For those of you finding it difficult to get a hold of the amazing nutritional yeast, which is a vegan alternative to cheese, here’s your answer! We have curated a list of the best substitutes for nutritional yeast and how to use them.
Substitutes for Nutritional Yeast
The best substitutes for nutritional yeast include brewer’s yeast, Parmesan cheese, soy sauce, and yeast extract. Other substitutes for nutritional yeast include pulverized cashews, chickpea flour, and dried mushrooms. [1]
Brewer’s Yeast
Brewer’s yeast is extracted from beer and hence leaves an after-taste of beer in dishes where it is added. Only two teaspoons of brewer’s yeast should be used for every one tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
Nutritional yeast Photo Credit: Shutterstock
This is to lessen the slight difference in the flavor of the two. Brewer’s yeast also acts as a good source of amino acids and trace minerals.
Parmesan Cheese
For those of you who aren’t looking for a vegan alternative to nutritional yeast, Parmesan cheese is a good choice. With its nutty and savory flavor, Parmesan cheese very closely matches the flavor of nutritional yeast (also the reason why nutritional yeast is the best vegan substitute for Parmesan cheese). While replacing the two with each other, a 1:1 ratio should be followed. It will also be good to note that Parmesan cheese does not deliver any of the benefits or nutrients as nutritional yeast.
Soy Sauce
Made by the fermentation of soybean and salt, soy sauce has a similar flavor to nutritional yeast, often termed as umami.
Adding a dash of soy sauce to your salads will help to bring a tangy flavor. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
A thing to note here is, one tablespoon of nutritional yeast should be replaced by half a tablespoon of soy sauce. This is because soy sauce has a stronger flavor and is also possibly high in sodium and low in nutrients. [2]
