Vegan Cashew Chevre Cheese (2 Varieties)

Vegan Cashew Chevre Cheese (2 Varieties)
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Ingredients
  • 1 cup Organic Brown Rice (can use millet, quinoa or other whole grain)
  • 6 cups filtered water
  • 2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for 5-8 hours
  • pinch of salt
  • ¼ - ½ cup of Rejuvelac
  • 1 TBS Nutritional Yeast Flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup, chopped and packed fresh herbs
  • 1 tsp chopped garlic
  • 6 sundried tomatoes
Instructions
  1. To begin, make the Rejuvelac; 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.
  7. Next you must make the Basic Cashew Cheese, by process the soaked cashews with salt and ¼ cup rejuvelac in blender on high, until smooth.
  8. Add up to ¼ cup more rejuvelac if needed to process cashews.
  9. 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.
  10. Finally to make the Chevre, add the Nutritional Yeast and salt to the Basic Cashew Cheese.
  11. For the herb variety; chop a variety of fresh herbs (I used parsley, sage, thyme, and tarragon). 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 a inch on all sides.
  12. 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.
  13. For the garlic and sundried tomato variety; line a small bowl with cheese cloth. Puree six sundried tomatoes until smooth and spread over bottom of bowl on top of cheese cloth. Add 1 tsp chopped garlic to ½ cup of the cashew Chèvre cheese. Put the ½ cup Chèvre cheese with garlic on top of the sundried tomatoes in bowl. Smooth out the top and cover with the sides of excess cheese cloth. Refrigerate for 6-8 hours. Use the cheese cloth to help unmold the cheese from the bowl.
  14. Place on cheese board and garnish with fruit and crackers!

Step-by-Step Instructions:

To begin, first make the Rejuvelac;

Wash the grains then put them in a large glass jar and add water.img_7834img_7836img_7838img_7844img_7847img_7850

Cover with sprouting lid or cheesecloth, secured with rubber band.img_7991Let 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.

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.

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.

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.img_7995img_7998

Next you must make the Basic Cashew Cheese;

First, process the soaked cashews with salt and ¼ cup rejuvelac in blender on high, until smooth.img_8002img_8006img_8007Add up to ¼ cup more rejuvelac if needed to process cashews.img_8008img_8012Transfer to a clean glass bowl and cover. img_8014img_8017img_8019

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.

Now, it is time to make the 2 varieties of Cashew Chevre Cheese;

Add the Nutritional Yeast and salt to the Basic Cashew Cheese.img_8021img_8022

For the herb variety; chop a variety of fresh herbs (I used parsley, sage, thyme, and tarragon). 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 a inch on all sides.img_8023

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.img_8024img_8025img_8026img_8028

For the garlic and sundried tomato variety; line a small bowl with cheese cloth. Puree six sundried tomatoes until smooth and spread over bottom of bowl on top of cheese cloth. img_8033img_8030img_8032img_8035Add 1 tsp chopped garlic to ½ cup of the cashew Chèvre. img_8034Put the ½ cup Chèvre cheese with garlic on top of the sundried tomatoes in bowl. Smooth out the top and cover with the sides of excess cheese cloth. img_8036Refrigerate for 6-8 hours. Use the cheese cloth to help unmold the cheese from the bowl.

Finally, place on cheese board and garnish with fruit and crackers!cashew-chevre-cheese