Pistachio Free Vegan Cashew Mozzarella

Total time2 hr 20 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time10 min

4.5

(22)

Stretchy, glossy, and genuinely satisfying to pull apart, this cashew-based mozzarella is the kind of plant-based cheese that actually delivers on its promise. Soaked raw cashews blended with tapioca starch and a touch of coconut oil create a mixture that transforms on the stovetop into something remarkably close to the real thing — melty, sliceable, and beautifully smooth. The tapioca starch is the real hero here, giving the cheese that signature stretch and glossy finish that most dairy-free alternatives never quite achieve. Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice add just enough tang to keep it tasting like mozzarella rather than a bland substitute. Once chilled, it firms up cleanly so you can slice it for a caprese, shred it over pasta, or tear it onto a pizza where it will melt right back down. There are no tree nuts beyond cashews in this recipe, so anyone avoiding pistachios can dig in without a second thought — no label-reading required. It's a surprisingly simple kitchen project that pays off every single time you pull it out of the fridge.

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Ingredients

6 servings

1 cup raw cashews, soaked in cold water for at least 2 hours, then drained and rinsed
¾ cup water
3 tbsp tapioca starch
1 tbsp refined coconut oil
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp lemon juice
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1
Drain and rinse the soaked cashews, then add them to a high-speed blender along with the water, tapioca starch, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and garlic powder. Blend on high for 60–90 seconds until completely smooth with no visible cashew pieces — the mixture should look like thin, pourable cream.
2
Pour the blended mixture into a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula, for 5–8 minutes until the mixture thickens dramatically, pulls away from the sides of the pan, and becomes glossy and stretchy — it will look like melted mozzarella and stretch when you lift the spatula.

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