Miyoko’s Creamery created a first-of-its-kind dairy-free cottage cheese from watermelon seeds that boasts 10 grams of plant-based protein per serving. The cultured vegan cottage cheese is made from organic watermelon seed milk and sunflower seed milk and it is said to have the same mild taste and curded texture of traditional cottage cheese. The Cultured Plant Milk Cottage Cheese was made possible by researching how plants and their proteins work in the process of cheesemaking and as the team found, watermelon seeds are high in a protein called globulin that helps with coagulation.
Miyoko’s Creamery founder Miyoko Schinner told VegNews, "The idea for cottage cheese originated in my home kitchen when I was playing around with various plant milks and discovered a way to form curds that resembled cottage cheese."
The innovative vegan product is set to hit retail channels in 2023.
Cultured Vegan Cottage Cheeses
This Dairy-Free Cottage Cheese is Made from Watermelon Seeds
Trend Themes
1. Plant-based Cheese Alternatives - Exploring the use of various plant-based protein sources for cheese-like products provides opportunities for novel food innovation.
2. Utilizing Overlooked Food Sources - Innovating with unconventional ingredients, such as watermelon seeds, can unlock new product development possibilities for food and beverage companies.
3. Cultured Vegan Dairy Alternatives - Investigating the role of fermentation in the development of dairy-free cheese products presents opportunities for creating authentic-tasting alternatives for consumers.
Industry Implications
1. Plant-based Food Industry - The expanding market for vegan and plant-based foods provides a receptive customer base for innovative products such as dairy-alternative cheese made from plant sources.
2. Alternative Protein Industry - Companies in the alternative protein space can explore the potential of underutilized protein sources, like watermelon seeds, to create unique and differentiated products.
3. Consumer Packaged Goods Industry - Diversifying product lines to include innovative and sustainable alternative products that align with evolving consumer preferences, such as dairy-free options, can be a strategic move for CPG companies.