From: altar@beaufort.sfu.ca (Ted Wayn Altar)
Subject: Soy Cheese Alternatives
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 22:54:19 GMT

    
    All soy cheese are vegetarian but not all are vegan.  Many
soy cheeses will contain "calcium caseinate" or "casein". The
only reason they add this milk derived protein, calcium caseinate
or "casein", is so the soy cheese will melt like regular cheese
and have a similar texture.  How unimaginative!  Of course it
will be similar if it is made with the same materials but the
whole point of producing an "alternative" is thus undermined.

    Anyway, there are vegan alternatives, but the texture is
different and of course, it won't melt quite the same.  A minor
inconvenience which one simply learns to work around.

Topics below:

        A.  Vegan Soy Cheeses
        B.  Nutritional Yeast "Cheese"
        C.  Lacto-soy Cheeses


A.  VEGAN SOY CHEESES

    The following listing of vegan soy cheeses comes from Sally
Clinton very useful pamphlet printed by "Vegetarian resource
Group" who has listed the available vegan soy cheese alternatives
and provides addresses of the companies.


    The address of the Vegetarian Resource Group.  They have
volunteer physicians and dietitians helping them in their
development of nutrition related publications and their financial
support comes primarily from memberships, contributions and sales
of their publications.  They put out a 36 page bimonthly journal
call, "Vegetarian Journal" (low income folk only need to pay $10,
otherwise it is $20). They have a resource list of pamphlets that
you can ask for.

    Vegetarian Resource group
    Vegetarian Journal
    PO Box 1463
    Baltimore, MD 21203


Now, here are some vegan soy cheeses:

    BETTER THAN CREAM CHEESE.
    Tufutti Brands Inc.
    50 Jackson Dr.
    Cranford,  NJ 07016
    (201) 272-2400

    MRS MARGARETEN'S PARVEMAGE
    Margareten Enterprises
    2900 Review Ave.,
    Long Island City,
    NY 11101
    [they carry on of the few vegan lines of soy cheese of
    various flavors, including cream cheese and sour cream]

    SOYMAGE
    Soyco Foods,
    P.O. Box 5204
    New Castle
    PA 16105
    (412) 656 1102 or (800) 441-9419
    [mail order is available through Joanne's Selections, (800)
    874-7952.  Soymage vegan cheese substitute comes in various
    flavors and vegan sour cream]


B.  NUTRITIONAL YEAST "CHEESE"

    Alternatively, here is a Nutritional Yeast "Cheese"
substitute from "The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook"

    1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes
    1/2 cup flour
    1/2 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp garlic powder
    2 cups water
    1/4 cup margarine
    1 tsp wet mustard

Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan.  Whisk in water.  Cook over
medium heat, whisking, until it thickens and bubbles.  Cook 30
seconds, then remove from heat, whip in margarine and mustard.
It will thicken as it cools, but will thin when heated, or when
water is added.  Makes 3 cups.  [total calories per 1/4 cup: 68
%of calories from fat: 51%]

If you'd like to decrease the fat content of this recipe, use
only a Tsp of margarine.  Works just as well.  It can also be
prepared without using any margarine at all

For a richer, stretchier sauce that's good on pizza, substitute
for the flour: 1/4 cup cornstarch and 2 Tbs flour.  Instead of
margarine, whip in 1/2 cup of oil after it cooks, and add as much
as 1 cup of water at the end, or as needed to make a thick,
smooth sauce that pours easily.  Pour it on pizza and for the
last few minutes of baking, put pizza under broiler for a few
minutes to form a stretchy, golden brown speckled skin.


C.  LACTO-SOY CHEESES

    Often, the package will says "cholesterol free" and even
"lactose free", but if one reads the ingredients, calcium
caseinate appears.  Hence, while certainly cholesterol free and
"lactose" free, it is not still not completely vegan or dairy-
free.


Here is a listing of soy cheese alternatives that do contain
calcium caseinate or casein.

NUTOFU  Cemac Foods Corps.  NuTofu Sliced soy cheeses,
    alternative cheese spreads, cream cheese & dips.


SOY A MELT   White Wave Soyfoods Inc.  They offer a wide variety
    of soy cheeses made with organic tofu.

SOYA KAAS  American Natural Snacks.  These soy cheeses are
    available in a variety of flavors.

SOYCO   Soyco foods.  Mail order is available through Joannes's
    Selections, (800) 874 7952.  This is a line of soy cheese
    that comes in various flavors and includes Parmesan, sour
    cream and cream cheeses.

TOFU-RELLA.  Sharon's Finest.  The have cheddar, Monterey Jack,
    Jalapeno Jack, Mozzarella, and Garlic-Herb soy cheeses.


                        Have a Happy Vegetarian Holiday,

                                      ted