Most of us have heard of vegan cheese made of cashews, almonds, coconut, even macadamia. These days, it’s no longer a surprise that vegan cheese exists, or good vegan cheese exists.
I remember during my early vegan years, I would avoid eating vegan cheese because I thought it tasted bland and rubbery. Now, thanks to companies like Miyoko’s Creamery, Heido Ho, Kite Hill, Follow Your Heart, and many more, we could have a delicious array of vegan cheeses.
But have you heard of pili nut cheese?
Pili nuts grow abundantly in the Philippines and Polynesia. As a kid, I only knew about the candied kind, which are pili nuts liberally coated with sugar. I thought the candy version was too sweet even for a kid like me. But I guess that was just me because candied pili nuts are a big hit among locals and tourists alike. In fact, candied pili nuts have made its way to other parts of the world. Here in the Bay Area, you could find these sweet snacks at Filipino and Asian grocery stores.
Not too long ago, my friend gave me raw pili nuts from the Philippines as a gift or pasalubong. I didn’t know what to do with them. Should I eat them straight? Boil them? Then I realized, why not make them into cheese. After all I learned that pili nuts have a higher fat content than macadamias, and high fat content means rich, creamy cheese. I’ll all for it!
The result tasted close to mozzarella cheese. The texture was more on the soft side, close to a spread. I put my pili nut cheese on top of my Bibingka, crackers, and baguette. Yum!
Unfortunately, raw pili nuts are not widely available at supermarkets and grocery stores, at least not yet. If you live in the Philippines or Polynesia, you might have an easier time finding them. Otherwise, finding raw pili nuts could be a treasure hunt.
One reputable company that does carry and sell raw pili nuts is Divine Organics. I have ordered from them before and the quality of the products was top-notch. Aside from raw pili nuts, they also carry pili nut butter which I highly recommend in ice creams!
If you want to try your luck, you could also join our giveaway. I’ve teamed up with Divine Organics to hold an international giveaway where anyone in the world has a chance to win a package of raw pili nuts.
To enter:
- Simply “like” Divine Organics on Facebook
- Leave a comment on this blog post telling us how you plan to enjoy your pili nut cheese. With crackers? In pastas? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Rules and Details:
- Open worldwide, anyone can join!
- Same giveaway runs on the YouTube channel. You are not required to also participate on the YouTube channel to increase chances of winning.
- Giveaway ends at 12:00 am PST Saturday, August 1st, 2015.
- Winner will be contacted on social media and must respond within 24 hours. Otherwise prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.
- Winner will receive one package of Divine Organics Premium Raw Pili Nuts.
- Prize will be sent directly by Divine Organics (will not be responsible for lost or stolen item).
****GIVEAWAY CLOSED*** CONGRATULATIONS TO TINA FOR WINNING THE GIVEAWAY!
- 2 cups raw pili nuts, boiled in water and skin removed
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon acidophilus probiotic
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, or more if desired
- 1 teaspoon calamansi juice (or citrus of choice)
- Equipment:
- high-speed blender
- colander or strainer
- cheese cloth
- rubber band
- big bowl
- plate
- heavy weight, like a canned product or a container filled with water
- clean towel or cloth
- Using a high-speed blender, blend pili nuts, water, and acidophilus until smooth and creamy.
- Pour in mixture to a colander that's lined with cheese cloth and secure with rubber band.
- Put a bowl underneath the colander to catch the liquid.
- Place plate on top of the cheesecloth and place weight on top of the plate to gently push liquid out of the cheesecloth.
- Cover entire set up with a clean towel or cloth.
- Set aside for 36 hours.
- Transfer cheese to a container and mix in calamansi juice and salt. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Form into desired shape and serve.
You may find acidophilus probiotic at pharmacies, specialty stores, and online. Tablet form is fine.
36 hours is ideal. Do not culture for less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours.
It's best to culture in a dark, dry place.
This is a basic recipe for pili cheese. Feel free to play around with it and add more ingredients like nutritional yeast, herbs, spices, etc.
Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For best results, I suggest letting it come back to room temperature before serving.
Discover the rich goodness of pili nut cheese and feel free to share it with friends. I had brought it once to a vegan cheese potluck and it was a hit. My friends and I enjoyed it along with vegan Brie, vegan Gruyère, and many more with white wine and vegan red wine.
I would use it on fruit like slice mangos, strawberries on crackers . I wonder if it could be made as pimento cheese if you added that in lol omggg i want to win some! lol Great job RG !!!
Vegan Pimiento cheese? Now THAT would be awesome! I guess why not! Yum 🙂
I’d use it on fruit and crackers, or just straight up!
Sometimes I eat it straight up too hehe. Guilty as charged!
I’ll have it with in an open-faced sandwich with salad greens, sliced fruits and my favourite raw bread!
Yum! Sounds healthy and delicious!
I just wanted to thank you for giving the opportunity to participate even to your international followers 🙂
As I commented under the video, this for me would be the best type of Vegan cheese to offer spread on a warm baguette straight out of the boulangerie during a lazy Sunday picnic in the French hills. August will be filled with such events when I will try my best to convince a bunch of French die-hard cheese lovers that you do not need dairy to enjoy amazing “cheese” =)
You have just described the perfect lazy Sunday! Sounds great. I’m dreaming about it!
I would love to try these nuts in vegan, gluten free brownies. I think they would be delicious!
Brownies and vegan cheese? Never thought of it before, very innovative!
I would try to make some bruschetta! Or make a pita sandwich with seitan and tomatoes. Yum. (Thank you!)
Pita sandwich sounds great!
perfect with coffee. yum!
Ohhh I’d try it in lasagna or vegan cheesecake!
Congratulations Tina! You’ve won the giveaway. We’re looking forward to hear about what you’ll come up with. Please email astigvegan@gmail.com ASAP with your contact information so Divine Organics could send you the pili nuts.
Yay! Thanks so much. I cant wait to try them! 🙂
Hmmmm…..not sure. On bagels? Or blueberry muffins? All kinds of possibilities.
Never heard of these nuts. I’d enjoy them on their own while watching a movie.
I think it would be amazing in a salad. Creamy cheeses add so much extra deliciousness to even the most simple salads.
– Amber Y
I’d have to taste it and I’d create an Indian dish using these nuts.
I would try them on my morning oatmeal with fruit. Never had them before, but they look wonderful.
I’d have to taste them and I’d like to bake cookies using these nuts.
i will decide when i got them 🙂
I’ve never heard of them before! I’d like to try them on their own and then maybe on crackers
I think it would be amazing in a tart 🙂
follow you on facebook: coline touil
thanks
I’ve been eating Pili nuts for a few years now, but never thought of this. Can’t wait to try it!
I am thinking, but I’m not sure – that this nut butter (or nut cream) would be nice mixed with Soba Noodles and Cucumbers and maybe some Roasted Red Peppers. I haven’t had these nuts ever before though, so I’m not sure!
Also, I ‘like’ Divine Organics on Facebook where I am Margot Core.
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margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com
OMG, luv to make muffins from these fine, fine nuts. Divine. . Wow, prize nut is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly
& off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and
generosity. 🙂 Pick me, pick me! Dear Santa: I’ve been nice. My
X-Mas wish this year is to win this contest. Starving artist here desperately
needs the nut to eat. A life changing exp.
I would eat them with pasta
Always having intolerances to dairy, I’ve never had the chance to experience “fancy” cheese, so I’d be doing the whole shebang! On crackers, pastas, in a tomato salad….yes!
My Mom and Lola are from Bicol originally, the first and only time I was there was when I was 4. I dont know a lot abt Bicol but if theres one thing I love abt it, its definitely Pili. When we were kids, my Lola would go to Bicol at least once a year and would bring home lots of Pili nuts. The last time she was there was in 2007, she doesnt travel as much now that she is in her 80s. Btw, after 8 years of being a vegetarian, I finally made the best decision ever to become a Vegan last June. I never really tasted any vegan cheese before so I would be really happy to try pili nuts. Im thinking of eating it on top of my vegan carrot cake or spread it in some vegan pan de sal (RG’s recipe of course).
Such great memories Grace! Your lola sounds like a wonderful lady 🙂 I’m glad she’s still going well in her 80s. More power to her. And congrats to you on becoming vegan! Yay! I’m looking forward to visit the Philippines sometime next year. We should do a potluck! 🙂
Share them with my mother in law! I’m sure she hasn’t even had them since she has moved to the U.S. from the Philippines! She loves sharing her culture with us and I would love to treat her to a little surprise from her home!
I have not tried these before. Could they be used in my energy bars I make? If so I’d do that.
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Hi! I’m afraid this vegan cheese might not work on your energy bars. But please feel free to try the pili cheese on its own or with healthy crackers. Hope that helps!
I love a good vegan cheese. I would eat them on crackers or scooped into pasta and lasagna.