Vegan Garlic Herb Cheese Balls Food

EASY GARLIC & HERB VEGAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Place cashews in a bowl and cover with cool water. Cover with plastic wrap and set in the refrigerator to soak for 12 hours*. If you can't get to them right away, drain, place back in bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. They will keep refrigerated for 24-36 hours.
• Once soaked, drain cashews thoroughly and add to food processor. Add minced garlic, garlic powder, lemon zest, lemon juice, water (starting with lesser end of range), nutritional yeast, salt and olive oil.
• Process until very creamy and smooth, scraping down sides and adding additional water as needed. Then taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lemon zest for tartness, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, garlic for zing, or salt for flavor + balance.
• Place a fine mesh strainer (or colander) over a large mixing bowl, and lay down two layers of cheesecloth (or a clean, fine, absorbent towel).
• Use a spatula to scoop all cheese over the cheesecloth, then gather the corners and twist the top gently to form the cheese into a "disc." Secure with a rubber band.
• Place in refrigerator to set for at least 6 hours, preferably 12, or until excess moisture has been wicked away, and it holds its form when released from the cheesecloth. The longer it sits in the fridge the more it will firm up.
• To serve, unwrap from cheesecloth and gently invert onto a serving platter. Reform with hands or cheesecloth as needed, then coat with chopped herbs and a bit more lemon zest (optional). It is fragile, so handle gently.
• Enjoy chilled with crackers or vegetables. Cheese will hold its form for 1-2 hours out of the refrigerator, but best when chilled. Leftovers keep well covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

HERB & GARLIC CHEESEBALL

Steps:

• In a large bowl using a hand held mixer or stand mixer, add the cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add the goat cheese and mix together with cream cheese until well blended.
• Add the herbs, dill, basil, rosemary, and chives and mix together. Lay plastic wrap on top of the inside of a smaller bowl completely covering the inside of the bowl leaving the excess plastic wrap hanging off the bowl. Use a rubber spatula and scoop the cheese mixture into the bowl.
• Once all the cheese has been added, take the ends of plastic wrap and cover the exposed cheese wrapping the entire mixture. Turn the wrapped cheese to the countertop and use your hands to form into a perfectly sized ball. Place inside the refrigerator for, at least, 2 hours.
• Turn the ball onto a serving platter and remove the plastic wrap. Garnish the ball by sprinkling with dill and parsley leaves, if desired. Serve with crackers.

VEGAN GARLIC & HERB 'CHEESE' BALLS

Steps:

• Mix the cashew cheese, walnuts, chives, garlic granules and a pinch of seasoning together in a bowl, then cover and chill for 1 hr.
• Tip the parsley into a shallow bowl and the chilli flakes or sumac into a second shallow bowl. Roll the chilled mixture into 20 small balls, then roll in the parsley or the chilli flakes, or sumac, until fully coated. Transfer the cheese balls to a tray and chill for 3 hrs, or until ready to serve. Any leftovers will keep in a jar, topped up with olive oil, for a week.