Over ten years ago I developed an allergy to milk protein because of which I cannot eat or drink anything containing dairy products. With the rise in the number of people on vegan diets, this has become easier in recent years. There are vastly improved substitutes for most dairy items, including milk and ice cream. Cheese however, has proved very difficult to replicate, and until I became allergic to it I was very much a cheese lover. So until yesterday it was over a decade since I had eaten anything that I felt had an authentic cheese flavour. Everything was a disappointment.
This weekend my husband bought some vegan Applewood, a vegan version of a cheese that I had never tasted. However, it is advertised as a smoked flavour cheese, and I did like German smoked cheeses. I also loved strongly flavoured Swiss cheeses, especially Gruyere and Raclette. I think this vegan cheese is very like these Swiss cheeses.
Yesterday morning Dave made me our version of a croque monsieur using a 50/50 mix of vegan applewood and vegan mozarella (a disappointing substitute for real mozarella). He toasted this mix on white bread with some wafer thin honey roast ham. In keeping with all my previous experiences of vegan cheese substitutes, I expected not to like the croque monsieur very much, and to be painfully reminded of what I had lost due to my allergy. Instead I was so absolutely utterly delighted by it that I cried with joy! The flavour was what I remember of Gruyere and Raclette, and I was astounded.
Unlike most vegan cheeses that I have encountered, vegan applewood melts and browns when heated. So I have already started revisiting some of the recipes I used to love that involved strongly flavoured cheeses. For lunch I made bacon and cheese rosti. It was amazing!
For tea (Yorkshire speak for the evening meal) we made leek and carrot pie with a mashed potato topping with a crisped layer of vegan applewood and vegan mozarella on top. Delicious!
Then last night I made vegan cheese straws. Again, amazing! Next up I shall try vegan cheese scones. And yes, I’m also going to have a go at cheese dreams, a fondly remembered delight from my childhood.
It’s wonderful to see you enjoying this so much!