4-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan
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Yield:
Makes 2/3 cup (86 g)
Recipe Source:
Effortless Vegan by Sarah Nevins, ($21.99, Page Street Publishing, 2020). Photo credit: Sarah Nevins
Ingredients
- 1⁄2 cup cashews
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1⁄4 tsp garlic powder
- 1⁄2 tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
Directions
- Add the cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic powder and salt to a blender.
- Pulse in 5-second increments until it reaches a sandy texture. Taste and season with a little more salt if needed.
- Keep this Parmesan stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 weeks or in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Notes
Before you try anything else, stop what you’re doing and make this Parmesan! Add it to pastas, soups and so much more. I make sure to always keep a jar of this stuff on hand because it really does make everything you add it to taste at least 10% better.
What Is Nutritional Yeast?
Nutritional yeast is essentially baking yeast that has undergone a heating and drying process to render it inactive. Once it’s deactivated, it’s usually fortified with vitamins and minerals. It often comes in a yellow, flaky form; you can also find it powdered.
It’s most commonly fortified with vitamin B12, which is crucial for healthy cells and brain function. It’s especially handy for anyone following a vegan diet because this is a vitamin that is hard to find in plant-based foods.
Why do we use it? Aside from fortifying your food with added nutrients, it also adds a cheesy, umami flavor to your cooking!