Cheeses of different sort being a staple in the Western diet, makes it difficult to be completely vegan. I was one of them which led me to experiment and develop a whole range of vegan cheese recipes to mimic the conventional dairy cheeses. The vegan marinated feta by far exceeds the taste and texture of the traditional one. The texture, slightly on the chew side to start and ending with a melt in the mouth. The flavour is just out of this world with the spices and herbs all infused into the tofu that acts like a sponge. The feta has uses like you would use the traditional feta, on sandwiches, salads, pastas and simply on a grazing tray along with olives, breads and dried fruits etc. The mixture of whole spices and herbs infused into the olive oil is liquid gold. Reserve the oil for use in dressings, soups, casseroles and for dipping a good sourdough bread in. The lemon rind, leaving a citrus after taste that is so refreshing addictive.

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Vegan Marinated Feta

Cheese is probably one of the most difficult things to give up when transitioning to a plant-based diet. This feta cheese is so good if not better than the traditional marinated feta. You will never go back to the other one.

Course Condiments, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword Gluten Free, High-Protein

Ingredients

200 firm tofu cubed
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
8 whole cloves
1 finger long cinnamon stick broken into small pieces
1 bay leaf
2 dried red chillies
1 teaspoon chilli flakes
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon rosemary
4 pieces lemon peels
4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
1 small shallot thinly sliced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more as needed

Instructions

Dab off excess water from tofu with a paper towel before dicing.
Place the cubed tofu in a clean and dry glass jar.
Add fennel seeds, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf and dried chillies to a dry pan on medium heat.
Toast the spices for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
Remove the pan off the heat. Add the remaining ingredients to the pan.
Return the pan to the stove and warm up the oil, on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. This is just to get the oil lukewarm, NOT to sizzle the spices.
Pour everything over the tofu. Store in the fridge up to a few weeks.
Use the leftover oil for salads, marinades, and soups etc.

Notes

1. Ensure to just toast the spices until fragrant and not to burn them

2. Sterilise the glass jar in the oven for 20 minutes for longer shelf life of the marinated tofu

3. Cut tofu into thing long sheets to marinate for sandwiches and vegan lasagna

4. Marinated tofu is delicious in curries and casseroles

5. Shredded marinated tofu is perfect on pizza but only put it on the pizza after the pizza is baked. Marinated tofu will not melt like the dairy feta.

6. Crumbled vegan marinated feta is delicious on bruschetta and risotto

7. String vegan feta on skewers along with vegetables like capsicums, onion and mushrooms for grilling to barbecue.