The French are all about their meat and dairy products. Charcuterie, butter, and especially cheese play a huge role in the French diet. But recently vegetarianism and veganism have begun to gain popularity in France.
But, of course, the French, who create and consume specialty cheese like no other country, could not just say goodbye to cheese if they were to go vegan. And so, “fauxmage” was created. (Faux and fromage, get it?)
Usually made from cashews, vegan cheese is slightly different in texture and taste, but similar enough to work in recipes and dishes that have cheese. Vegan cheese has been available in the United States for a while now, but if the French are masters of regular cheese, then they must also be masters of fake cheese, right? So French fauxmage cheesemakers have begun to make their mark on the French food market circuit, and French vegans have begun to start making their own vegan cheese out of cashews at home.
Want to make some fauxmage of your own? Check out the recipes in the video above. The video is in French, but it’s simple and clear enough that intermediate French speakers should understand.
