Best Cheese Alternatives for Pizza: Vegan and Homemade

Pizza is a comfort food consumed worldwide, but if you are lactose intolerant or have a plant-based diet, you can’t have traditional mozzarella cheese. Fortunately, there are several cheese alternatives for pizza which is called vegan cheese that have good melting properties and provide the same satisfying experience.

In this blog, will explore some of the best dairy-free cheese options to put on pizza, store-bought and homemade, with ingredients including coconut oil, and a simple vegan pizza recipe to prepare at home.

Why People Prefer Cheese Alternatives?

Before exploring the best cheese alternatives, let’s examine why an individual may choose to have a dairy-free alternative:

• Lactose Intolerance – Some people are lactose intolerant and have trouble digesting lactose, a milk sugar, and can have digestive symptoms.
• Plant-Based or Vegan Diets – Individuals choosing to avoid animal products based on ethical, environmental, or health reasons adopt plant-based options.
• Health Benefits – Dairy-free cheese alternatives could be healthier as they are lower in cholesterol and saturated fat.

Best Cheese Alternatives for Pizza

Now, let’s take a look at some of the best vegan cheese substitutes to top pizza.

1. Store-Bought Vegan Cheese

There are many brands today that have specifically developed vegan cheeses to imitate melted traditional mozzarella. They are available in most food stores and have a similar taste and texture to dairy cheese.

Best Store-Bought Vegan Cheese for Pizza

1. Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds – Lactose-intolerant consumers enjoy these dairy-free shreds, which are stretchy and can be melted. They are great to use on pizza.
2. Violife Mozzarella Flavored Slices – With coconut oil, they are rich, full-flavored, and have an excellent melting point, so they are great to use in both deep-dish and thin-crust pizzas.
3. Follow Your Heart Vegan Mozzarella – This is a mild-flavored vegan cheese that is perfect for those who do not desire a strong, tangy flavor on their pizza.
4. Miyoko’s Creamery Vegan Mozzarella – This artisanal cheese is made from cashews and coconut oil and melts just like dairy mozzarella.

While store-bought options are convenient, it is easier than you might think to prepare your own vegan cheese at home.

2. Homemade Vegan Cheese for Pizza

If you like to cook from scratch, homemade vegan cheese is a wonderful alternative. Using only a few ingredients, you can create a fantastic-tasting, meltable cheese alternative.

Simple Vegan Mozzarella Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup-soaked cashews, soaked 2-4 hours
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
• 2 tbsp tapioca starch (for stretchability)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon powdered garlic
• ½ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse the soaked cashews.
2. In a high-speed blender, combine cashews, water, coconut oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder and blend until smooth.
3. Place the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat.
4. Continue stirring continuously as you add tapioca starch. The mixture will thicken and become stretchy.
5. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before spreading on your pizza.

This homemade cheese substitute is rich and creamy and bakes to a lovely, melted texture, so it is a great substitute for mozzarella.

3. Dairy-Free Alternatives to Cheese

Besides traditional vegan cheese products, there are other ways to achieve a cheesy flavor on pizza without dairy.

• Nuts-Based Cheese – Mix cashews, almonds, and macadamia nuts with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and coconut oil to prepare a rich, creamy cheese alternative.
• Tofu Cheese – Blend silken tofu, nutritional yeast, and garlic to achieve a ricotta-like consistency, and as a great substitute, use it as stuffed-crust or deep-dish pizza.
• Nutritional Yeast – This is a deactivated yeast that tastes naturally cheesy and provides a rich, earthy, umami flavor when sprinkled over pizza.
• Coconut Oil-Based Cheese – The majority of vegan cheese brands use coconut oil to add the rich, fatty texture present in dairy cheese to assist in creating the desired consistency when melted.

How to Prepare Vegan Pizza?

Using plant-based cheese alternatives will take a bit of adjustment to achieve the best results.

Best Ways to Get Vegan Cheese to Melt

• Bake in a hot oven – Some vegan cheeses prefer a higher oven temperature (around 230°C or 450°F) to melt.
• Cover with foil – If your cheese is not melting, cover the pizza with light foil during the first half of baking to preserve heat.
• Add moisture – Spraying or brushing the cheese with a bit of olive oil or water will improve the melting.

Try This Vegan Pizza Recipe

With all that you’ve learned about dairy-free cheese alternatives, let’s put them into practice with this simple homemade vegan pizza recipe.

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup of lukewarm water
• 1 packet active dry yeast

For the sauce:

• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

For the toppings:

• 1 cup homemade or store-bought vegan cheese
• ½ cup mushrooms
• ½ cup bell peppers
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes

Instructions

1. Make the dough: Mix yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Mix flour, salt, and olive oil. Knead into a smooth dough. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
2. Prepare the Sauce: Mix crushed tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, salt, and garlic powder.
3. Assemble the Pizza: Roll out the dough on a floured surface. Spread the sauce evenly. Add vegan cheese and toppings.
4. Bake: Preheat oven to 230°C (450°F). Bake 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and cheese is melted.
5. Serve: Slice and serve hot. 

Conclusion

Finding the perfect dairy-free cheese alternative to put on pizza is easier than you might have thought. Select a store-bought vegan cheese made from coconut oil, or get creative and make your own, and you can enjoy a delicious, gooey, plant-based pizza.

Experiment with all the possible combinations and determine what vegan cheese is best suited to your taste buds. With so many to choose from, everyone can enjoy a cheesy pizza, dairy-free!

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