vegan parmesan

Most people like to sprinkle some Parmesan on their pasta. But did you know that genuine Parmesan cheese is made with an Italian cheese that (by law) contains calf rennet. So it’s not even vegetarian, let alone vegan. Other non-vegetarian cheeses are Emmental and Gorgonzola.

Many pubs and restaurants don’t know this, and serve up the ‘vegetarian option’ with Parmesan cheese. Also check in supermarkets for ready-made products (for instance, unless a vegan version, most jars of pesto contain Parmesan cheese).

This recipe for Vegan Parmesan (Jessica in the Kitchen) is tasty and nutritious, with a cheesy taste from nutritional yeast. Made with ground cashews, it’s flavoured with sea salt, and garlic/onion powders. It will also store in the fridge for up to 2 months (in an airtight container).

Keep these plant-based Parmesan-style cheeses away from young children & pets, due to nuts (and in the case of pets, garlic and onion). Read more on food safety for people & pets.

The easiest way to get around the above, is to take an hour or two, and master the art of making your own vegan Parmesan. You only need around 5 ingredients, then you can keep leftovers in the fridge for a couple of months, in an airtight container.

Then you won’t have to traipse around stores, looking for plant-based versions, which are more expensive.

The only ‘new ingredient’ you’ll need to learn about (after garlic, onion, salt and nuts) is nutritional yeast. This is not the same as Brewer’s yeast, so don’t buy that!

This is rich in vitamin B12 (the vitamin that vegans need). And it has a naturally cheesy flavour so is ideal to make Parmesan.

Quick Four-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan

vegan Parmesan

This simple recipe for vegan parmesan (Sally Swindell) is ideal to whizz up and keep on hand, to top your Italian dishes. It only needs a few ingredients, then just blend and store in the fridge in a sealed container, for up to a week or two.

Where to Buy Vegan Parmesan in Shops

vegan Parmesan

There are a few brands, and quality differs (you can recycle any packaging at kerbside or supermarket bag bins). What you choose is likely depending on your budget.

Good vegan Parmesan brands (that taste the same as real Parmesan) are made with nuts, but due to this, they are very expensive. Oh, Grate! and Tyne Chease are both good. As is Gondino Aged Parmesan Alternative (an authentic organic Italian cheese, made with chickpea flour).

Nurishh vegan parmesan

If you’re on a budget (and don’t want to make your own vegan Parmesan), then you can look in stores for cheaper brands. These are okay, but they are made with coconut oil (so don’t taste as good). But for grating over food, it’s not as important as say slices of cheese.

Nurishh is rich in calcium and vitamin B12. VioLife is the other main brand. Both are good on pasta, and also with risotto or bruschetta.

 

You can now buy plastic-free pasta grown with British wheat from The Yorkshire Pasta Co and Northern Pasta Co. Top with vegan Parmesan (conventional Parmesan is not even vegetarian as it contains a cheese made with calf rennet).

Make (or Buy) Plant-Based Pesto

easy vegan pesto

This 5-ingredient easy vegan pesto (Broke Bank Vegan) is a wonderful recipe to master, as you can use pesto not just with pasta, but stirred into vegetables or any Italian dish. All you need is basil, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt and some vegan Parmesan.

Pesto is also often not vegetarian, as many brands contain Parmesan. If buying ready-made, look in health shops or supermarkets for vegan brands (Sacla offers a Free From version and Tideford Organics is another good brand).

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