To Make Rejuvelac (fermented probiotic culture, needed to make Vegan cheese):

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Organic Brown Rice (can use millet, quinoa or other whole grain)
• 6 cups filtered water

To Make the Basic Cashew Cheese: (I like to double the recipe and make a large batch!)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for 5-8 hours. The longer they soak, the less rejuveac you will need
• pinch of salt
• ¼ – ½ cup of Rejuvelac

To Make the Cashew Chèvre Cheese (3 varieties; Garlic Dill, Herb Encrusted and Spicy Sundried Tomatoes):  

Ingredients:

• 1 TBS Nutritional Yeast Flakes
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup, chopped and packed fresh herbs
• 2 tsp chopped garlic
• 2 Tbs chopped dill
• 6 sundried tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon either Harissa, Sriracha or Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, to taste

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

To Make Rejuvelac:

1. Put the grains in a large glass jar and add water.
2. Cover with sprouting lid or cheesecloth, secured with rubber band.
3. Let soak for 12 hours. Drain and rinse. Cover with cloth and place upside down at an angle, in warm spot, allowing the grains to continue draining.
4. Rinse the grains twice a day with water, draining each time until the grains have begun to sprout. This will take about three days for brown rice. Time will vary depending on which grain and temperature of the environment. Once you see a tail on the grains, it is time to culture them.
5. Culture the Rejuvelac by dividing the sprouted grains equally between two glass jars. Cover the grains in each jar with three cups of filtered water. Place a piece of fresh cheese cloth, secured with a rubber band, over each jar and let it sit for three days in a warm spot until the water turns cloudy and white, and has a tart, lemony flavor.
6. Pour the liquid through a strainer into clean glass jars. Compost the grains and use the liquid to make the cheese. The Rejuvelac can be saved in the fridge for up to four weeks or in the freezer. I like to freeze the Rejuvelac in ice cube trays. Each ice cube is ¼ cup, so I take out one cube at a time.

To Make the Basic Cashew Cheese:

1. Process the cashews with salt and ¼ cup Rejuvelac in blender on high, until smooth.
2. Add up to ¼ cup more Rejuvelac if needed to process cashews.
3. Transfer to a clean glass bowl and cover. Let rest at room temperature for 8-36 hours (the longer the cashew cheese sits, the sharper the flavor will be). The cheese will thicken as it cultures.

To Make the Cashew Chèvre Cheese:

1. Add the Nutritional Yeast and salt to the Basic Cashew Cheese. Divide the cheese into 3 parts. Season each as below:
2. For the herb variety; chop a variety of fresh herbs (I used parsley, sage, thyme, dill and oregano). Depending on the size of the Chèvre log you want to make, will vary the size of the cheese cloth. I used a piece of cheese cloth that was 8” x 5” and covered the center section with the herbs leaving an inch on all sides.
3. Spoon the cashew cheese (now Chèvre) in a line down the center of the herbs. Using the cheese cloth, wrap the herbs around the Chèvre cheese creating a log shape. Tie both ends with twine and refrigerate for 6-8 hours until firm.
4. For the Spicy Sundried Tomato variety; line a small bowl with cheese cloth. Puree six sundried tomatoes and 1 tsp. garlic until smooth. Add 1 tsp spicy sauce of your choice, and combine with 1/3 of the cashew Chèvre. Put the Chèvre cheese mixture in bowl with cheese cloth. Smooth out the top and cover with the sides of the excess cheese cloth. Refrigerate for 6-8 hours. The cheese cloth is helpful when unmolding the cheese from the bowl.
5. For the Garlic Dill variety: Line a small bowl with cheese cloth. Add 1 teaspoon chopped garlic, and 2 Tbs chopped dill, and pinch of salt to last third of cheese. Put the Chèvre cheese mixture in bowl with cheese cloth. Smooth out the top and cover with the sides of excess cheese cloth.
6. Wrap all three varieties with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 6-8 hours until firm.

Place on cheese board and garnish with fruit and crackers