vegoftheweek

Announcement: Check out what Chef Erik is cooking up at the latest Veg Head Carnival. It’s featuring one of my recipes and lots of other delicious vegetarian meals. Go ahead, take a look. Then come back to hear what I have to say about Tofutti.  

Shame on Tofutti! I normally am not in the business to get too political or chastise someone or something publicly (with the exception of here), but I feel I must speak up. I buy non-hydrogenated Tofutti plain vegan cream cheese for many vegan soft cheese needs (cheese balls, bagels, spreads, etc.). I’ve mostly purchased it at health foods stores, so I usually come across the yellow packaged variety, which is non-hydrogenated and trans-fat free.

However, one day I had to visit a mainstream grocer and while I was there I spotted a cold section of hummus and non-dairy products. Getting closer to the display, I saw the label, “Tofutti,” on some of the products. I picked up the cream cheese tub, which had a “blue” label on it and looked at the ingredients to see if it, too, was completely non-dairy and vegan.  After reading the label, I saw that this Tofutti cream cheese contained trans-fat. I avoid trans-fat like some politicians avoid direct answers so naturally I was alarmed. After going home and looking at my yellow packaged Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese, I was comforted by the fact that at least the package I had at home was trans-fat free. But why the discrepancy? Looking for answers, I went to the company’s website which showed all Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese products to have 0 trans-fat. Confused, I wrote to the company and got this reply: 

Thank you for your recent Tofutti email.  We actually have two versions. The original version, which has been around for over 20 years, uses PHO.  The newer version, introduced over five years ago and available in health food stores only, does not.  The website is incorrect and is one of several errors that we are in the process of correcting.  We apologize for the confusion.  Please feel free to contact us should you have any further questions. 

Before I received the email, I contacted the company by phone (call me impatient) to get an answer. Hear details of my conversation and get recipe for Vegan Cheese Balls using Trans-Fat Free Tofutti after the break…I was told the partially hydrogenated (and trans-fat containing) version cooks better in some types of recipes and therefore sells better and that’s why that version remains. The trans-fat free version is available for those who want the healthier option and can usually only be purchased in health food stores. 

Now, I realize that businesses have to make decisions to keep themselves afloat and in these shaky economic days,  food establishments are doing everything they can to make ends meet. However, I think trans-fat is a serious enough issue that companies should work towards formulating recipes that do not require it.  

Why trans-fats are so bad is an entire biochemistry lesson in itself, but basically here it is: They are more stable and remain in the body longer. They make good cholesterol (HDL) go down and bad cholesterol (LDL) go up. They are linked to heart disease like thunder and lightening in a storm. Consumers are urged to eliminate these from their diet and the issue is so important, food establishments such as Starbucks and even fast food chains are eliminating them from the menu.  Even entire cities are phasing them out. I think it is only right that a company that makes a non-dairy and vegan product (that serves populations of individuals looking to alternatives for health reasons, whether that be lactose intolerance or animal-free) should aim to do the same. 

For now, those who want to avoid the trans-fat Better Than Cream Cheese, plain is our only option, as other varieties, contains the oil. However, there is hope. According to customer service, two flavors, cheddar and olive, are set to debut in another month or so in the more healthful variety.  And so I present a Vegan Cheesball Recipe with Yellow Packaged Trans-Fat free, Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese.  

Vegan Cheeseball Recipe
Hint: Regular Worcestershire sauce usually contains anchovies. The Wizard’s™ makes a wonderful vegan Worcestershire sauce you can buy at health foods stores or in the health and vegetarian section of mainstream grocery stores. If not available, you can substitute Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, but it won’t have as strong of flavor. Although this is a recipe for a cheese ”ball”, I sculpted little “balls” instead. I think it makes it so much easier to serve as appetizers at parties. You don’t have to worry about slicing and everyone getting their fingers sticky from trying to cut off their part of the cheeseball. This also makes it easier to toss in a container and carry for lunch. 

Ingredients

• 1 tub Yellow Packaged, Trans-fat free, Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese 
• 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon garlic flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, but might want to definitely include if using Bragg’s instead of Worcestershire sauce)
• 1/2-3/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 4 ounces sliced almonds or enough to roll cheese balls in 

Instructions

1. Allow Better Than Cream Cheese to come to room temperature, then spoon into bowl and mix until smoother and creamier
2. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic flakes, and optional cayenne pepper
3. Add 1/2-3/4 cup nutritional yeast to mix, enough to give desired consistency to roll into a ball. You don’t necessarily need 3/4 cups, but the more nutritional yeast you add, the richer the flavor will be. I personally used just about 3/4 of a cup
4. Add in dried parsley and mix well
5. If almonds aren’t already sliced, put in food processor and do so
6. Finally, spoon out a small ball sized amount of cheese, roll into ball, and roll over almonds to coat. If you’re like me and absolutely can’t wait to taste it, go ahead and bite now. It won’t hurt anything. However…
7. For best flavor, refrigerate for a few hours before serving

Week Links:

 Vegan Pesto Press Release (Response Source)

Busting Your Friends’ and Families’ Vegetarian Myths (DocShop)