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This cashew parmesan recipe is a great alternative to parmesan cheese. The cashews and nutritional yeast add a unique cheesy taste when it's added to pasta, pizza, or grain bowls.
It’s vegan, easy, and comes together in just a few minutes. It will even last for weeks in the refrigerator. Try it on vegan creamy tomato pasta or if you sprinkle it on pizza before it goes in the oven it’ll brown up a little.
Ingredients
Only five ingredients are needed to make this cashew parmesan in just a few minutes.
Cashews are used for the bulk of this recipe to carry the flavor from the other components. They also add a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. Use raw unsalted cashews for this recipe.
Nutritional yeast (nooch) is a deactivated yeast that gives a nutty, cheese-like flavor. It’s used in vegan meals to sometimes add a cheesy savory flavor, like in this vegan nacho cheese recipe. Although it's yeast, it cannot be substituted with baker’s yeast.
Garlic powder and onion powder help add more depth of flavor. They’re not normal components of parmesan cheese, but the flavors do add some complexity to this vegan cheese.
Salt because parmesan has a salty flavor.
Tips
- If you have an allergy, you can try sunflower seeds in this dairy-free parmesan.
- Don’t over-blend the cashews with the ingredients, just until the cashews are crumbly.
How to Make Cashew Parmesan
The vegan parmesan is ready in minutes and super easy.
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor. A blender will also work, but they are more powerful so you’ll want to be careful to not over-blend.
- Blend cashews until they look like bread crumbs. The cashews should be ground up small so there are no large chunks of nuts. Don’t puree too long or you’ll be heading into cashew butter territory.
- Store leftovers in the fridge. They will stay fresh for a least a few weeks.
Serving Suggestions
- Sprinkle the vegan parmesan over homemade pizza before placing in the oven.
- Add it to the top of your vegan Mac and cheese.
- Sprinkle the vegan parmesan over pasta dishes, like vegan creamy tomato pasta.
- Add a little cheesiness to roasted vegetables, like roasted broccoli.
- Try a sprinkle of it on vegan toast.
Store in an air-tight container such as a clean jar with a lid or a storage container with a lid in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Yes, you can! Store it in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to three months.
More Vegan Cheese Recipes
I hope you enjoy this recipe for plant-based parmesan!
This recipe was originally published on August 19, 2018, and updated on December 8, 2022.
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Cashew Parmesan
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This cashew parmesan recipe is a great alternative to parmesan cheese. The cashews and nutritional yeast add a unique cheesy taste when it's added to pasta, pizza, or grain bowls.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (122 g) raw cashews
- ¼ cup (19 g) nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor.
- Blend cashews until they look like bread crumbs.
- Store leftovers in the fridge. They will stay fresh for a least a few weeks.
Notes
- A blender will also work, but they are more powerful so you’ll want to be careful to not over blend.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: condiment
- Method: food processor
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: How to make vegan parmesan, plant based parmesan
Steve
This was super easy to make! I used a blender instead of a food processor with no issues. It was delicious too!
★★★★★
Allie
I'm so glad it worked out for you and that you liked it!