ALMOND FETA CHEESE WITH HERB OIL
Blanched almonds give this creamy-crumbly cheese a rich texture.
Provided by Vegetarian Times Editors
Categories Appetizers & Snacks, Condiment, Sides & Salads
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Place almonds in medium bowl, and cover with 3 inches cold water. Let soak 24 hours. Drain soaking liquid, rinse almonds under cold running water, and drain again. 2. Purée almonds, lemon juice, 3 Tbs. oil, garlic, salt, and 1/2 cup cold water in food processor 6 minutes, or until very smooth and creamy. 3. Place large strainer over bowl, and line with triple layer of cheesecloth. Spoon almond mixture into cheesecloth. Bring corners and sides of cloth together, and twist around cheese, forming into orange-size ball and squeezing to help extract moisture. Secure with rubber band or kitchen twine. Chill 12 hours, or overnight. Discard excess liquid. 4. Preheat oven to 200°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Unwrap cheese (it will be soft), and transfer from cheesecloth to prepared baking sheet. Flatten to form 6-inch round about 3/4-inch thick. Bake 40 minutes, or until top is slightly firm. Cool, then chill. (Cheese can be made up to this point 2 days ahead; keep refrigerated.) 5. Combine remaining 1/4 cup oil, thyme, and rosemary in small saucepan. Warm oil over medium-low heat 2 minutes, or until very hot but not simmering. Cool to room temperature. Drizzle herb oil over cheese just before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 170 calories
ALMOND 'FETA CHEESE' SPREAD WITH HERB OIL (VEGAN)
From the Fab Five list in the April 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. I never thought I'd have enough time to make vegan "cheese," but because this was one of the editors' picks I gave it a shot, and I'm so glad I did! Though it's called "feta cheese," in the title, it really is a creamy spread. I told my DH that it was an "almond spread" and he loved it! Asked what kind of cheese I used in it, and was surprised to learn there was none. The recipe is really easy, but takes lots of waiting time (not included in the times). I'm listing it exactly like in the magazine. But for the oil topping at the end, I think 1/4 cup oil is too much. Personally, I'm cutting it back to 2 tablespoons next time. Enjoy! Edited to add: The original recipe in the magazine says to bake it 200F for 40 minutes, but as several reviewers noted here (and I agree) it's better in a hotter oven. Try 400F and watch for it to brown. Baking is only needed to turn it from creamy to crumbly, so it's completely up to you.
Provided by Wish I Could Cook
Categories Spreads
Time 55m
Yield 10 oz, 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place almonds in medium bowl and cover with 3 inches of water. Let soak 24 hours. Drain and rinse.
- Puree almonds, lemon juice, 3 T olive oil, garlic, salt and 1/2 cup water in blender or food processor for 6 minutes or until really creamy.
- Place a triple layer of cheesecloth in strainer and spoon almond mixture onto cheesecloth. Bring sides together twist into an orange-sized ball and secure with a twist tie. Chill for 12 hours.
- Line baking sheet with parchment and transfer almond ball from cheesecloth. Shape to look like a 6" round of brie (about 3/4" thick). (Note, I just put it into a pretty pottery bowl and baked it. Then I could pour the oil on top and serve it. No parchment needed.).
- Bake 40 minutes or until top is slightly firm. Cool. Then chill.
- Combine 1/4 cup olive oil with herbs and heat over medium low heat until heated through but not simmering. Cool to room temperature and drizzle over almond spread just before serving.
- Spread on crusty bread or crakers. You'll love it!
ALMOND "FETA" WITH HERB OIL
Blanched almonds give this cheese appetizer a rich texture. Unbaked, it's smooth and spreadable, while baking makes it crumbly like feta. It's easy to make ahead. -Mary Raymond, Chesterfield, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 1h
Yield 1-1/2 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Rinse almonds in cold water. Place in a large bowl; add water to cover by 3 in. Cover and let stand overnight., Drain and rinse almonds, discarding liquid. Transfer to a food processor. Add 1/2 cup water, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons oil, garlic and salt; cover and process for 5-6 minutes or until pureed., Line a large strainer with 4 layers of cheesecloth and place over a large bowl. Pour almond mixture into prepared strainer; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag. Refrigerate overnight., Squeeze out any liquid; remove cheesecloth and discard liquid from bowl. Transfer ball to a parchment-lined baking sheet; flatten slightly into a 6-in. circle., Bake at 200° for 35-40 minutes or until firm. Cool. Refrigerate until chilled., In a small skillet, heat the thyme, rosemary and remaining oil over medium heat for 2 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Drizzle over almond mixture. Serve with crackers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 122 calories, Fat 12g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 249mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.
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Ingredients:
To make almond feta with herb oil, you will need the following ingredients:- 2 cups of almonds, raw and unsalted
- 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- A handful of fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, and parsley
Method:
Here are the steps to make almond feta with herb oil:- Soak the almonds in water for at least 4-6 hours or overnight.
- After soaking, drain the water and rinse the almonds thoroughly.
- Now, add the almonds, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, minced garlic, and salt to a food processor and blend until you get a smooth and creamy mixture. Stop the processor and scrape the sides as needed.
- Transfer the mixture into a cheesecloth or nut milk bag and let it sit for 1-2 hours to drain excess water and solidify.
- After 1-2 hours, remove the almond cheese from the cloth and form it into a block shape. Wrap it in parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until it is firm.
- To make the herb oil, heat the olive oil in a small pan over low-medium heat. Gradually add the fresh herbs and stir continuously for 3-4 minutes or until fragrant. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- Top the almond cheese block with the herb oil and serve with crackers, bread, or use as a salad topping or pasta sauce.
Benefits:
Almonds are an excellent source of protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are also low in carbohydrates, making them a great food choice for people following a low-carb or keto diet. Nutritional yeast is a good source of vitamin B12, and it adds a cheesy flavor to the almond cheese. Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C and adds a tangy flavor, while garlic adds a savory taste and promotes heart health. Herb oils, such as the one in this recipe, contain antioxidants and essential fatty acids that are beneficial for overall health.Uses:
Almond feta with herb oil can be used in many ways, some of which include:- As a cheese alternative on crackers or bread
- Sliced or crumbled over salads
- Mixed with pasta for a creamy pasta sauce
- As a filling for stuffed mushrooms or bell peppers
- As a pizza topping
- Served with roasted or grilled vegetables