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Vegan Parmesan Cheese 3 Ways (Nut-Free Option)
5 from 12 votes

Vegan Parmesan Cheese 3 Ways (Nut-Free Option)

This vegan Parmesan cheese alternative offers three variations including a nut-free option, using ingredients like walnut halves, pumpkin and hemp seeds, fresh lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt. The recipe yields a coarse, crumbly cheese substitute that achieves a toasted, dry texture through brief baking, suitable for sprinkling on various dishes. It provides flexibility with ingredient swaps and storage methods including refrigeration and freezing.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 82 kcal
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅓ cups walnut halves The pumpkin/hemp combo has a fairly strong hemp flavor, so if that's not your thing, increase the pumpkin seeds and decrease the hemp, or sub raw sunflower seeds, or 1 ¼ cup brazil nuts or ½ cup pumpkin seeds plus ⅓ cup hemp seeds
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • ½ teaspoon salt fine sea salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Place the nuts (or seeds) in a large food processor and pulse until they're the texture of coarse crumbs. Add the lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and salt, and pulse several times to combine.
  3. Spread the mixture on the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and stir. If preparing the seed version, it may be done at this point. It should be dry but not browning. If the mixture still seems moist, return to the oven and bake for another 2 to 4 minutes, keeping an eye on it so the nuts/seeds don't brown.  
  4. Allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks, or freeze for longer storage. Can be used straight from the freezer. 

Notes

  • This cheese can be made raw by replacing lemon juice with a small amount of lemon zest, yielding a zestier but less tangy flavor.
  • Adjust seed and nut proportions to minimize hemp flavor if it is undesired, substituting with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or brazil nuts as recommended.
  • Store the cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks or freeze for longer storage, using it directly from the freezer as needed.

Nutrition Information

Calories 82kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 118mg (5%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 0g (0%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 82

% Daily Value*

Calories 82kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 118mg 5%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 0g 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.