Vegan Cheese Making
Learn Vegan Cheese Making with Award-Winning Expert Ellie Brown
Join us for a day of dairy-free cheesemaking with Ellie Brown, founder of Kinda Co., an award-winning vegan cheese company based in Somerset.
This introductory course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to create your own dairy-free cheeses using entirely natural ingredients like sunflower seeds. Ellie will guide you through the entire process, from selecting ingredients to shaping and setting your cheeses, ensuring you gain the confidence to make them at home.
Throughout the day, you’ll learn to make four different types of vegan cheese: Ricotta, Mozzarella Balls, Smoked Cheddar, and Herb-Shaped Cheese. You’ll master techniques like making curds, flavouring, and forming your cheeses to perfection.
No River Cottage course would be complete without a delicious seasonal lunch, showcasing a variety of dairy-free cheeses. By the end of the day, you’ll leave with your very own cheeses to share with friends and family—skills that will have you crafting amazing plant-based cheeses at home!
Scroll down to see the full day-by-day itinerary and book your spot!
Highlights
- Learn to make four different types of vegan cheese, including Ricotta, Mozzarella Balls, Smoked Cheddar, and Herb-Shaped Cheese.
- Master the art of creating curds and learn how to flavour and shape your own dairy-free cheeses.
- Use entirely natural ingredients like sunflower seeds to create delicious, plant-based cheeses at home.
- Get expert tips and techniques from Ellie Brown, founder of the award-winning Kinda Co. vegan cheese company.
- Enjoy a seasonal lunch showcasing a variety of dairy-free cheeses, prepared by our River Cottage chefs.
- Take home four homemade cheeses, ready to share with friends and family and show off your newfound skills.
Your day
10:00 - 17:00
Arrive at River Cottage
You’ll begin your River Cottage experience with a 10-15 minute walk along the beautiful pathways down to the farm, allowing you to fully take in the stunning views of the valley.
Make yourself at home
Meet your tutor and settle in with tea, coffee, and a freshly baked cheesy treat from the kitchen.
SESSION ONE
After discussing the techniques and ingredients used in vegan cheese making, you’ll jump straight into creating your first cheese of the day, a delicious Ricotta.
SESSION TWO
While your Ricotta sets, you’ll begin making your second cheese: Smoked Cheddar, which results in a wonderfully firm cheese perfect for grating.
SESSION THREE
Ellie will guide you through assembling a delicious and visually stunning dairy-free cheese board, perfect for any dinner party or gathering.
SESSION FOUR
Next, Ellie will demonstrate how to make dairy-free fondue, the perfect sharing dish for a dinner party, which you’ll enjoy as part of your lunch.
LUNCH
After a morning of cheese making, you’ll sit down to enjoy a hearty lunch featuring your dairy-free cheeses, accompanied by seasonal side dishes made with fresh vegetables from the River Cottage garden.
SESSION FIVE
Your third cheese recipe is Mini Mozzarella Balls, the perfect melt-in-your-mouth cheese for pizzas or pasta dishes!
SESSION SIX
Before starting your final cheese, you’ll enjoy a tour of the River Cottage farm and garden, where you can pick your own fresh herbs to use in your next cheese.
SESSION SEVEN
The final cheese of the day is a sunflower seed Cream Cheese, which you’ll shape and customise with the herbs and ingredients you’ve picked from the River Cottage garden. You’ll also learn how to use fermentation to culture your cheeses, unlocking a variety of flavours and textures.
DEPARTURE
Head back up the hill at 5pm, proudly carrying your four cheeses.
Further Information
Directions
This course is run from River Cottage HQ on the Dorset/Devon borders. Full address details of HQ will be provided once you have booked.
Licensed Venue
We are a licensed venue. We have a wide selection of the finest organic wines available to purchase.
Accommodation
If you would like to stay at the heart of River Cottage, we offer overnight accommodation at River Cottage HQ in our beautiful 17th century farmhouse. We have three stylishly refurbished bedrooms for B&B plus the 2-bedroom Gardener’s Cottage. These get booked quickly so for more information go to rivercottage.net/stay to book. Alternatively, we have put together a list of our local accommodation which includes B&Bs, self-catering, hotels and camping.
Suitability
We would advise that this course is only really suitable for 12 years of age and upwards. Under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. We put these guidelines in place for the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all our guests.
Allergy Advice
We’re afraid this course isn't suitable for those with soy or sunflower seed allergies.
