This vegan feta cheese takes only 4 simple ingredients! You simply blend and allow the flavors to marinate. It's tangy, salty and absolutely perfect.
One of these 4 ingredients is water, so technically it only takes 3 ingredients to make. It's so simple, healthy and can be used in a wide variety of recipes.
This post was originally published on June 7, 2021.
It all started with my vegan spanakopita recipe that has taken the online plant-based world by storm. Since then, I have used the vegan feta cheese portion in so many other recipes!
Ingredients
This vegan feta cheese recipe is one of those that is so easy and so useful, you'll make it all the time! It has an amazing salty and tangy flavor that makes it a great addition to just about anything.
You only need these 4 incredibly simple ingredients (and no nutritional yeast!) to make this vegan feta recipe:
- Raw cashews
- Distilled white vinegar
- Water
- Sea salt
How to Make Vegan Feta Cheese
This vegan feta recipe is seriously too easy to make! Here are the simple steps:
- Add everything into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to a chunky texture.
- Serve in anything and everything!
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Feta Cheese Uses
These vegan feta crumbles goes so well with so many dishes! Mix into soups or casseroles, or use a garnish on salads or tacos. Here are some of our favorite ways to use this substitute for feta cheese:
- Watermelon Feta Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Greek Farro Salad
- Vegan Spanakopita
- Jackfruit Tacos
- Tortilla Soup
- Healthy Salad in a Jar
- Mediterranean Salad
- Baked Vegan Feta Tomato Pasta
- Savory Spinach Oatmeal
- Roasted Carrot Hummus
- Falafel Sandwich
- Traditional Greek Salad
- Pesto pasta salad
- In a Vegan Omelet
- On crackers or with toast - gluten-free if needed
- As a topper for roasted veggies
- On your favorite homemade pizza
Flavor Variations
Customize this vegan feta recipe with different ingredients. Try stirring in other flavors to the cheese mixture for variety:
- Spices and herbs - try fresh or dried oregano, basil, parsley, onion powder, etc.
- Olive juice
- Garlic
- Chopped nuts
- Dried fruit
Preparation Tips
- If you forget to soak the cashews, simply boil them for about 25 minutes. They need to be soft so do not skip this step and use them dry.
- A food processor works best for making the perfect vegan feta cheese texture because it allows the mixture to blend well with the small amount of liquid you use.
- If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a blender. However, due to the small amount of liquid you’ll have to stop and mix it often to get the ingredients moving.
How to Store Vegan Feta Cheese
- Keep this vegan feta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- You can also freeze it! Keep in a freezer safe airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost before using.
- If freezing, cover the top of the cheese with plastic wrap, press down so it provides a seal. Then cover with the container top. This helps prevent freezer burn.
- Defrost in the fridge the night before you want to serve it.
Common Questions
Not usually, but there are store bought options as well as homemade. This recipe is one way to make vegan feta. It's a wonderful salty, crumbly recipe perfect for adding to many recipes.
This vegan feta cheese recipe is made simply from cashews, vinegar, water, and salt. Some other recipes can include extra firm tofu, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, white miso paste, seasonings, and more.
No, standard feta cheese is not dairy free. However, it is easy enough to make a vegan version that is!
Yes it does! It has the perfect tang and saltiness you love in real feta cheese.
More Vegan Cheese Recipes
After you make this vegan feta cheese, make a few more varieties to have on hand:
Vegan Feta Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews , soaked overnight or boiled for 25 minutes to soften (see note)
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt , may need another ¼ teaspoon after you mix the filling, taste and adjust if needed
Instructions
- In a food processor, add the cashews (drain and rinse them after the soaking), vinegar, water and salt.
- Pulse until you get a chunky but coarsely chopped texture.
- Serve in anything and everything!
Notes
- If you forget to soak the cashews, simply boil them for about 25 minutes. They need to be soft so do not skip this step and use them dry.
- This makes about 1 cup feta mixture. Serving size is ¼ cup.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Karyn
I made this over the weekend. The dressing did not taste like feta, however, the dressing will be used as a spread for my salad wraps since it was still tasty.
Sophia DeSantis
Glad you thought it was tasty! If this was thin like a dressing, then something may have been done wrong. The end result is definitely thicker in texture.
Mary Miller
My daughter is a vegan and I made this for her because we're celebrating her birthday today. It's in the oven right now and I can't wait to taste it and for her to taste it and I'll comment later about what we think. Thank you for making it easy and simple.
Sophia DeSantis
Hope you enjoyed it Mary! I am guessing you made something using the feta?
Stacey
This vegan feta is my favorite so far! I loved the flavor.
Carla
Can I substitute white beans or tofu for the cashews? If tofu, should it be firm tofu?
Paulette Campbell
Could I use lemon juice instead of white vinegar?Also ,I do love Greek food so much.In Toronto where I lived for most of my life there are tons of fab Greek restaurants .One of many fave Greek treats is Keftedes with spicy tyrokefteri( probably wrongly. spelled).Do you have a vegan Kennedys recipe? Thanks...
Sophia DeSantis
Hi Paulette! White vinegar has a signature sharpness and tang that contributes to the final feta like flavor here. You can use lemon juice but it won't have the same end result. I love both keftedes and tyrokafteri! I do have a vegan meatball recipe, but not specific with keftedes spices. My mom uses parsley, oregano and mint in her recipe, so take my meatball recipe and sub the spices to give it a shot! https://www.veggiesdontbite.com/kale-lentil-balls/
Julie
This works great! I definitely tasted some cashew in it when on its own, but when baked up with spinach and onions, it reeeeally hit the spot, just like feta! Yum!! Thanks for this great recipe!
Sophia DeSantis
So happy you liked it!! If you're still tasting cashew, add a little more tang to it, the vinegar should cancel it out. Sometimes certain cashews come through more than others!
Desire
Hi, I would just like to find out can I use apple cider vinegar instead of the distilled white vinegar?
Sophia DeSantis
Hi Desire! You can but you will get a different end result. White vinegar has that tart bite that mimics feta best.
Sarah
OMG too easy and so delicious! I used it on a salad and then had the rest with hummus! Can't wait to try it on more food.
Mary
would white wine vinegar work?
veggiesdontbite
Hi Mary! The distilled white vinegar has a distinct sharp flavor. You can use another vinegar but it won't have the same taste since they aren't as sharp. But it would still work in general!
Nina - Edamommy4life
This feta is genius! I made it for the first time today to top your watermelon mint salad. It definitely was the perfect addition to the salad and took it over the top! Now I need to make some more recipes using this 'feta' for sure.
veggiesdontbite
I am so happy you liked it Nina!! I have many recipe and more coming that use it!!