Home » Less than 30 Minutes » Vegan Parmesan Cheese
posted: 01/02/20 — updated: 02/11/23 by Deryn Macey Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
Jump to Recipe·★★★★★5 from 2 reviews
This vegan parmesan cheese is easy to make in minutes with just 2 simple ingredients. Enjoy sprinkled over pastas, soups, salads and more.
![Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (1) Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (1)](https://i0.wp.com/runningonrealfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-to-Make-Easy-Vegan-Parmesan-with-2-Ingredients-11-700x1049.jpg)
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Let’s go over the main ingredients you’ll need to make this dairy-free version of parmesan cheese.
Nuts or Seeds
Vegan parmesan can be made with nuts like cashews or almonds and can be made nut-free by using hemp seeds or sunflower seeds. I like it best with almonds or almonds but any of these or a combination of these will work:
- almonds
- walnuts
- cashews
- sunflower seeds
- hemp seeds
- Brazil nuts
![Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (2) Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (2)](https://i0.wp.com/runningonrealfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-to-Make-Easy-Vegan-Parmesan-with-2-Ingredients-2-700x468.jpg)
What is Nutritional Yeast?
Nutritional yeast is what gives the recipe it’s cheese-like flavour and yellow colouring. If you’re unsure what nutritional yeast is, I have a whole post all about it here.
Nutritional yeast also adds protein and most brands are fortified with B12 which is handy for plant-based eaters. My favourite brands are Hoosier Farms, Bragg’s, Frontier Coop and Bob’s Red Mill.
Can you make it without yeast?
You can make vegan parmesan yeast-free but omitting the nutritional yeast and adding extra salt as well as additional seasonings like oregano, garlic powder and onion powder. It’s more parmesan-like when made with nutritional yeast though.
![Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (3) Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (3)](https://i0.wp.com/runningonrealfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-to-Make-Easy-Vegan-Parmesan-with-2-Ingredients-3-700x468.jpg)
Seasonings
The only additional seasoning I add to vegan parmesan is sea salt, however, feel free to experiment with other herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil and dried oregano.
![Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (4) Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (4)](https://i0.wp.com/runningonrealfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-to-Make-Easy-Vegan-Parmesan-with-2-Ingredients-6-700x1049.jpg)
Tips and Notes
- Use raw, unsalted nuts. Salted and/or roasted nuts will change the taste and consistency of the recipe.
- Don’t over blend. Pulse until everything comes together and resembles dry parmesan cheese. Over blending can turn it into a paste, especially if you’re using a softer nut like cashews.
- Use a food processor. I usually use my Vitamix but only because my food processor has seen better days. If you have a food processor, this comes together a little easier using the wider base of a food processor over a blender. That being said, a high-speed blender works too.
- Store in the fridge or freezer. Store the finished product in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
![Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (5) Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (5)](https://i0.wp.com/runningonrealfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-to-Make-Easy-Vegan-Parmesan-with-2-Ingredients-9-700x1049.jpg)
How to Use
- Sprinkle over your favourite pasta dish. It also goes well over these vegan lentil meatballs, lentil pasta sauce, vegan bolognese or vegan marinara.
- Sprinkle it over roasted veggies like broccoli, cauliflower or potato.
- Add it to vegan mac and cheese.
- Sprinkle it over your favourite soup. It works well over this cauliflower potato soup, this vegan minestrone and this roasted red pepper tomato soup.
- Use it as a coating for baked tofu, cauliflower or zucchini.
- Sprinkle it over any salad or buddha bowl.
- Sprinkle it on homemade or takeout vegan pizza.
- Use anywhere else you’d use parmesan cheese!
- Sprinkle it over my spinach artichoke dip or vegan buffalo dip.
![Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (6) Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe - Running on Real Food (6)](https://i0.wp.com/runningonrealfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-to-Make-Easy-Vegan-Parmesan-with-2-Ingredients-7-700x1049.jpg)
This dairy-free vegan parmesan is easy to make in minutes in a food processor or high-speed blender. Sprinkle over pasta, salads, soup, roasted veggies and more for a nutty, salty, cheesy burst of flavour much like parmesan cheese.
Recipes to Use With
- Easy Vegan Bruschetta
- Cream of Broccoli Soup
- Vegan Bolognese
- Lentil Meatballs
- Vegan Carbonara
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vegan Parmesan Cheese
★★★★★5 from 2 reviews
- Author: Deryn Macey
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1.25 cups
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Food Processor
- Cuisine: Vegan
Save Recipe
Description
Blend up this quick and easy vegan parmesan and sprinkle over everything from soups to salad and pasta. You’ll love the nutty, salty, cheese-like flavour of this versatile condiment.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds or cashews
- 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp sea salt
- optional: 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Add everything to a food processor or high-speed blender and process until it resembled parmesan cheese in texture.
- Sprinkle over pasta, salad, soups, sandwiches, roasted veggies and more. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a month.
Keywords: how to make vegan parmesan, vegan parmesan cheese, almond parmesan, dairy-free
Basics Gluten-Free Grain-Free How-Tos Less than 30 Minutes Low-Carb Oil-Free Recipes Soy-Free Sugar-Free
posted by Deryn Macey on January 2, 2020
8 Comments / Leave a Comment »
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8 comments on “Vegan Parmesan Cheese”
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Renee — July 3, 2023 @ 12:26 pm Reply
Hi do you have any nutritional yeast substitute advice? It is not a natural whole food product.
Thank you-
Deryn Macey — July 3, 2023 @ 9:22 pm Reply
I’m sorry, I don’t. That’s the main ingredient in this recipe unfortunately. Thanks.
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Jamie — March 15, 2023 @ 5:10 am Reply
I can NOT get past the taste of nutritional yeast, but this, with other ingredients, might just be what I need. I can’t wait to make a little bit of this to see how it goes.
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Susan — December 19, 2021 @ 5:49 am Reply
Any suggestions for a salt substitute to make this low sodium please!
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Deryn Macey — December 19, 2021 @ 9:09 am Reply
You can just leave it out, no problem. Thanks!
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Amanda — April 1, 2020 @ 11:54 am Reply
Bookmarking this! It was tasty and so simple. I’m so excited to have a go-to Parmesan recipe that I can easily make in just a few minutes.
★★★★★
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Sherry K — January 15, 2020 @ 3:19 am Reply
I love this recipe and will make it again and again. Thanks!
★★★★★
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Deryn — January 15, 2020 @ 8:23 am Reply
Wonderful!! So glad you like it!
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