Almond Feta (Baked) | Dairy-free & Vegan Feta Recipe (2024)

By Shannon @ Yup, it's Vegan 27 Comments

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Quick post today because I’m overdue on sharing a new recipe. I’ve been teasing this almond feta for a few weeks now after posting about it on Instagram, and I finally had the chance to make the recipe again and confirm its awesomeness.

Almond Feta (Baked) | Dairy-free & Vegan Feta Recipe (1)

So what exactly is almond feta? It’s a vegan cheese analogue that’s great in cold applications like salads, tartines, or just straight-up snacking! I think you’ll absolutely love the garlicky, lemony, rich flavor.

I make my almond feta using a few main steps:

  1. Soak raw almonds in hot water to loosen and remove the skins (don’t throw those skins away! Roast them in the oven for a delicious, healthy, crispy snack)
  2. Blend the almonds into a smooth pulp along with garlic, shallot, and a few other flavorful ingredients (and plenty of salt); and strain some of the excess liquid from the blended mixture
  3. Bake the almond feta until solid; let cool, slice into cubes, and enjoy!

So yes, it’s a tiny bit labor-intensive removing the skins from the almonds. I’ve seen recipes that call for almond flour instead in order to bypass this step, but frugality won for me this time around. Plus, even though it takes a little while to do it, it’s very fun and easy popping off the almond skins. My recipe is different from other almond feta recipes mainly because it calls for nondairy yogurt. As I learned with my cashew cream cheese, nondairy yogurt is essential for me to feel like a vegan cheese analogue has an authentic flavor that resembles dairy versions.

Almond Feta (Baked) | Dairy-free & Vegan Feta Recipe (2)

Give this almond feta a try and let me know how you like it! And tweak the recipe to your own taste, too. Change the seasoning or acidity; bake it longer for a drier almond feta that will crumble beautifully; or bake it shorter for a very creamy result. Make it your own 🙂

Almond Feta (Baked) | Dairy-free & Vegan Feta Recipe (3)

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5 from 4 votes

Baked Almond Feta

Creamy, tangy, salty, savory baked almond feta, made by blending almonds with seasonings and baking until firm and crisp. Vegan, dairy-free recipe.

Course basics, sides, snacks

Cuisine gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free, vegan, vegetarian

Keyword almond feta

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings 2 cups

Calories 109kcal

Author Yup, it's Vegan

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw almonds
  • 1 shallot peeled and roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp plain unsweetened nondairy yogurt (or substitute with 1 tb. additional lemon juice)
  • 3 tbsp freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 3/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

Instructions

  • Put the raw almonds in a bowl and cover them with very hot water. Let them sit for 2 hours.

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, and ready an oven-safe ceramic or glass dish and parchment paper (I used a 5-inch glass dish).

  • Drain the almonds and remove the skins. The skins should pop right off of most of the almonds if you do the entire 2 hours of soaking. Be sure to save them as you can roast them for a crispy snack or add them to smoothies, etc.

  • Add the almonds to a blender along with the shallots, garlic, yogurt, lemon juice, and salt. Add only as much filtered water as needed to blend (I had to use around 1/2 cup). Blend, stopping to stir and scrape the sides as needed, until a thick, smooth paste is formed.

  • Pour the mixture into cheesecloth and GENTLY squeeze out the excess liquid. You don't want to remove all of it (which you would do if you were making almond milk) - just enough so that the pulp clumps together but is still moist. Alternately, you can let it drain (without squeezing) out of the cheesecloth overnight in the refrigerator.

  • Transfer the pulp into the parchment paper-lined baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, then use a toothpick or sharp knife to poke some holes in the surface to allow the heat to better penetrate the middle.

  • Return to the oven and bake for approximately 20 more minutes, or until the top of the almond feta is browning and slightly cracking.

  • Let the almond feta cool before slicing. Use it in salads, sandwiches, and more! Once cooled, store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

Notes

For a better texture, you can also add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, but I happen to really love the oil-free version and I know that many of you avoid oil, so I am presenting that version of the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 0.9mg

Almond Feta (Baked) | Dairy-free & Vegan Feta Recipe (4)

Adapted from Maple Spice and Yes I Am Vegan.

Almond Feta (Baked) | Dairy-free & Vegan Feta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does vegan feta taste the same? ›

It's always nice and light, but it without any feta, it lacks the same salty, briny, tangy bite that a classic Greek salad has. But, this vegan feta has the same savory tanginess of traditional feta (and lots of herby Greek flavor) but without any of the dairy!

Can you get dairy-free feta? ›

If you're on the hunt for a flavourful and dairy-free alternative to feta cheese, Dairy-Free Down Under's Feta Style is the ideal choice. It's an exceptional way to relish all the flavour and versatility of feta cheese without any of the drawbacks.

Can you buy vegan feta? ›

A plant based alternative to Feta. Perfect tossed in a greek salad alongside olives, red onion and tomatoes. Keep refrigerated under 5 degrees.

Does Violife vegan feta melt? ›

I made this with the vegan feta from Violife, which melted wonderfully into a bubbling, creamy delight.

What type of feta is best for baking? ›

Feta Always use Greek feta which is made with sheep milk or a combination of sheep and goat milk. The flavour and texture cannot be beat. A rectangular piece of feta, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick, is perfect for this recipe.

Why is feta cheese not vegan? ›

The answer here is a pretty straightforward no. As feta cheese is made from the milk of sheep and sometimes goats it isn't suitable for anyone on a fully plant-based diet. Vegans will not only abstain from eating meat, but also all animal products or other foods that are made with the use of byproducts too.

Will vegan cheese ever taste like real cheese? ›

Keep in mind that all brands are different, so if you try one brand you don't like, don't give up on the rest. Vegan cheesemakers are coming up with new processes all the time that are making these cheeses taste even more like the traditional stuff.

What brand of feta cheese is vegan? ›

Violife Just Like Feta Vegan Cheese
  • Product Name: Violife Just Like Feta Cheese.
  • Product Description: A coconut-oil based Greek feta inspired cheese that comes in soft block form and has added B12.
  • Brand: Violife.
  • Dietary Notes: Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free, Non-GMO, No Preservatives, Kosher, Sugar Free.

What is a non dairy substitute for feta cheese? ›

Here are some popular alternatives: Vegan Feta Cheese: Many companies now offer vegan versions of Feta cheese made from plant-based ingredients like tofu, soy, or nuts such as almonds or cashews. These alternatives often have a similar tangy flavor and crumbly texture to traditional Feta.

Is there a non dairy feta substitute? ›

Violife Just Like Feta Block is crafted using coconut oil and other plant-based ingredients, but does not contain any lactose, nuts, and preservatives. The only limit dairy-free eaters face is their culinary imaginations.

Does dairy-free feta taste the same? ›

It comes in a block with the same crumbly texture and salty taste as traditional feta cheese. Try crumbling it on a salad or pairing it with tomatoes and olive oil.

Does Aldi have vegan feta? ›

Plant Menu Vegan Feta 200g | ALDI.

Does Aldi sell vegan cheese? ›

😋. If you're really craving a vegan cheeseburger, you're in luck: Aldi also carries Earth Grown Vegan Shredded Dairy-Free Mozzarella.

Is Violife feta good? ›

Creamy, rich, feta-taste. Am addicted honestly. I'm happy I found this since I went to vegan diet just 4 months and never thought I would ever eat Feta cheese. It tastes amazingly close to Feta, it is creamier and not crumbly like dairy based feta cheese I was used to, but taste is amazing.

Does dairy free feta taste good? ›

It's crumbly at first but it does end up creamy textured once you eat it or even press it too hard. But it's very tasty! Since I have a dairy, free diet, I have not been able to eat feta. This product is excellent.

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