As most of you know I have a Northern Italian background, even though I grew up in Australia. Grated Parmesan Cheese on risotto or pasta recipes, added to meatball mixtures, was widely used to add extra flavour.
So what do you do when you’re suddenly told to go dairy free?! Ugh
It was a whole new ball game for me. I needed to find an alternative for all my dairy products especially for parmesan cheese! That’s one of the main reasons I started my blog, to help others find yummy alternatives.
About Vegan Parmesan and How to Use it
This very simple and quick recipe makes this Vegan Parmesan a very useful ingredient to give body and character to your dishes. Just use it to replace Parmesan Cheese if you’re on a dairy free diet.
You can use it sprinkled on top of soups, mixed into your mashed potatoes and to enhance your meatball and pie recipes.
The basic recipe is made with peeled almonds and organic salt. I use a mix of almonds and cashews and nutritional yeast. If you’re allergic to almonds, try using hazelnuts or walnuts as a substitute or simply just cashews.
I usually add 2 tablespoons of sesame seed salt (Gomasio) as well, for added flavour to the mix. I suggest you try the various options and judge for yourself which one you prefer.
It’s literally prepared in minutes and can be stored in the refrigerator for about 7-10 days.
Ready-made Vegan Parmesan is also available in stores and online. I suggest you read the ingredients label carefully as some manufacturers add corn or rice flours. If you’re following a Paleo or Whole30 diet, you’re better off making your own homemade.
NB. Vegan Parmesan is great for au gratin recipes, however you need to be careful when baking, it tends to burn more easily due to the nut oil content, compared to real Parmesan Cheese.
If you prefer to use whole almonds you can peel them by simply blanching them in hot water or alternatively you can soak them in water over night. The skin will peel away easily. .
Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast so it only provides flavour and has no rising properties. It’s an excellent choice when added to pasta, lasagna or risotto recipes as well as mixed together with chopped seeds and nuts as in the recipe below.
Where can I buy Nutritional Yeast? Nutritional yeast can be found in health food stores, organic food stores and online.
*Sesame Seed Salt (Gomasio) Is a condiment and a wonderful alternative to add to salads providing a salty and nutty flavour, rather than using salt on its own. To provide extra flavour and nutrient value I usually add a sheet of nori seaweed to the mix.
It’s easy to make homemade Gomasio, check out the recipe here.
Sesame seed salt can be found in a health food stores or online.
Super simple dairy free, vegan alternative to parmesan cheese. It's literally made in minutes to sprinkle on your favourite pasta and more! Place all the ingredients into a small food processor and blend until it resembles really fine breadcrumbs, almost powdery. Store in a glass jar and refrigerate for a week to ten days. *Sesame Seed Salt (Gomasio) Is a condiment and a wonderful alternative to add to salads providing a salty and nutty flavour, rather than using salt on its own. To provide extra flavour and nutrient value I usually add a sheet of nori seaweed to the mix.
It’s easy to make homemade Gomasio, check out the recipe here.
Sesame seed salt can be found in a health food stores or online.
VEGAN PARMESAN
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
