Best Dairy Free Parmesan Cheese Substitute

“So Good It’s Nuts” (With Nut Free Option)

By Jennifer Provenza at Good Food From The Heart (Updated 2/13/2022)

Tangy and flavorful, this dairy free parmesan cheese substitute topping will add more flavor (and more nutritional value) to your pasta than traditional Parmesan cheese. Made with cashews, simply substitute pumpkin seeds for a nut free option.

Whole foods plant based, oil free, sugar free, gluten free, soy free, nut free option

Perfect Pasta Topping

One thing I’m very much looking forward to over the holidays is getting to have my Vegan Italian Pesto Pasta for dinner. (Italians generally have Italian food on Christmas day). And, of course, I’ll be topping it with this dairy free “Parmesan” cheese topping. Now, of course, traditionally parmigiano reggiano is made of cow’s milk. However, if you don’t eat dairy, you may have been searching for a healthy and delicious substitute. You may have been asking, “Is there really a dairy free alternative to parmesan cheese that tastes good?” ” Does vegan parmesan taste good?” or “What’s a decent substitute for parmesan cheese?” Your search has come to an end here. Not only is this recipe delicious, but this alternative quick homemade vegan parmesan is whole food plant based and free of oil. What could be better than that?

This Recipe

Let me tell you, it took me a long time to find an acceptable alternative to Parmesan cheese for topping my pasta. I had always topped my pasta, lasagna, risotto, and soup with a generous serving of Parmesan or Romano cheese. Giving it up really affected the taste of the final dish, in my opinion. I tried adding extra salt, which helped a little, but salt was not the only missing flavor. I tried topping with nutritional yeast, but again, it just wasn’t the same. Ground nuts and salt were okay, but I still felt there was a lack of flavor. Finally, I hit on replacing some of that missing fat with a healthy fat (avocado), adding a cheesy component (nutritional yeast), and then adding some extra delicious flavor. That flavor comes in the form of lemon zest and rosemary. I love Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional yeast for this recipe.

Ingredients

Cashews or pumpkin seeds: These offer a healthy fat and are the building block of the recipe. Use pumpkin seeds if you cannot consume nuts.

Nutritional Yeast: This adds a great “cheesy” flavor.

Rosemary: Adds a fresh, delicious twist.

Lemon Zest: Adds a fresh, zippy flavor.

Avocado: Helps hold it all together and adds healthy fat and creamy mouthfeel.

Garlic: Adds a ton of flavor and depth.

Substitutions

For the nuts: Use pumpkin or sunflower seeds if you cannot consume nuts. You can also substitute a different nut, such as almonds, if you prefer or only have those on hand.

For the Nutritional Yeast: If you aren’t a fan, simply leave it out and the recipe will still work.

For the rosemary: Basil makes another great option. Increase the amount to 2 tablespoons.

For the avocado: You can leave it out, but it will be more powdery and less creamy.

For the garlic: You can leave it out or replace with garlic powder if preferred.

For the lemon zest: I recommend leaving it off if you plan to serve with a red sauce dish.

FAQ

How To Make Dairy Free Parmesan Cheese

This vegan parmesan cheese recipe is super easy and comes together in just a couple of minutes. Simply process all the ingredients together in the food processor until it has the texture of course breadcrumbs. This goes great on any of my pasta recipes, including my Pesto Pasta.

Follow me on Instagram @goodfoodfromtheheart and Pinterest at Good Food From the Heart and Facebook @GoodFoodFromTheHeart If you make this recipe, post it and be sure to tag me! Or Pin to Pinterest and make later.