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With its cheesy, nutty, and savory flavor, Nutritional Yeast is a dairy-free seasoning that should be in everyone’s pantry–whether vegan or not.
These nutritional yeast recipes are going to make you a believer with their amazing flavor!
Nutritional yeast is a healthy culinary must-have. If you aren’t familiar with its flavoring superpowers, that is going to change right here, right now.
We’ve got it all with these delicious nutritional yeast recipes. Everything vegan–from parmesan cheese to quiche to breakfast scramble. And, you’re going to love it all!
What is nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast, unlike baker’s and brewer’s yeasts, is a deactivated yeast used for seasoning.
It’s an inactive form of the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Though it is the same strain of yeast bakers use to leaven bread, nutritional yeast has been pasteurized to dry out the yeast. This process helps to extract its nutritional benefits.
Nutritional yeast is exclusively for seasoning and cannot be used for leavening in baking. Even so, it can normally be found in the baking section of many grocery stores. I usually purchase my nutritional yeast online.
What does it taste like?
Known by vegan enthusiasts as nooch, this seasoning yeast has a nutty, cheesy flavor and is yellow in color. It can be purchased in flakes and granules as well as a powder that can be used interchangeably.
Nutritional yeast can be used in recipes the same way you might use grated cheese to add flavor to foods like popcorn, baked potatoes, and pizza.
Uses for nutritional yeast
Sprinkle over salads, roasted vegetables, pasta, rice, popcorn, and more
Use in vegan cheese sauce recipes
Stir into soups and stews
Add to casseroles and other dishes
Two types of nutritional yeast
There are two types of nutritional yeast available — unfortified and fortified.
Unfortified- This type only contains the vitamins and minerals that are naturally produced by the yeast cells as they grow. No additional additives or salt are included.
Fortified- This is the most common type found in grocery stores, and it has synthetic vitamins added during the manufacturing process. They will be listed on the ingredient list.
Is nutritional yeast good for you?
Nutritional yeast has many health benefits. It contains all nine essential amino acids and the fortified type can be a source of some vitamins and minerals.
It is considered safe for most people, but those who are on certain medications or who are sensitive to yeast products may need to talk with their healthcare provider.
Another lesser-known fact is that nutritional yeast is high in purines and may cause an abundance of uric acid which can lead to gout flare-ups if consumed in larger quantities. This actually happened with my husband who had never experienced gout before and hasn’t again after limiting his nutritional yeast intake.
This post may contain affiliate links.Read my full disclosure here.
Nutritional Yeast Recipes
These delicious recipes range from vegan cheese sauces to breakfast casseroles and quiche. It's the nutritional yeast that adds all the flavor, so pull out that container and give some of these a try! Click on each of the photos, recipe titles, or 'Get the Recipe' buttons to see full recipes with ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button.
This simple and delicious Savory Spice Blend Seasoning is perfect to keep on hand to add flavor to dishes in place of salt. It livens up even the blandest recipes.
“Nutritional yeast is high in purines. Large quantities of purines in the diet create an abundance of uric acid, which has been associated with several ailments, including gout. Furthermore, over-reliance on a single food in the diet may eventually cause sensitivity or possibly even an allergy to that food.” —GrassRootsVegan
Other great vegan recipes
30-Minute or Less Recipes
Black Bean Recipes
Gluten-Free Recipes
For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
Complex, yet subtle and savory that works well in virtually any recipe. Make a marinade with your favorite herbs and spices and add a tablespoon of nutritional yeast powder. Stir in some Nooch in your stuffing for potatoes and vegetables. Make a savory, protein-rich cake by replacing the sugar with nutritional yeast.
The high fiber content of nutritional yeast can cause digestive upset if you aren't used to consuming a high-fiber diet. Introducing too much fiber too quickly can lead to stomach discomfort like cramps or diarrhea. Introduce nutritional yeast gradually and consume plenty of fiber to avoid this unpleasant side effect.
If for some reason you can't find nutritional yeast or can't use it, you can safely leave it out of recipes where it's used in small amounts as only a flavor enhancer; in some cases, miso or soy sauce can be used in a 1:3 ratio (1/3 of the amount of nooch called for), though both add sodium, so you may need to reduce ...
Digestive problems: Nutritional yeast contains a high amount of fiber. Too much nutritional yeast added too quickly to one's diet can cause problems with digestion, such as abdominal cramps and diarrhea. A high-fiber diet is good for digestive health.
Store nutritional yeast in a tightly sealed bag or jar in a cool, dark place (or in the refrigerator), and it should keep for about two years. This story contains additional reporting by Christina Chaey.
Yeast Intolerance and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Though relatively uncommon, some people may be intolerant of nutritional yeast. It appears this may be most common in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease. Yeast may trigger an immune response in certain individuals with IBD.
It's not clear how much nutritional yeast is safe to eat daily. However, having two tablespoons of nutritional yeast is unlikely to cause health problems while nourishing your body with vitamins and minerals. Talk to your doctor to see if adding it to your diet meets your nutrition goals.
Researchers have recommended that individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), glaucoma, and hypertension avoid using nutritional yeast because it could make their symptoms worse. People with a yeast sensitivity or allergy should also take care to avoid any exposure to nutritional yeast.
Luckily, there are many nutritional yeast substitutes available that can provide a similar flavor profile. White miso paste, brewer's yeast, yeast extract, and cashews are all great substitutes for nutritional yeast. If you're in a bind, you could also try vegetable broth, sunflower seeds or chickpea flour.
A source of complete protein, you can use nutritional yeast to thicken and flavor soups and stews, sprinkle it onto crunchy snacks and so much more. For those following a vegan diet, it's a good source of cheese flavor when making pastas or anything where you'd want cheese.
Some benefits include its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties, an improved immune system, management of blood sugar, and improvements in heart health. The benefits of nutritional yeast outweigh the side effects, although it is not for everyone.
Nutritional yeast is a good source of fiber. When fiber is introduced to your body in large amounts while it's not something you're used to, it may cause some gastrointestinal discomfort like bloating, gas, and cramps. There are also individuals (although rare) who are intolerant or sensitive to yeast.
Nutritional yeast is low in fat and calories – with only 17kcal and 0.2g fat per 5g serving. When compared to a slice of cheddar cheese, which has around 110 calories and 9g fat, nutritional yeast is healthier and lighter.
Nutritional yeast can add vitamins, minerals, and protein to the diet. Benefits of nutritional yeast include boosting energy, supporting the immune system, and more. Yeast has played an important role in the human diet for thousands of years. This fungus is a vital ingredient in bread, beer, and a range of other foods.
Long used as a cheese substitute, nutritional yeast is beloved by vegetarians and vegans looking to add umami to their meals. But it's not just for veg-heads. The savory seasoning brings a cheesy, almost nutty flavor to just about any dish: popcorn, pasta, salad dressing, you name it.
Nutritional yeast is not a substitute for active yeast, which is often used when baking bread. However, it can be used in baking to add nutrients and flavor to the foods. When baking with this ingredient it is best to think of it as a seasoning, not as something that changes the chemical component of the food.
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Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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