Soak the macadamia nuts in clear water overnight or for 8hrs. Drain and rinse once the soaking time elapses.
Place the nuts into a high-speed blender alongside the. remainder of the ingredients: filtered water, agar agar sea salt and citric acid. Blend on a high-speed until smooth & creamy.
Transfer the nut mix into a non-stick saucepan and heat over low/medium heat and continuously stir (important!). Heat the mix to about 60C (140F), you will realise that the mixture will begin to thicken up once the right temperature is reached.
Stir thoroughly, then pour the content into a small container or flat tray - I used a small, round springform pan. Place it into the refrigerator for a minimum of 1-2 hours until set.
Carefully remove the vegan cheese from the tray and cut it into cubes.
Use your vegan feta immediately, or mix all ingredients for the marinade in a jar and store the vegan feta cheese cubes in the marinade in the fridge. If you marinate the vegan feta for 2 days, it will be more flavorful.
Notes
Substitution - You can substitute almonds for macadamia nuts, but remove the skins after soaking for a smoother cheese
Use food-grade citric acid if purchasing for this recipe.
Use a high-speed blender for best results - A high-speed blender will ensure that your vegan feta cheese turns out smooth and creamy. If your blender is struggling, you might need to pause during the process and scrape down the sides of the blender so that everything can get combined.
Continuously stir the mixture while heating it up in the saucepan - This step is crucial to ensure that the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the saucepan and burn. Make sure to continuously stir the mixture over low/medium heat until it thickens and reaches the right temperature.
The vegan feta cheese can be used in salads or as a topping for pasta dishes - Once you've made your vegan feta cheese, there are plenty of ways you can use it in your cooking. Add it to salads such as this Roasted Cabbage & Lentil Salad or these Easy Mango Salsa Lettuce Tacos for a cheesy flavor, or use it as a topping for pasta dishes. It's a versatile ingredient that can add a lot of flavor to your meals.
Store the vegan feta in the marinade in a jar in the fridge for up 4-5 days - If you're storing the feta for later use, create a marinade using vinegar (or lemon juice), olive oil, water, garlic powder, herbs, and salt and store your vegan feta in a jar covered with the marinade.