This vegan parmesan cheese recipe is quick and easy to make with raw cashews, nutritional yeast, and sea salt. It's the perfect topping for pastas, pizzas, and more!
When I first went dairy free, almost a decade ago, the first vegan products I wanted to try were plant based cheeses. I was shocked at how expensive the vegan cheeses were – and still are!
This vegan version is a great parmesan substitute! Not only is it significantly cheaper, it’s super tasty too! Want more homemade vegan cheese recipes? Try my vegan ricotta and vegan feta cheese next!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Super simple to make with 3 common pantry ingredients.
- Creamy texture and cheesy taste.
- Great way to add extra flavor to your dairy free dishes!
Ingredient notes
- Cashews: Use unsalted raw cashews for best results. As an alternative, you could use pistachios, walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds instead.
- Nutritional yeast: This is the key ingredient for getting that nutty, cheesy flavor. Nutritional yeast flakes (also known as nooch) is beloved by vegans and vegetarians for its unique umami flavor. Use more or less, depending on preference.
- Salt: Real parmesan cheese is naturally on the salty side, so this is another essential ingredient!
- Optional seasonings: Garlic powder and/or onion powder add great flavor and in my opinion, help this vegan substitute taste more like the real thing. Feel free to also infuse the vegan parm with dried or fresh herbs like oregano, basil, or thyme.
Suggested equipment
Buy Hamilton Beach Food Processor
This small kitchen appliance is one of my most-used and well-loved! A food processor is great for making homemade treats like bliss balls, dips, dressings, and more.
Tips from Jenna
- Use a food processor: A blender can make your vegan parmesan too fine. We’re looking for about breadcrumb size pieces.
- Avoid over-blending: You really only need a few pulses. If you blend for too long, you’ll end up with cashew butter!
- Make a large batch: Double or triple the recipe and store in the fridge or freezer for longer storage.
- Leftovers: Store homemade vegan parmesan in an airtight container or jar the refrigerator for up to a week.
Serving suggestions
Use cashew parmesan anywhere you'd sprinkle regular parmesan. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy this homemade vegan parmesan cheese recipe:
- Top vegan parm on homemade vegan pizza for a nostalgic meal.
- Add to your favorite pasta dishes like vegan mac and cheese, roasted red pepper pasta, or vegan fettuccine alfredo!
- It's also a great addition to vegan bruschetta and homemade vegan pesto.
- Want more comfort food classics? Try vegan parmesan on vegan broccoli rice casserole, vegan eggplant parmesan, or vegan bolognese.
I hope you love this vegan parmesan recipe as much as we do! Be sure to let me know what you think by leaving a rating and review below.
Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs with a soft, crumbly texture. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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