Jededias’ Cheese: A Coconut Milk & Soy Milk Pizza Cheese with Tahini & Honey

Named and personal, this cheese belongs to a tradition of recipe-sharing that runs through retreat cooking — a formula someone developed, tested, and passed forward. Jededias’ Cheese uses coconut milk as its fat and body base, soy milk or yogurt as its protein source, cornstarch as its thickener, and tahini as its secret ingredient: a sesame paste that adds extraordinary richness, subtle nuttiness, and a savory depth that makes this cheese work particularly well on pizza. Honey softens the overall flavor and promotes even browning. The result is a thick, creamy, heat-stable cheese sauce that holds up on a pizza as it bakes — stretching, bubbling, and browning in a way that most plant-based cheese substitutes fail to achieve.

Jump to Recipe ⬇

🌿 The Healing Ingredients

• Soy Milk or Yogurt (1¼ cups) — The protein base of the cheese. Provides complete protein (all essential amino acids) plus calcium, potassium, and B vitamins. If using soy milk rather than yogurt, add 1 tsp. lemon juice to mimic the mild acidity of yogurt and improve the sauce’s flavor balance. → Shop Plant Milk Powder, Organic
• Coconut Milk (1½ cups) — The fat and richness source. Provides medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that give the cheese its luxurious body and its ability to brown and bubble on a pizza. → Shop Coconut Milk, Organic, Unsweetened | Shop Coconut Milk Powder, Organic
• Cornstarch, Non-GMO (3 Tbsp.) — Provides the starchy thickening that transforms the blended liquid into a thick, heat-stable cheese that holds its structure during pizza baking.
• Tahini (1½ Tbsp.) — The defining ingredient of this cheese. Adds richness, savory depth, and a subtle nuttiness. Rich in calcium, iron, and sesamin lignans with liver-protective and anti-inflammatory properties. → Shop Sesame Tahini, Beirut
• Honey (1½ tsp.) — Adds gentle sweetness that balances the savory depth of the tahini and onion, and helps the cheese brown evenly during pizza baking. → Shop Certified Organic Wildflower Honey
• Onion Powder (1 tsp.) — Provides the essential savory backbone of the sauce. → Shop Organic Onion Granules

📖 Why This Works on Pizza

Most plant-based cheese sauces thin when heated and fail to brown. Jededias’ Cheese works on pizza because the ratio of cornstarch to liquid is calibrated for high-heat stability — the starch gelatinizes during the initial stovetop cook and re-gels in the oven, producing a cheese that holds its shape, bubbles at the edges, and develops golden spots under heat. Tahini’s natural oils also contribute to browning behavior that closely mimics dairy mozzarella.

📋 The Recipe

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups Soy milk or yogurt (if milk, add 1 tsp. lemon juice)
• 1½ cups Coconut milk
• 3 Tbsp. Cornstarch, non-GMO
• 1½ tsp. Honey
• 1 tsp. Onion powder
• 1½–2 tsp. Salt
• 1½ Tbsp. Tahini

Directions

1. Blend ingredients well.
2. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
3. Use as a cheese for pizza.

💡 Tips & Serving Ideas

Blend thoroughly before cooking — the cornstarch must be fully dissolved in the cold liquid before it hits heat, or it will clump. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens to a spreadable, glossy consistency (about 5–7 minutes). Spread generously on pizza dough before adding toppings. For best results, apply a thin layer of tomato sauce, allow to cool slightly, then apply the cheese on top. Bake the pizza as normal — the cheese will bubble and spot-brown beautifully. Also excellent as a thick dip for flatbreads or raw vegetables.

Part of The Healing Kitchen series at Black Hills Health Retreat.