How to Make Tofu Feta Cheese
A couple of months ago I had the privilege of working with a client to help her adapt a few of her family’s Greek recipes to be vegan and more whole-foods-based. One of the recipes was for a traditional greens pie that was very heavy on the butter and cheese. The butter was an easy swap (we replaced it with extra virgin olive oil), but the cheese took some work.
In the process of coming up with a healthier replacement, I learned a lot about combining flavors and getting the right texture. Today’s tofu feta cheese recipe is one I’ve been tweaking for a while and I’m so happy with the end result! It uses extra firm tofu that’s been pressed for a long time to remove excess water, and then it gets marinated overnight in a combination of fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, white miso, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic powder. It’s the same ingredient combination that inspired my creamy cashew cheese recipe. It’s salty, tangy, cheesy, and the texture of the tofu is a really great substitute for dairy-based feta.
To make your tofu feta cheese, all you need are 8 basic ingredients and a container to store it in—there’s no high-speed blender or food processor necessary. You can use it in all the same applications as regular feta cheese: on pasta, casseroles, crostini, savory pies, and so on. I’ll be sharing a pasta recipe with it soon, but for now I’ve been using my tofu feta to jazz up everyday simple salads. This particular one had arugula, sliced green apple, fennel, mint (from our yard!), pecans, red pepper flakes, and then I dressed it in a big squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It’s what we had on hand and made for a tasty light lunch, but feel free to use whatever greens, fruits, and nuts/seeds you have at your disposal!
How to Make Tofu Feta Cheese
How to Make Tofu Feta Cheese
Serves: 15 ounces
Prep Time: 8 hours
Easy vegan feta cheese that's perfect for adding to salads, appetizers, and other savory dishes. Only 8 ingredients and a few minutes of active prep work.
Cuisine: Gluten Free, Vegan Servings: 15 ounces
Prep Time: 8 hours
Easy vegan feta cheese that's perfect for adding to salads, appetizers, and other savory dishes. Only 8 ingredients and a few minutes of active prep work.
Instructions
- Add the lemon juice, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, miso, olive oil, salt, and garlic powder to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until well-combined.
- Cut the pressed tofu into small cubes. Add the cubed tofu to the mixing bowl and toss to coat. Transfer the tofu and marinade to an airtight container. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (or overnight). The flavor will continue to improve over the next couple of days. Use within 1 week.
Notes [1]
If you don’t already own a tofu press, I highly recommend buying one because it will make pressing your tofu a breeze and the texture will be infinitely better too. We’ve been using this press several times a week for a handful of years. I was initially hesitant to buy it ($40 for a tofu press?!), but it’s been one of my best kitchen purchases to date.
Copyright © 2023 Amanda Maguire for Pickles & Honey
