Is Oaxaca cheese vegan?

November 11, 2025 •

4 min read

Traditional Oaxaca cheese is a semi-soft Mexican cheese made from cow's milk, which means it is not vegan. Its buttery, mild flavor and famous stringy texture are produced using dairy and often animal-based rennet, posing a challenge for those asking, "Is Oaxaca cheese vegan?".

Quick Summary

Authentic Oaxaca cheese is made from cow's milk and is not vegan, but numerous plant-based alternatives offer similar texture and melting properties for Mexican cuisine. Vegan versions can be made from nuts or found in stores, providing a suitable dairy-free substitute.

Key Points

Not Vegan: Traditional Oaxaca cheese is made from cow's milk and uses rennet, making it unsuitable for a vegan diet.
Vegan Alternatives Exist: Many plant-based cheeses made from nuts, starches, and nutritional yeast can substitute for Oaxaca cheese in recipes.
Good for Melting: Vegan cheese brands like Violife are specifically formulated to melt effectively, ideal for quesadillas and queso fundido.
Homemade is an Option: DIY vegan Oaxaca-style cheese can be made at home using soaked nuts, agar-agar, and seasonings for a tailored texture and taste.
Versatile Use: Plant-based alternatives can be used just like traditional Oaxaca cheese in a variety of Mexican dishes, including tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.

The Dairy-Based Reality of Authentic Oaxaca Cheese

For anyone following a plant-based diet, understanding the origins of ingredients is crucial. Oaxaca cheese, known in Mexico as quesillo or queso de hebra, is a prime example of a dairy product that is not vegan. Its status as a cheese automatically disqualifies it from being vegan, as all traditional cheese relies on milk from an animal source. The cheese is crafted using the pasta filata technique, similar to mozzarella, which involves stretching and kneading the curd into long, thin ribbons that are then wound into a ball.

Why Traditional Oaxaca Cheese Isn't Vegan

At its core, Oaxaca cheese production uses two non-vegan components: milk and rennet. The milk is almost always from a cow, though it can sometimes be a blend. The rennet is an enzyme used to curdle the milk, and while some manufacturers use microbial or plant-based rennet for vegetarian versions, many traditional methods still rely on animal rennet.

Discovering Delicious Plant-Based Alternatives

Fortunately, the vegan food market has expanded to offer fantastic alternatives that can replicate the taste and texture of Oaxaca cheese. These plant-based options allow vegans to enjoy the melty goodness of Mexican dishes without compromising their ethical beliefs. Here are some of the best ways to get your vegan Oaxaca fix:

Nut-Based Cheeses: Cashews and almonds are excellent bases for creamy, homemade vegan cheese. Soaking and blending nuts with ingredients like nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and seasonings can create a flavorful and pliable cheese that melts beautifully.
Store-Bought Vegan Cheese: Brands like Violife, Miyoko's Creamery, and Follow Your Heart offer a wide range of vegan cheeses that melt well. Their shredded or block formats can be used directly in recipes calling for Oaxaca cheese.
Homemade Queso Fresco-Style Crumbles: For a non-melting, crumbly texture often used in garnishes, recipes based on blanched almonds and agar-agar can be used to create a firm, sliceable or crumble-ready cheese.

Comparison Table: Oaxaca Cheese vs. Vegan Alternatives


Feature	Traditional Oaxaca Cheese	Vegan Alternative (e.g., Cashew-based)
Ingredients	Cow's milk, rennet, salt	Cashews/almonds, nutritional yeast, coconut oil, agar, seasonings
Vegan	No	Yes
Texture	Semi-soft, stringy, pliable	Varies, can be soft, creamy, or firm
Melting Properties	Excellent, gooey and stringy	Good to excellent, formulated to melt
Flavor	Mild, buttery, slightly salty	Can be mild and buttery or sharp and tangy, depending on ingredients
Dairy-Free	No	Yes
Allergens	Dairy	Tree nuts (cashews, almonds)

Incorporating Vegan Alternatives into Mexican Cuisine

Vegan versions of Oaxaca cheese are incredibly versatile and can be used in the same way as their dairy counterpart. They provide the perfect melty filling for many classic dishes. For instance:

Quesadillas: Fill corn or flour tortillas with a generous amount of shredded vegan cheese and grill until golden and gooey.
Tacos and Enchiladas: Top your finished tacos or enchiladas with shredded or crumbled vegan Oaxaca cheese for extra flavor and creaminess.
Queso Fundido: Create a decadent vegan queso dip using a nut-based cheese sauce and toppings like mushrooms or chorizo.
Melted Topping: Melt the vegan cheese over refried beans or stuffed peppers for a classic, comforting finish.

A Deeper Dive into Vegan Cheese Making

Creating your own vegan cheese at home gives you complete control over the ingredients and flavor profile. A simple cashew-based recipe often involves soaking raw cashews, blending them with water, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, lemon juice for tang, and seasonings. To get the perfect texture for melting, ingredients like tapioca starch or agar-agar can be added. For those seeking inspiration, the blog Vegan Anj frequently reviews and recommends various store-bought brands, including those with great melting properties.

The Verdict: Conclusion on Is Oaxaca Cheese Vegan

To answer the question directly, authentic Oaxaca cheese is not vegan due to its use of dairy products and often, animal-derived rennet. However, the thriving market for plant-based foods has provided an abundance of delicious and functional alternatives. Whether you opt for a homemade cashew-based recipe or a quality store-bought brand, achieving the signature melty, buttery texture of Oaxaca cheese is entirely possible for a vegan diet. By exploring these options, you can continue to enjoy the rich and diverse flavors of Mexican cuisine guilt-free.

Common Vegan Cheese Ingredients Explained

Nutritional Yeast: A deactivated yeast that provides a cheesy, savory flavor to many vegan dishes.
Cashews: A popular base for creamy vegan cheeses due to their neutral flavor and high fat content.
Agar-Agar: A gelatinous substance derived from seaweed, used to thicken and set vegan cheese, replicating texture.
Coconut Oil: Provides fat and firmness, which helps vegan cheese melt and solidify properly.

The Best Way to Melt Vegan Cheese

To get the best melt from vegan cheese, especially store-bought options like Violife, it's often best to use it in recipes where it can be cooked through. This ensures it gets gooey and delicious, rather than using it cold. Using a skillet or broiler can help achieve a perfect melt for quesadillas or queso fundido.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Oaxaca cheese is not dairy-free. It is a traditional cheese made from cow's milk and contains dairy products.

Authentic Oaxaca cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk, rennet, and salt, using a 'stretched curd' method to achieve its characteristic texture.

Yes, while there might not be a product specifically labeled 'vegan Oaxaca,' several plant-based cheese brands like Violife or Miyoko's Creamery offer meltable shreds and blocks that work well as a substitute.

You can create a delicious vegan Oaxaca alternative by blending soaked cashews with water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and a gelling agent like agar-agar for a meltable, dairy-free cheese.

For quesadillas, you can use shredded vegan cheese from brands like Violife, or a homemade cashew-based cheese to get a similar melty texture.

Many traditional and commercial Oaxaca cheeses use animal rennet for coagulation. However, some vegetarian versions may use microbial rennet, but they are still not vegan due to the dairy.

The healthiness of vegan Oaxaca cheese depends on the ingredients. Homemade versions using whole foods like cashews are often healthier than highly processed store-bought options, but both can be part of a balanced diet.