to (used in BBQ sauces, bacon, smoked almonds, etc).

        Reply
    6. Mandie

      July 24, 2017 at 10:26 am

      I am allergic to cashews any idea what would work for this instead?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        July 25, 2017 at 5:36 am

        I guess it would work with almonds but the texture might be a little bit grainy.

        Reply
    7. Melissa Maedgen

      July 29, 2017 at 12:41 am

      Where do you find a vegan mesophilic culture? I was a home cheesemaker prior to going vegan, and all the cultures were dairy based. I have found and used a vegan yogurt culture, but I would really like to have a broader range of the cultures I used to use. Rejuvelac is not acceptable to me because 1) I have celiac disease and can't make it from wheat, 2) non-wheat versions (I've tried millet and quinoa) are not the same and 3) even the wheat versions are not going to produce the same flavors I'm seeking in my vegan cheese.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        July 29, 2017 at 5:39 am

        I get mine from Cashewbert.com, but you can also use acidophilus probiotics. It works great too and they are vegan.
        Some websites have aromatic blends that are vegan, in case you want to give your cheeses more complex flavors (I'm thinking Flora Danica, etc).

        Reply
      • Vero

        November 19, 2019 at 10:56 pm

        You could try using the culture coconut probiotics, the one they sell in the fridge of health food shops.

        Reply
    8. Tracy Alexander

      July 31, 2017 at 10:51 pm

      Is there no actual salt in the recipe -- just the saltiness of the miso?

      Thank you for your wonderfule recipes!!!

      Reply
      • Thomas

        August 01, 2017 at 5:06 am

        Oh there is! I added the salting step in the recipe instructions but forgot to add it in the ingredients.

        Reply
        • Deb Williard

          July 30, 2022 at 7:59 pm

          Can you elaborate? I see only salt for exterior rub.

          Reply
          • Thomas

            August 02, 2022 at 9:28 am

            Yes, salt is only used for the exterior rub.

            Reply
    9. Ashley

      August 06, 2017 at 8:44 pm

      For those of us without smokers, do you think using liquid smoke could be a good substitute?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        August 09, 2017 at 7:32 am

        It can be a substitute, yes. I would recommend using 2 teaspoons. The taste will be different though, you can't really replicate the flavors you get with a real smoking process.

        Reply
    10. Sandy

      August 09, 2017 at 9:49 pm

      Thomas! The smoke cheese is absolutely awesome! I made 2 batches at once and tried hickory, maple and apple smoke. I've tried the hickory and apple; both are wonderful! Many, many thanks for sharing your recipes! Makes "dairy free" tolerable.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        August 11, 2017 at 5:48 am

        You're welcome Sandy! So glad to hear you liked it! 🙂
        Thanks for the feedback!

        Reply
    11. Tilly

      August 30, 2017 at 6:01 pm

      I don't have a smoker, but do you thinking forgoing the smoking would result in a nice cheddar?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        September 05, 2017 at 3:00 pm

        The cheese would not be as flavorful but it should still be tasty!

        Reply
        • Nancye

          January 25, 2018 at 1:24 pm

          Can you use liquid smoke instead???

          Reply
          • Thomas

            January 28, 2018 at 6:00 am

            Yes as I replied to Ashley, you can add 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke while blending the cashews. It will taste great but you won't get the same smoky flavor you would with real smoking.

            Reply
          • Daniele

            February 17, 2022 at 7:45 am

            5 stars
            Wow... One of the best vegan cheese recipe I found out on Web!! I just bought all the ingredients to try it. I was wondering if I should put a little bit of garlic powder to make the taste stronger. What do you think about? Cheers 🙏🙏

            Reply
            • Thomas

              February 24, 2022 at 1:34 pm

              Thanks Daniele!
              You could definitely add some garlic powder!

    12. Nia Jenkins

      September 13, 2017 at 5:28 pm

      5 stars
      is there a way to smoke the cheese if one doesn't have a proper smoker please?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        September 14, 2017 at 12:16 pm

        There is! You can use your wok with a grid and some aluminum foil, check out this guide: http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/07/wok-skills-101-indoor-smoking-how-to-smoke-in-a-wok-slideshow.html

        Reply
    13. Brian Amaro-Jeppesen

      September 15, 2017 at 4:10 pm

      Hello Thomas,

      I'm making two batches of your cheese, and I've got three quick questions.

      1) Can I substitute the Dark Aged Miso for the Sweet White?
      2) In one batch, can I substitute Jack Daniel's for the water? (It's for my birthday dinner)
      3) In the first day, can I stick it in a dehydrator instead of leaving it out? How does this effect the process?

      Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!

      Reply
      • Thomas

        September 15, 2017 at 4:23 pm

        Hi Brian,

        I would not recommend using brown/dark miso, the cheeses would be too salty and lack the subtle sweetness you get with sweet white miso. The natural sweetness of white miso pairs very well with the smoky flavor, but if you can't get your hands on white miso, try using only 1 tsp of dark miso.
        Yes, you can use alcohol instead of water, no problem at all with that! I would love to hear how it turns out!
        Regarding the first day, don't use a dehydrator. You want to leave the cashew cream at room temperature (80°F maximum), acidophilus will do its work and the cream will ferment, giving it a tangy flavor. I guess a dehydrator would dry the cashew cream too much, and/or the temperature would be too high.

        I hope this helps!

        Reply
        • Brian Amaro-Jeppesen

          September 15, 2017 at 5:01 pm

          I actually bought bother the sweet white and the dark aged. I think what I'll try is one batch with your recipe as is. One I will split in half and add a little dark miso, then marble the two together to give dark streaks. That's the batch that I'm adding the Jack Daniel's too. For smoking it, I already have some alder chips for one batch, and Jack Daniels Oak Barrel wood chips for the Jack batch. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

          Reply
          • Deidre

            February 03, 2018 at 1:16 am

            I’m curious about your results!

            Reply
    14. Keith

      September 22, 2017 at 6:02 pm

      Thomas,

      I just found your blog and have to say I am very impressed. I am a brand new vegan and still finding my way around all of the delicious recipes I can find. My biggest challenge is that I am deathly allergic to soy and must avoid it at all costs.

      So you have probably guessed what my question will be, but is there anything you would recommend replacing the miso with?

      Thanks,

      Keith

      Reply
      • Thomas

        September 26, 2017 at 7:27 pm

        Hi Keith,

        Thanks for the kind words! You are right, miso can also be made from chickpeas 🙂 I never had the chance to get my hands on it, but if you live in a big city you shouldn't have trouble finding it.

        Reply
        • Susan Kaufman

          June 18, 2020 at 5:58 pm

          I was going to ask a similar question. I've looked on line and a suggestion is tahini paste as a substitute for white miso. Thinking about this with a little coconut aminos. What do you think?

          Thanks for this recipe - can't wait to try it.

          Reply
          • Thomas

            June 27, 2020 at 7:22 am

            Tahini won't make a good substitute for miso here, and if you add soy sauce I'm afraid it will alter the flavor too much.

            Reply
    15. Keith

      September 22, 2017 at 6:23 pm

      As a quick follow up, I was not aware that they made miso from anything other than soy but did a quick search after my initial post. To my surprise I learned that they make it from chickpeas and azuki as well. I think I'll give this recipe a try with the chickpea miso and see how it turns out.

      Keith

      Reply
    16. Heather

      October 03, 2017 at 3:07 am

      Amazed by the detailing in your blog and it isn't just "fluff." One request...more recipes, specifically cheeze recipes. I'm still working on this one but it sounds like it's going to work and be delicious! Thank you

      Reply
      • Thomas

        October 04, 2017 at 6:01 am

        Thank you Heather! I am trying to post twice a week, usually on Wednesdays and Sundays. Posting more would be difficult for me and the quality of the recipes would suffer.
        Hope you will like the cheese!

        Reply
    17. Nicolas Curtil

      October 11, 2017 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      Hi thomas

      Really Good site. One of the best so far in terms of explanations and detailing.
      Can you please tell me if this cheese melts well (gooey effect) ?
      I am looking into using it in a burger.
      Well done again.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        October 12, 2017 at 6:37 am

        Hi Nicolas,

        Thanks for the kind words! This cheese doesn't melt but gets slightly softer when warm. Real aged cashew cheeses are awesome in term of taste and texture but unfortunately don't become stretchy or gooey.

        Reply
    18. Vita

      October 19, 2017 at 7:36 am

      Hi Thomas.
      Can I use natural special liquid smoke for cheese? If so, when and how to add it?

      Thanks a lot,
      Vita

      Reply
      • Thomas

        October 20, 2017 at 4:27 pm

        You can, but as I stated in the article you won't get the same depth of flavor. I would recommend adding about 1 tsp liquid smoke when blending the cashews.

        Reply
    19. Heather

      October 29, 2017 at 5:09 pm

      Tried it as the recipe states and looks great, still aging so thank you so much for this recipe! I'm wondering if raw walnuts could be subbed next time for the raw cashews? I prefer walnut in my "Parmesan" just wondering if you think they would work and if I'd need to follow same instructions with soaking and then boiling water to get rid of bacteria?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        October 30, 2017 at 10:36 am

        I have never used other nuts to make vegan cheese (except almonds for curd based cheeses) so I can't say. But I'm afraid walnuts will turn rancid if aged for over 2 weeks. I'm also not sure about the texture since walnuts contain more fat the mixture would probably be a bit more oily and not as smooth. These are just thoughts and maybe I'm wrong!

        I recommend boiling the nuts for all vegan cheese you make, it's an extra step but it kills most bad bacterias.

        Reply
    20. Angela

      November 06, 2017 at 12:26 pm

      Hi,this cheese sounds delicious, my query is this, do I have to use filtered water?

      I don't have a filter jug and don't really want to buy one, can I use cooled boiled water? Is it to prevent bacteria from the water?

      Thank you

      Reply
      • Thomas

        November 06, 2017 at 3:02 pm

        Hi Angela,

        You don't have to! Just use bottled water, or as you said cooled boiled water, it will work just as well! That is correct, it is to prevent possible bacteria that would make the cheese turn bad, it's not very common though, but it can happen.

        Reply
        • Louisa

          October 27, 2018 at 12:54 pm

          I thought that the problem with bottled water is that it's not tested for bacteria? There are reports of people bottling water in their garages and selling it as "spring water."

          Reply
          • Thomas

            October 29, 2018 at 6:11 am

            Never heard about that, but just boil some tap water and let it cool down 😉

            Reply
            • Louisa Dell'Amico

              October 29, 2018 at 1:26 pm

              Great. Thank you!

    21. Bev

      November 15, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      You've done it again! I finally got out my homemade smoker (recycled a rectangular turkey roaster and modified a cookie pan to fit the interior, piercing the bottom with punched holes.) We smoked this cheese, and since the smoker was fired up, smoked almonds, cashews and tofu, per your recipes. And a bunch of garlic, too. WOW! The cheese is fantastic! Even though it needs to rest for another week or two, we just had to sample a bit. So delicious! Same with the other foods.

      If anyone is interested to know, we use our Coleman camping stove outside to smoke food. No worries about smoke alarms or a smoky house.

      Thank you Thomas!

      Reply
      • Thomas

        November 17, 2017 at 7:11 am

        Thanks again for the feedback Beverly! The first time I tried smoking food I also relied on a homemade smoker 🙂
        So glad to hear you liked this recipe! It's easier to make than the camembert or blue but it's still my favorite. After 7-10 days the cheeses will be even more delicious as the smoke will have blended with the other flavors.
        Enjoy your cheeses! 🙂

        Reply
    22. Jackie Holden

      December 12, 2017 at 6:12 am

      I am wondering if a little oil in the mixture may help it melt,I will try with & without & post the results.
      Marmite can be substituted for miso.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        December 12, 2017 at 1:32 pm

        Unfortunately it won't work, it will only make the cheeses more greasy.

        Reply
        • Jackie

          December 12, 2017 at 2:45 pm

          Thank you for your prompt reply

          Reply
    23. Jackie

      December 12, 2017 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      I am very pleased to have found your recipes,& will be trying as many as I can

      When you mix in the mesophilic culture it is important that the temperature of the cashews is less than 40 degrees C,or blood heat,otherwise the culture won't work,also if you are adding rejuvelac or sauerkraut liquid instead of water then the cashews have to be cool.

      I am trying to make a meltable grateable cheese with flavour,this one may go half way there

      Reply
    24. monique passchier

      December 17, 2017 at 1:42 pm

      Hiya, reading and learning !

      So far I only made cheeses with rejuvelac. What does acidophilius do ? Is it just tot get the tangy, slightly sour taste in there, or does it do more ?
      If the effect is the same I would rather use rejuvelac cause much cheaper and way less processed 🙂
      If so, how much would i use in this recipe ?

      Thanks, Monique

      Reply
      • Thomas

        December 18, 2017 at 6:49 am

        Hi Monique,
        Acidophilus helps the cheese ferment, giving them that tangy, slightly lemony taste.
        Sure, you can use rejuvelac in this recipe! Just use it in place of the filtered water (4 tbsp).

        Reply
    25. Yvonne

      December 19, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      Dear Thomas,

      I have made this cheese several times and it is fantastic. I am on batch five right now. All of your recipes are excellent. I cannot thank you enough for all of your hard work

      Reply
      • Thomas

        December 22, 2017 at 12:30 pm

        Thank you so much for the feedback Yvonne! Glad to hear you liked the smoked cheeses! 🙂

        Reply
    26. Juan

      December 21, 2017 at 6:52 pm

      How would you smoke this in a gas smoker?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        December 22, 2017 at 3:24 pm

        I have absolutely no idea, sorry! I only used a stovetop smoker so I don't know how long you should smoked it in a gas smoker.

        Reply
    27. Monique

      December 23, 2017 at 1:25 pm

      Hiya, recipe is on it's way. Time to get them out of the molds and into the fridge again. You say you use parchment paper. Is it an idea to use cheese mats, to better get rid of the moisture; or woud they dry too quick?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        December 24, 2017 at 6:52 am

        Hey Monique,
        Yes you can use cheese mats, but I would recommend to use them after at least a week, otherwise, the cashew cream might stick to it and it won't be easy to flip.
        For this cheese, you definitely want to dry them, as opposed to the camembert and blue cheese.

        Reply
    28. Monique

      December 24, 2017 at 12:15 am

      Do they freeze well ?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        December 24, 2017 at 6:57 am

        I never tried freezing them since they keep for a very long time in the refrigerator. Once they are smoked, it creates some kind of hard rind that protects them from getting mold. You can probably keep them for up to 3 months wrapped in cheese paper, in the refrigerator. They will firm up even more and if you are patient enough you will be able to grate them like parmesan 🙂

        Reply
    29. Anush

      December 24, 2017 at 6:44 pm

      Hi, just want to clarify do you rub salt only once or do you have to do it more often than that ?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        December 26, 2017 at 6:10 am

        Hi, yes you only salt the cheeses once.

        Reply
        • Alejandra

          March 18, 2018 at 5:41 am

          I was going to ask the same question! Thanks for this amazing recipe!

          Reply
          • Alejandra

            March 18, 2018 at 6:13 am

            I found about your site recently, I’m amazed!
            😀 thank you!

            Reply
            • Thomas

              March 19, 2018 at 5:51 am

              Glad to hear you like it Alejandra! 🙂

    30. Monqiue

      January 26, 2018 at 4:32 pm

      5 stars
      Hiya Thomas,

      Just had a tast of my first cheese after it has been sitting in the fridge for 3 weeks after smoking. And it tastes wonderful !!
      Although I have 3 more cheeses, I think I will start on a new batch again tomorrow. Love it.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        January 28, 2018 at 6:02 am

        Hey Monique,
        Awesome!! It's highly recommended to have batches in the making at all times, this way you never run out of smoky vegan cheese 🙂

        Reply
    31. Rich

      February 11, 2018 at 7:59 pm

      Hi Thomas.
      Should I cool down the cashews after draining from the boiling water? I think it may kill the culture of the cashew batter is too hot.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        February 15, 2018 at 4:22 pm

        Hi Rich, you can cool down the cashews 5 minutes if you want but it's not necessary. I almost always blend the cashews right after draining and it never killed the culture.

        Reply
    32. Glen

      February 20, 2018 at 1:49 pm

      So there's no mention regarding the salt, between the aging and smoking process. Do you smoke it with the salt still on? wipe ot off? will it fall off as it ages?

      Reply
      • Thomas

        February 21, 2018 at 6:13 am

        I'm not sure what you mean exactly. Once the cheeses have been salted once they will just absorb the salt, it won't stay on the outside or fall, so you don't have any visible salt when you have to smoke them. I hope this helps!

        Reply
        • Glen

          February 21, 2018 at 1:21 pm

          Good enough. That answers my question, thank you

          Reply
    33. Paige

      February 21, 2018 at 2:25 pm

      Do you prefer acidophilus over rejvelac? If so, why? Is it a matter of convenience or do you find that the cheese turns out better with acidophilus? This recipe looks incredible! So excited to try it.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        February 23, 2018 at 5:35 am

        Yes, it's mostly a matter of convenience, I made rejuvelac in the past but you have to make it like 3 days ahead and it doesn't always work. Plus it's not as "clean" as using filtered water + dry culture, rejuvelac can contain more bacterias.

        Most of the time I use mesophilic culture because it's cheaper than acidophilus since you only need to use a pinch. The difference between mesophilic and acidophilus is that acidophilus yields a slightly tangier flavor (great for camemberts for example). I guess it's a matter of personal taste.

        Reply
    34. Alejandra

      March 18, 2018 at 6:11 am

      Hi Thomas!
      Thanks for this amazing recipe! Wow!
      my question:
      On step 2 of AGING you say to always age our cheeses in the fridge. What temperature should it be - inside the refrigerator?!
      Is it possible to set or know?! Please! Thanks

      Reply
      • Thomas

        March 19, 2018 at 5:53 am

        Hi Alejandra,
        That is correct. Regarding the temperature, I would recommend aging the cheeses at 48-53°F (9-12°F). I usually increase the temperature of my refrigerator a bit or age the cheeses in a cellar/cold room.

        Reply
        • Alejandra Hoyer

          March 19, 2018 at 6:35 pm

          Thanks Thomas, like you have a cellar/cold room for aging! Figuring out how to re-create one! Thanks for sharing! Love your food photography! 🙂

          Reply
          • Thomas

            March 21, 2018 at 5:44 pm

            It depends on the season, during summer I usually age the cheeses in the refrigerator 😉
            Thanks!

            Reply
    35. NIELE

      March 23, 2018 at 10:44 pm

      5 stars
      ola, tudo bem?

      Genial seu blog, sou do BRASIL.
      TENHO UMA DUVIDA. QUANDO SALGAMOS OS QUEIJOS, TIRAMOS DOS AROS DE INOX,PARA ENVELECER NA GELADEIRA, ELES VOLTAM PARA OS AROS OU ENVELECEMOS SEM OS AROS
      DESDE JÁ GRATIDÃO

      Reply
      • Thomas

        March 26, 2018 at 5:28 am

        Hi Niele,
        Sorry but I don't speak Spanish...

        Reply
        • NIELE

          March 26, 2018 at 12:32 pm

          Hello, how are you?

          Great blog, I'm from BRAZIL.
          I HAVE A DOUBT. WHEN WE LEAVE THE CHEESES, WE TAKE OFF THE STAINLESS STEEL RINGS, TO SLEEP IN THE FRENCH, THEY RETURN TO THE RINGS, OR WE ARE ENVELOPED WITHOUT THE RINGS
          FROM ALL GRATITUDE

          Reply
    36. NIELE

      March 23, 2018 at 10:45 pm

      5 stars
      ola, tudo bem?

      Genial seu blog, sou do BRASIL.
      TENHO UMA DUVIDA. QUANDO SALGAMOS OS QUEIJOS, TIRAMOS DOS AROS DE INOX,PARA ENVELECER NA GELADEIRA, ELES VOLTAM PARA OS AROS OU ENVELECEMOS SEM OS AROS
      DESDE JÁ GRATIDÃO.

      Reply
      • Alejandra Hoyer

        March 26, 2018 at 2:13 pm

        Hola Niele, No hablo portugués, pero ambas opciones son válidas. Puedes retirar los aros y dejarlos añejar sin ellos en el refrigerador. 🙂

        Hello Niele, I do not speak Portuguese, but both options are valid. You can remove the rings and aged without them in the refrigerator. 🙂

        Google translate:
        Olá Niele, eu não falo português, mas ambas as opções são válidas. Você pode remover os aros de inox e deixá-los envelhecer sem eles na geladeira. 🙂

        Alejandra

        Reply
    37. NIELE

      March 25, 2018 at 7:07 pm

      ola
      adorei seu site. Sou do brasil
      qual seria a proporção de probioticos em pó? ou seja , para cada 1 xicara de castanhas , qual a quantidade de probióticos utilizados em pó?
      desde já
      obrigado

      Reply
    38. Camille DeMars

      March 29, 2018 at 5:06 pm

      I don't have a stovetop smoker, but I have access to an outdoor smoker. What's the approximate temperature range (in Fahrenheit) for the smoking process? Is it less than 100 degrees? More? I don't want to melt the cheese while smoking it!

      Reply
      • Thomas

        March 30, 2018 at 6:01 am

        I have never used an outdoor smoker, or ever saw one actually! Regarding the temperature, I'm not sure how high it goes, I would say between 150 and 190°F since I put it on low. Once it's done smoking I have to let the cheeses cool a bit before transferring to a rack as they are usually softer.
        If you can set the temperature I would recommend going lower than that and smoke for a bit longer. Maybe test on one cheese first and then see how it goes.

        Reply
        • Aaron

          May 03, 2018 at 4:35 pm

          I asked the same question elsewhere before I saw your answer here, so feel free to disregard my other question! I plan to try to smoke them longer at lower temperatures, and if I have success, I will let you know.

          Reply
          • Thomas

            May 09, 2018 at 5:22 am

            Great, let me know how it goes!

            Reply
    39. Geoff

      March 30, 2018 at 2:40 am

      5 stars
      Hi Thomas,

      After 2 months of waiting for our smoky vegan cheese to firm up, we made our first slice into the creamy round chunk of yumminess. This was our first attempt at making nut cheese and boy did it exceed our expectations. Your recipes have all turned out great. We are new to being plant based and sites like yours have helped us through the transition. Keep up the good work! thanks

      Reply
      • Thomas

        March 30, 2018 at 6:04 am

        Hi Geoff,
        Thank you so much for the feedback! This recipe requires patience but I believe it's definitely worth it! So glad to hear you liked the cheeses 😉

        Reply
        • Jackie

          March 30, 2018 at 8:42 am

          5 stars
          Hi, Thomas
          This recipe is brilliant,thank you.I have tried it using sunflower seeds & cashews,& it works very well.
          Also, for the last one I made I added sweet smokey red pepper powder & red pepper flakes,which has added another dimension to the cheese.
          We don't have a stove top smoker,so we use a cold smoker which takes about 12 hours,but it does have to be used outdoors.
          I have enjoyed making your recipes,if you can figure out a truly meltable cheese, that would be wonderful.
          Thank you

          Reply
          • Thomas

            April 03, 2018 at 3:50 pm

            You're welcome Jackie 😉
            Thanks for sharing your tweaks, especially how you used an outdoor smoker. I'm sure this information will be very useful for people who don't have access to a stovetop smoker.

            Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Trackbacks

    1. De 10 beste online recepten voor vegan kaas - ikeetvegan.nl says:
      August 26, 2017 at 8:34 pm

      […] 5. Gerookte kaas […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this Recipe




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Thomas, welcome to my blog! Here you will find simple, healthy and tasty plant-based recipes. Experimenting in the kitchen is my passion.

    Learn more about me →

    Please wait...

    Thank you for sign up!

    Most Popular

    • Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala
    • How To Make Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Baguette)
    • Vegan Aged Camembert Cheese
    • Spicy Vegan Hot Pot

    Footer

    • Quick Dinners
    • Vegan Cheese Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Vegan Desserts

    About

    • About
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
    • Blogging Resources

    Join the Community!

    Copyright © 2022 Full of Plants.

    x
    WANT A FREE EBOOK?
    Subscribe to receive your FREE 100-Page eBook "The Art of Vegan Cheese Making" with over 25 recipes!

    We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
    Invalid email address
    Thanks for subscribing! You should receive your eBook soon!
    Close Optin
    We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
    Invalid email address
    Thanks for subscribing!