Beer-Infused “Cheese” Ball

I’ve never been a cheese person.

Growing up, I ate it on things, but I rarely would seek it out. My brother was/is the opposite; he will pile the cheese on things that don’t even need cheese. I joke with him that his diet consists of mainly bacon, cheese, and soda. (Consequently, he’s often sick and not feeling well. SHOCKER.) Both my mom and brother have digestion issues with lactose.

Recipes like today’s Beer-Infused Vegan “Cheese” Ball are important for at least two reasons. One, recipes like this are important because they let people know that there are options out there if they have allergies or digestive issues. You can still savour the same delicious party foods with some adjustments. It just takes slightly more prep time, and you have to be okay with that. Secondly, people need to know that we don’t need to rely on animal-based products to eat fantastic foods. Because of the questionable ingredients out there, plus the mistreatment of animals, these are just two reasons to branch out and try different things.

Faux-cheese-like ingredients can be used in cheesecakes, like my Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel Drizzle. You won’t miss the dairy. I promise. Sometimes you just have to retrain your taste buds to enjoy whole foods.

This Beer-Infused “Cheese” Ball recipe is yummy. I make my own roasted red pepper hummus that is delicious; this Beer-Infused “Cheese” Ball recipe is actually pretty similar, using cashews instead of chickpeas. Although I used my blender, I highly recommend making this in your food processor. My blender seemed to be struggling a bit. Unless you have a fancy one…then blend away!

The two things that might not be in your pantry are nutritional yeast and tahini – but I suggest that you get both of them. Nutritional yeast is often a vegan substitute for Parmesan cheese; it has a cheesy/nutty flavour, which is perfect for this cheese ball. Tahini is an ingredient often found in hummus. It’s just ground-up sesame seeds, and it’s very good for you.

My favourite thing about this Beer-Infused “Cheese” Ball recipe is how it looks like a legit cheese ball. The roasted red pepper, turmeric, and paprika give it a bright colour. By wrapping it up in some plastic wrap, you can give it a round, ball-like shape. I’ve also seen it in log form. That would be super cute too.