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    Home » How To

    Vegan Parmesan Cheese (Quick, Easy, & Delicious)

    Published: Jul 1, 2020 · Updated: Jan 3, 2021 by Mitch and Justine · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to recipe
    Vegan Parmesan Cheese

    What takes 5 minutes to make, requires only a blender, and tastes like the real thing? This vegan parmesan cheese!

    We have a feeling you're going to quickly become addicted to this recipe, just like us. This is your one and only warning.

    Good luck.

    Vegan Parmesan Cheese
    The perfect topper to just about anything
    Table of Contents
    • 📖 About
    • 🍲 Key ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🌡️ Storage
    • 💭 Budget tips
    • 🍴 Tasting notes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • ♻️ Similar recipes
    • 💬 FAQ

    📖 About

    We are by no means the first people to create a cashew parmesan, but we definitely won't be the last to enjoy it. This simple recipe has been a staple in our house since as long as we've been vegan.

    We've perfected our recipe over the years, and we want to share it with as many people as possible. We like this parmesan so much because of how well it stores in the fridge and freezer. It's great to make a huge batch to keep on hand.

    It's the perfect topping for pizzas, pasta, salads, or soups. We even find ourselves just eating it by the spoonful.

    We know cheese is a hard item for a lot of people to give up when going vegan, so we hope to make it a little easier by showing you how easy and delicious dairy-free cheese can be!

    Cashews, Nutritional Yeast, & Garlic Powder
    Ingredients you'll need for this recipe

    🍲 Key ingredients

    • Nutritional Yeast: if you want to end up with a "cheesy" parmesan, you better put some nutritional yeast in it. This wonder ingredient is a staple for vegans because of how versatile it can be. It lends a cheesy, nutty, and savoury flavor, which is essential in this recipe. And you'll be doing your body some good by eating it since it's a complete protein (which means it contains all nine essential amino acids).
    • Garlic: maybe it's just us, but adding garlic to any food makes it taste so much better (okay, maybe not your smoothie bowl, but you get our point). Although we generally opt for fresh, we use garlic powder in this recipe to keep it from becoming too moist.
    • Cashews: this is the perfect nut to use in a vegan parmesan because cashews are slightly soft with a hint of sweetness. They give it the perfect crumbly texture without being too crunchy. Plus, they are full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which can help reduce your LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff).
    • Sea salt: what would parmesan be without lots of saltiness? Not parmesan, that's what! Sea salt gives the perfect savoury flavor to create the most parmesan-like cheese possible.
    Cashews, Nutritional Yeast, and Garlic in a Blender
    Put all of the ingredients into a high speed blender

    🔪 Instructions

    This recipe is quite straight forward. All you'll need to do is add the ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor.

    Pulse everything for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until you achieve a meal-like consistency (as shown below).

    Taste and adjust the salt and garlic powder to your liking, and that's it! Transfer the parmesan into a mason jar or container for storing.

    Cashews, Nutritional Yeast, and Garlic in a Blender
    Pulse until you reach your desired consistency

    🌡️ Storage

    This parmesan stores well in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. Alternatively, you can keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months!

    Cashew Parmesan
    This is our preferred consistency

    💭 Budget tips

    We think everyone should be able to eat better for less, so here are a few tricks to make this recipe even more affordable:

    • Check multiple stores for cashews to save a ton
    • Buy your nutritional yeast in bulk
    • Don't be afraid to measure out your parmesan before adding it to meals

    🍴 Tasting notes

    This recipe will quickly become your secret weapon to sprinkle on all your favorite foods. It's:

    • Cheesy
    • Savoury
    • Addictive
    • Salty

    If you try this parmesan, please rate it and leave us a comment below! Want to stay up-to-date with new recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter or connect with Broke Bank Vegan on social media. Happy eating!

    📋 Recipe

    Vegan Parmesan Cheese

    Vegan Parmesan Cheese

    $3.87 recipe | $0.12 serving
    Mitch and Justine
    Made with cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, and salt. This vegan parmesan tastes so cheesy, you'll never go back to dairy again!
    5 from 1 vote
    Prevents your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Snacks
    Cuisine Gluten-Free, Italian, Vegan
    Servings 32 servings
    Calories 34 kcal

    Equipment

    • High-speed blender

    Ingredients
     

    US Customary - Metric
    • 1 ½ cups raw cashews ($2.58)
    • ⅓ cup nutritional yeast ($1.27)
    • ¾ teaspoon sea salt ($0.01)
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder ($0.01)

    Instructions
     

    • Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor.
    • Pulse for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until you achieve a meal-like consistency.
    • Taste and adjust salt and/or garlic powder to your liking.
    • Transfer parmesan to a mason jar or container, and store it in your fridge for up to 1 month.
    • Serve over pasta, pizza, or salads!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 1mg
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    ♻️ Similar recipes

    For more tasty dish ideas, check out our:

    • Tofu scramble for those mornings you need to eat light but get that protein in.
    • Vegan sweet potato chili for a high protein, meal prep ready recipe perfect for any occasion.
    • Mac and cheese with almond milk for a cheesy meal without the bloat.
    • Lentil bolognese if you want some Italian food to fill your belly but need it vegan style.

    💬 FAQ

    What can I use instead of cashews?

    Instead of cashews, you can try using sunflower seeds or macadamia nuts with varied results.

    Can I use fresh garlic instead of powdered

    You can try using fresh garlic instead of powdered, although we haven't made this recipe with it, so we can't speak to how long it will last.

    Do I have to use raw cashews?

    No, you do not have to use raw cashews. You can use roasted cashews, but raw tastes best in this recipe.

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    Mitch & Justine

    Hey, we're Mitch & Justine! We've been vegan for over 8 years, and we love to share plant-based recipes from around the world! Everything you'll find here is simple, affordable, and delicious. Learn more →

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