With just 5 minutes and 4 ingredients, you can make an addicting almond parmesan! This topping makes almost anything taste better and you can sprinkle it over salads, pasta, bowls, or even avocado toast. And even better, I'll show you a method to make it instantly in less than 5 minutes, with no need for a food processor or dirtying any dishes, by making an almond flour version which can be shaken in a jar.
Having been plant based for almost a decade, this is one of the recipes I constantly have on hand and keep coming back to, especially since I almost always have all the ingredients needed. It's one of the first recipes I started making regularly, because as a new vegan, you want simple ways to add flavor to your meals and are desperately looking for a simple substitute for cheese- and this almond parmesan is the perfect mix!
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Ingredient notes
You'll just need 4 simple vegan pantry staples for this recipe.
- Almonds or almond flour: You can use whole raw almonds with the peel on, blanched whole almonds, or even blanched slivered almonds. For the almond flour version, you can also substitute the flour for almond meal.
- Nutritional yeast: Also referred to as nooch, this is what gives this vegan parmesan substitute its signature cheesy flavor! You can find this in most grocery stores, sometimes in the health foods or baking sections, or online.
- Garlic powder: This adds an umami flavor that boosts the cheesiness.
- Salt: Using any kind of salt works fine.
One of the things I love about this recipe is that it uses wholesome ingredients. Almonds are packed with healthy fats, vitamin E, fiber, and biotin. They may even support heart health and help reduce inflammation.1
Nutritional yeast flakes not only give this non-dairy parmesan its cheesy taste, but are a great source of B vitamins, including B12 if fortified, and can contain up to 3 grams of protein per tablespoon!2
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities.
Substitutions and variations
If you're making this vegan parmesan substitute from scratch (whole almond version), the good news is that you can swap the almonds with almost any nut or seed! I love replacing the almonds with walnuts, cashews, pepitas, hemp seeds, and even sunflower seeds, so you're able to tailor it to your needs and make a nut-free option if needed! If you're using a soft nut like cashews, just take extra care not to overblend, so cashew butter doesn't form.
For more flavor, feel free to add herbs like oregano and thyme to make it more savory and zesty. You can also taste and increase the nutritional yeast or garlic powder if you want more cheesiness or umami flavor.
How to make vegan parmesan cheese
Almond flour version (instant)
Step 1: Place all your ingredients in a bowl or jar for mixing.
Step 2: Mix everything with a fork or whisk, or simply shake it up in a jar, until everything is evenly combined.
Whole almond version
Step 1: Add almonds, nutritional yeast, salt, and garlic powder to your food processor.
Step 2: Pulse until everything is combined and it looks similar to real parmesan. Tip: Don't overblend, or it will turn into a paste. Stop when it looks crumbly or floury. This is the food processor I like to use for all my recipes, including this one.
FAQs
Yes! Simply replace the almonds with sunflower seeds or hemp seeds for a delicious nut-free alternative.
While not identical, it has a similar texture and salty, cheesy, umami flavor that in my opinion, makes it the best vegan parmesan cheese.
Storing
You can store this plant based parmesan cheese in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks in the pantry or 1-2 months in the fridge. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months to keep it extra fresh.
Ways to use this parm
Here are my favorite ways to use this vegan condiment that goes on just about anything!
- Sprinkle it on any salad. I especially love it on chickpea caesar wraps and savory tahini kale salad.
- It goes perfectly on any vegan pasta recipe. Here are some of my favorites to use it on!
- Vegan chicken piccata
- Avocado mac and cheese
- Vegan eggplant meatballs with roasted red pepper sauce
- Vegan sweet potato mac and cheese
- Over soups, like Mediterranean white bean soup
More vegan condiments you'll love
If you made this recipe, I'd love to hear from you! Don't forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and review below.
Pin it on Pinterest for later or share your recreations with me on Facebook or Instagram @zenandzaatar! 🥰 I can't wait to see how you serve it!
Recipe
5-Minute Almond Parmesan Cheese (2 Ways!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup almonds (whole with peel or blanched) or scant ½ cup almond flour or almond meal
- 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Whole almond version
- Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until crumbly, making sure not to overblend.*½ cup almonds (whole with peel or blanched), 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt
Almond flour version
- Place all ingredients in a bowl or jar for mixing. Mix with a fork or whisk until evenly combined. Alternatively, shake all the ingredients in a small jar until well-combined.½ cup almonds (whole with peel or blanched), 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt
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