How to Make or Buy Plant-Based Parmesan
Many people are unaware that conventional Parmesan cheese is not even vegetarian (by law, it contains a cheese made with calf rennet).
Restaurants and hotels that serve such dishes as the ‘vegetarian option’ need to change their menus.
Other non-vegetarian cheeses are Emmental and Gorgonzola.
This recipe for Vegan Parmesan (Jessica in the Kitchen) is tasty and nutritious, with a cheesy taste from nutritional yeast. Made with ground cashews, it’s flavoured with sea salt, and garlic/onion powders. Store in the fridge for up to 2 months (in an airtight container).
Keep this cheese away from children and pets, due to nuts and salt. Read more on food safety for people & pets.
You can buy plant-based Parmesan from Oh, Grate! and Tyne Chease (good, but both are expensive).
Sacla sells good vegan pesto (look in free-from aisles).
Why Are People Giving Up Dairy?
The dairy industry is huge. No-one denies that a small organic dairy farmer treats his cows well. But the big dairy industry (from where most dairy milk is produced – especially for all the by-products used in ready-meals etc) has huge welfare concerns.
It’s still the case in the UK that most male calves (of no financial use to the dairy industry, which is separate from the beef industry) are shot dead soon after birth.
Many cows spend their entire lives in factory farms, being inseminated and giving birth, then having their calves ripped from them soon after birth. Cows and calves have incredibly strong relationships, and will cry out loudly for weeks, if separated.
Some organisations are helping dairy farmers to transfarm over to growing more profitable oats, giving seeds and training. Remaining animals are then left to live out their lives in peace, akin to farm sanctuaries.
