Sauces & Condiments Italian-inspired

Five-Minute Vegan Parmesan

A 5-minute savory vegan parmesan made by pulsing fine almond flour with nutritional yeast, soy sauce, and a touch of lactic acid.

OF Q
Tag key
  • OF Oil-Free
  • Q Quick
Back to Recipes More Recipes
Total 5 min
Prep 5 min
Cook 0 min
Marination —
Servings 8
Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

Parmesan Base

Seasoning

Watch the video

Instructions

  1. Add the almond meal and nutritional yeast flakes to a small food processor or spice grinder.

    Add the almond meal and nutritional yeast flakes to a small food processor or spice grinder.

  2. Pulse 3 to 4 times to evenly blend the dry ingredients.

    Pulse 3 to 4 times to evenly blend the dry ingredients.

  3. Drizzle in the soy sauce and food-grade lactic acid (or lemon juice).

    Drizzle in the soy sauce and food-grade lactic acid (or lemon juice).

  4. Pulse in short 1-second bursts until the liquid incorporates and the mixture resembles fine, slightly damp, golden cheese crumbs.

    Pulse in short 1-second bursts until the liquid incorporates and the mixture resembles fine, slightly damp, golden cheese crumbs.
    Tip: Do not overprocess, or the oils from the almonds will release and turn the crumbs into almond butter.

  5. Spread the mixture on a plate for 10 minutes to air-dry slightly, then transfer to a clean glass jar and sprinkle over pasta, risotto, or roasted vegetables.

    Spread the mixture on a plate for 10 minutes to air-dry slightly, then transfer to a clean glass jar and sprinkle over pasta, risotto, or roasted vegetables.

Storage & Meal Prep

Store in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. Can also be frozen for several months without clumping.

FAQ

What is food-grade lactic acid?

Lactic acid is a natural vegan acid produced through plant sugar fermentation that provides the exact tangy, aged dairy bite found in Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Can I use lemon juice instead?

Yes, fresh lemon juice is a great natural substitute that adds brightness, though lactic acid offers a closer match to aged cheese.

Interactive Nutrition Map

Recipe ingredients

  • almond meal or blanched almond flour56 g
  • nutritional yeast flakes20 g
  • soy sauce16 g

Per serving

50kcalCalories
2.8gProtein
2.5gCarbs
3.6gFat
1.4gFiber
Sodium111 mg5% DV
Potassium108 mg2% DV
Calcium20 mg2% DV
Iron0.4 mg2% DV
Magnesium24 mg6% DV
Vitamin C0 mg0% DV
Vitamin A0 µg0% DV
Vitamin K0 µg0% DV
Folate11 µg3% DV
Vitamin B1212.5 µg521% DV

Estimated per serving from ingredients with nutrition data. Ingredients excluded from calculation are not represented. Missing data may understate values. Daily Values (DV) are based on 2,000 calories.

The Story Behind This Dish

Every vegan pantry needs a reliable grated parmesan alternative that doesn’t rely on palm oil or synthetic starches. This 5-minute vegan parmesan utilizes the natural nuttiness of almond meal and the savory, cheesy depth of nutritional yeast.

The secret trick is incorporating a splash of soy sauce for umami salinity and food-grade lactic acid for that authentic aged, sharp bite. Pulsed in seconds, it yields fine, golden crumbs that melt into hot pasta, soups, and risottos just like traditional cheese.

Essential

Needed for the site to work, such as remembering this choice. Always on.

Analytics

Google Analytics shows us which pages are read and how visitors find us, so we can make better recipes.