What Is The Best Alternate Non-Dairy Cheese For Vegetarians?

I'm a Vegetarian and I want to purchase cheese that doesn't have any dairy or artificial products. I'm looking for all varieties such as cheddar like (extra-sharp, etc) to shredded, minus the high fat content, calories, dairy and artificial ingredients.

Which brands carry such cheeses and in what stores can I purchase them? Thanks!

I usually use tofu, pureed and seasoned with lemon juice, salt, a little sugar, a little plain oil, herbs and onions to substitute white cheeses. If you add some turmeric and yeast flakes, you will have yellow cheese.

Smoked tofu is a very good substitute for any kind of smoked cheese, it tastes like smoked goat cheese.

Good, creamy white and non-crumbly tofu tastes exactly like plain white cheeses, similar to mozzarella, just lower in fat.

Bad thing about tofu is, it does not melt at all, it becomes chewy-elastic during baking.

Than, there is "Sheese", but this is quite expensive, but it melts a bit and the taste is very nice. And "Tofutti", which can replace cream cheese and sour cream very good.

Any other suggestions here? (I am searching for other good non dairy cheeses as well !)

In my opinion there are no good non-dairy cheeses, they all taste bad.

What I would do if I were you is I would go to your favorite vegetarian store or health food store and see what they offer and then start buying different ones and trying them.

The reason I say this is, I am lactose intolerant and so I have to drink milk alternative. Some people think Silk tastes really good and I can't stand how it tastes...I like 8th Continent Soy Milk but, I know people who really don't like that either. So it is such a personal preference that you need to just try a few of them.

Also there is a cook book out there called:

"The Ultimate Uncheese Cook Book: Delicious Dairy Free Cheeses and Classic UnCheese Dishes."

This cookbook tries to mimic the taste of cheese with out actually using Dairy Cheese in the dish. She has you purchase things like Nutritional Yeast and Soy based cheeses to try to get the right flavor. But, might help you in your quest for the right cheese taste.

"Rice Slices" are good, and they melt! Tofutti Cream Cheese is good, and a new product called "Sheese" is really good, but still hard to find. There is a book called "The Uncheese Cookbook" by Jo Stepaniak that has great recipes for all kinds of cheeses and cheese sauces.

yeah, none of them are great. I normally either use nutritional yeast on stuff like pasta or pizza and guacomole for mexican or sandwiches. The guac really gives that creamy fatty taste and I think it subs cheese pretty darned good.

I hate to break it to you, but most vegan cheeses I've tasted are terrible. But if you had to use one, I'd suggest Follow Your Heart brand. It can be found at most organic grocery stores.

There's a new brand of vegan cheese - Teese - that claims it's superior in taste and meltability. Check it out here:
http://www.myspace.com/teesevegancheese

http://www.imearthkind.com/Main.htm

these ones are not to bad, but they aren't great.

When I first became vegan, I ate some veg cheese, but now, I just go without.

My husband like the toffutti cheese slices, but I can't stand them.

I find that the cheese tastes processed...and I don't think that it is good for you.

There is a feta that isn't bad....I've eaten it, but again, it's processed and full of sodium. I loved cheese, but after eating vegan cheese for a while, I decided that my life was more pleasant without it.

Lots of people will tell you vegan cheese is kinda nasty, and it kinda is lol.

As far as sliced cheese goes, Veggie Slices are pretty good and very easy to find; they are in a green & yellow package.

My mom sometimes eats cheese made from almond milk. I've never had it, but she's a chef so I'm assuming she know's whats good.