Melty Cashew Mozzarella

Cashews create a creamy plant-based mozzarella

Give your favorite cheesy dishes a healthy twist with this Melty Cashew Mozzarella! Unlike traditional dairy mozzarella—which comes with cholesterol, saturated fat, and hormones that can raise your risk of heart disease—this plant-based version is made from simple cashews and seasonings. It’s creamy, stretchy, and satisfying, yet completely free of the health drawbacks of dairy. With just a blender and a pot, you can whip up this heart-healthy mozzarella alternative in minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Heart-healthy: Completely free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and hormones found in dairy cheese.

Simple & quick: Just a handful of pantry ingredients, plus a blender and a pot.

Stretchy & melty: Perfect for pizza, lasagna, roasted broccoli, baked potatoes, grilled cheese, or anywhere you’d use mozzarella. Tapioca starch is the inexpensive, secret ingredient–find it in the baking aisle. Bob's Red Mill is a popular brand.

Dairy-free & allergen-friendly: 100% plant-based and naturally free from lactose.

Variations: While I haven't made it myself, there's no reason you couldn't use sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free version!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Makes about 2 cups

1/2 cup cashews

1 1/2 cups water

3 tablespoons tapioca starch

1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

1 tablespoon mild vinegar or lemon juice

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Blend: Put all the ingredients into the blender and blend for about 30 seconds, until everything is smooth and creamy.
   

2. Heat: Pour the mixture into a small pot and heat over medium heat. After about 2 minutes, you'll see tiny bubbles start to form around the edges of the pot. Stir the mixture continuously and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes until it's smooth, thick, and stretchy.
   

3. Use immediately. If there's any extra, put it in a covered container and keep it refrigerated for up to a week. To serve, spoon it onto any food you'll be cooking or reheating, or reheat the cheese in a pot or microwave and serve it warm over cooked food.

Final Thoughts

This Melty Cashew Mozzarella proves that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort food favorites to eat healthy. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a creamy, stretchy, dairy-free cheese that’s every bit as satisfying as the traditional version—but without the cholesterol, saturated fat, or hormones.

Whether you’re layering it on pizza, melting it into pasta, or spreading it on a sandwich, this recipe is a delicious reminder that plant-based eating can be both indulgent and nourishing. Once you try it, you may never go back to store-bought mozzarella again!