Bity
The first time a vegetarian friend turned down my pesto pasta, I was baffled, because there was not a scrap of meat in it. So, is cheese vegetarian? It turns out the answer was hiding in the Parmesan, and it changed how I shop for cheese for good.
Here is everything I have learned since: the short answer, what rennet actually is, which cheeses to watch, how to read a label in ten seconds and the swaps I use. After that come eight cheesy vegetarian recipes from my own kitchen, each with a note on which cheese to buy.
Quick Breakdown
Is Cheese Vegetarian? The Short Answer
Most cheese is vegetarian, but not all of it. Cheese made with animal rennet, an enzyme taken from the stomach lining of calves, lambs or young goats, is not vegetarian. That rules out traditional Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, most Gorgonzola and many classic European cheeses.
In other words, the milk is never the problem. The question is how the milk was set into curds. Fresh cheeses set with acid, and cheeses made with microbial or vegetable rennet, are fine for vegetarians. So whenever someone asks me is cheese vegetarian, I answer with another question: which cheese, and what does the label say?
What Is Rennet and Why Does It Matter?
Rennet is the enzyme that makes milk curdle into a firm curd, which is the first real step in making most hard and semi hard cheeses. Traditionally it came from the fourth stomach of a milk fed calf, because that is where the enzyme chymosin is made. North Dakota State University Extension has a lovely, simple explainer on how rennet works in cheesemaking, including the plant and microbial versions.
These days there are four main kinds of coagulant, and only one of them is a problem:
- Animal rennet. Taken from the stomachs of calves, lambs or kids, so it is not vegetarian. Many traditional and protected cheeses still insist on it.
- Microbial rennet. Made by fungi such as moulds. It is vegetarian, and it is very common in supermarket cheese.
- Fermentation produced chymosin. The same enzyme, but produced by microbes in a vat. Most rennet used today is made this way, and vegetarian groups generally accept it.
- Vegetable or thistle rennet. Taken from plants such as cardoon thistle, and used in some Spanish and Portuguese cheeses. Of course, it is vegetarian too.
Fresh cheeses like paneer, ricotta and many cream cheeses are often set with acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, so they skip rennet altogether.
Is Parmesan Cheese Vegetarian?
No, real Parmigiano Reggiano is never vegetarian. Its protected recipe allows only milk, salt and calf rennet, so there is no vegetarian version of the genuine article. Grana Padano follows the same rule, and so does traditional Pecorino Romano, which uses lamb rennet.
However, generic “parmesan” outside Italy is not protected, so some brands sold as parmesan style or Italian hard cheese are made with microbial rennet. That is why I keep a block of vegetarian hard cheese in the fridge for pasta, risotto and pesto. It grates, melts and tastes very close to the real thing, and nobody at my table has ever spotted the difference.
Is Cheese Vegetarian? A Cheese by Cheese Chart
This is the chart I wish I had years ago. Recipes vary by maker, so treat it as a guide and always check the pack.
| Cheese | Usual coagulant | Vegetarian? |
|---|---|---|
| Parmigiano Reggiano | Calf rennet (required) | No |
| Grana Padano | Calf rennet (required) | No |
| Pecorino Romano | Lamb rennet (traditional) | No |
| Gorgonzola | Usually animal rennet | Usually not |
| Traditional Gruyère, Emmental, Manchego, Camembert, Roquefort | Often animal rennet | Often not, check the label |
| Cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, feta, halloumi | Animal or microbial, depends on the brand | Often, check the label |
| Paneer, ricotta, mascarpone, cottage cheese, cream cheese | Usually acid or microbial | Usually yes |
| Vegetarian hard cheese (parmesan style) | Microbial or vegetable rennet | Yes |
How to Tell If a Cheese Is Vegetarian
Honestly, the real answer to is cheese vegetarian sits on the back of the pack, and reading it takes about ten seconds once you know what to look for. Here is my routine in the supermarket:
- Look for a vegetarian mark. Many packs say “suitable for vegetarians” or carry a vegetarian society logo. That is the quickest yes.
- Read the ingredients. Microbial rennet, vegetable rennet, non animal rennet or vegetarian rennet are all fine.
- Be wary of “enzymes”. In the US especially, a label may just say enzymes, which can be animal or microbial. In that case, check the maker’s website or ask them.
- Watch protected names. If it says Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano, it is made with animal rennet.
- Ask when eating out. Pesto, Caesar dressing, risotto and pasta are often finished with Parmesan, so ask the kitchen which cheese they use.
Vegetarian Swaps for Non Vegetarian Cheeses
Good news: even when the answer to is cheese vegetarian is no, dinner is not ruined. Every cheese on the “no” list has an easy stand in. These are the swaps I actually use at home.
| Instead of | Try | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano | Vegetarian hard cheese (parmesan style) | Pasta, risotto, pesto, Caesar salad |
| Pecorino Romano | Vegetarian hard cheese with an extra pinch of salt | Cacio e pepe, carbonara style pasta |
| Gorgonzola | A blue cheese labelled vegetarian | Sauces, salads, pizza |
| Gruyère or Emmental | Vegetarian Swiss style cheese or mature vegetarian cheddar | Gratins, toasties, fondue |
| Any hard cheese, for a vegan | Nutritional yeast or plant based parmesan | Sprinkling over pasta and soup |
For vegan guests, a jar of nutritional yeast flakes gives pasta and soup that savoury, cheesy finish without any dairy at all.
Cheese Is Vegetarian, but Is It Vegan?
Asking is cheese vegetarian is a different question from asking whether it is vegan. The second answer is no, never. All dairy cheese is made from milk, so even the most carefully made vegetarian cheddar is off the menu for vegans. If you are unsure where the lines fall, my guide to vegan vs vegetarian diets has a simple yes or no chart.
On the nutrition side, cheese brings protein, calcium and vitamin B12, which is useful for vegetarians, but it is also high in saturated fat and salt. Harvard’s Nutrition Source has a balanced look at cheese and health, and it is well worth a read if cheese is your main protein.
Cheesy Vegetarian Pasta Bakes
So now that we know the answer to is cheese vegetarian, let’s cook with it. These five are my favourite meat free pasta dinners, and each one comes with the cheese tip I follow when I shop.
1. Easy Baked Ziti
This is my Sunday crowd pleaser, and nobody ever misses the meat. Ziti is stirred through marinara and creamy ricotta, then baked under mozzarella and a hard Italian cheese until it bubbles. Because the card calls for Parmesan, I always use a vegetarian hard cheese instead. Ricotta is usually fine, since it is often set with acid rather than rennet.
Get the Easy Baked Ziti recipe →
2. Creamy Pasta Primavera
Broccoli, peppers, squash, courgette and peas are cooked hard and fast, then cream and grated hard cheese turn into a silky sauce in the same pan. As a result, the vegetables stay bright and squeaky. Since Parmesan is the cheese here, I grate a vegetarian hard cheese straight from the block, which also stops the sauce turning grainy.
Get the Creamy Pasta Primavera recipe →
A fine rasp style grater turns a block of hard cheese into soft, fluffy strands that melt into a sauce in seconds.
3. Skillet Cheesy and Creamy Ravioli With Spinach
Cheese ravioli, garlicky spinach and dollops of mascarpone go into one ovenproof skillet, then a sprinkle of grated cheese browns under the grill. It is rich, cosy and on the table in about an hour. That said, shop bought ravioli fillings often contain Parmesan, so this is the one where I read the packet most carefully.
Get the Skillet Cheesy and Creamy Ravioli With Spinach recipe →
4. Baked Mac and Cheese
Three cups of whole milk become a simple roux sauce, then sharp cheddar, mozzarella and Monterey Jack melt in off the heat. Buttered breadcrumbs bake into a crisp golden lid on top. With three cheeses in one dish, it is worth checking all three labels, because cheddar and Jack can be made with either kind of rennet.
Get the Baked Mac and Cheese recipe →
5. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
If the baked version is for Sunday, this is the Tuesday one. The macaroni cooks in just enough water to leave a starchy base, then milk, butter and two cups of cheddar are stirred straight in. Because cheddar is the only cheese, one quick label check is all it takes to make it fully vegetarian.
Get the Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe →
Cheesy Vegetarian Salads
Next, three salads where the cheese is the star. Feta and hard Italian cheeses are the ones to check here.
6. Greek Pasta Salad
This is the bowl I carry to every barbecue, and it always comes home empty. Rotini, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives and feta are tossed in a sharp red wine vinegar dressing. Traditional Greek feta can be made with animal rennet, while many supermarket brands use microbial rennet, so I always turn the pack over.
Get the Greek Pasta Salad recipe →
7. Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
Salty feta against cold, sweet melon is one of those pairings you cannot un-taste. Cucumber, red onion and mint go in with a lime and honey dressing, and there is no cooking at all. With 200 g of feta, the cheese choice matters, and the honey makes it vegetarian rather than vegan.
Get the Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint recipe →
8. Simple Spinach Salad
Baby spinach, toasted walnuts, a lemon and olive oil dressing and a shower of grated cheese: it is my go to side when the main dish is rich. However, the card suggests Parmesan or Romano, and both are traditionally made with animal rennet. So I use a vegetarian hard cheese and nobody can tell.
Get the Simple Spinach Salad recipe →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheese Vegetarian? Everyday Cheeses
Is mozzarella vegetarian?
Often, but not always. Many brands use microbial rennet, while some traditional ones use animal rennet. So look for a vegetarian mark or rennet type on the label.
Is cheddar vegetarian?
Usually, especially in British supermarkets, where most cheddar is labelled vegetarian. Still, some farmhouse cheddars use animal rennet, so check the pack.
Is feta vegetarian?
It depends on the maker. Traditional Greek feta may use animal rennet, but many brands use microbial rennet and say so on the label.
Is cream cheese vegetarian?
Usually yes. Most cream cheese is set with cultures and acid rather than animal rennet. Even so, it is worth a glance at the ingredients.
Parmesan, Pizza and Eating Out
Can vegetarians eat Parmesan?
Not genuine Parmigiano Reggiano, because its recipe requires calf rennet. Instead, use a vegetarian hard cheese made with microbial rennet.
Can vegetarians eat pizza?
Yes, as long as the toppings are meat free and the mozzarella is made with vegetarian rennet. Ask about any Parmesan sprinkled on top.
Is microbial rennet vegan?
The rennet itself is not from an animal, but the cheese is still made from milk. So cheese with microbial rennet is vegetarian, not vegan.
Which cheeses are not vegetarian?
Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, most Gorgonzola and many traditional European cheeses such as Gruyère and Manchego.
