Easy four-ingredient vegan parmesan cheese made from toasted hemp seeds and nutritional yeast. Buttery, savory, and cheesy, this is the perfect topping for pasta, pizza, or any dish that needs a boost of umami flavor.
Most vegan “parmesan” recipes are made with cashews, but I wanted to create a nut-free version for allergy reasons. I decided to use hemp seeds— they’re buttery, nutty, and have a melt-in-the-mouth texture that works well for this purpose. You can use raw hemp seeds, but I discovered that toasting the seeds beforehand imparts an extra dimension to the flavor. The result is a savory, cheesy topping with a satisfying umami quality.
Ingredients in Easy Vegan Hemp Parmesan:
- Raw shelled hemp seeds
- Nutritional yeast
- Salt
- Garlic powder
This stuff will last for quite a while; I keep a mason jar of it in my fridge and sprinkle it on pasta, pizza, toast, salads, soups, rice, etc. and also use it for homemade pesto.
Additionally, because of the hemp seeds, it’s packed with fiber, iron, zinc and healthy fats (including omega-6s and omega-3s). In general it’s just a healthier alternative to parmesan even if you’re not vegan.
How to make Easy Vegan Hemp Parmesan:
In a non-stick pan over medium-low heat, toast hemp seeds for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until lightly browned and and fragrant. Let sit for a few minutes to cool.
Add toasted hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and salt into a food processor or blender and pulse into a fine meal. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor or salt for saltiness.
Store in a covered or air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
When I made this at home my mom was obsessed with it and put it on everything— she kept insisting I start a business where I market it and sell it, but I think I’m content with just putting the recipe on here haha.
If you made this recipe let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and a rating below. Or tag me on Instagram @hannah__chia, I love seeing your re-creations!
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Easy Vegan Hemp Parmesan (Nut-Free, Gluten-Free)
Easy four-ingredient nut-free vegan parmesan cheese made from toasted hemp seeds and nutritional yeast. Buttery, savory, and cheesy, this is the perfect topping for pasta, pizza, or any dish that needs a boost of umami flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (140g) raw shelled hemp seeds
- 4 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a non-stick pan over medium-low heat, toast hemp seeds for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until lightly browned and and fragrant. Let sit for a few minutes to cool.
- Add toasted hemp seeds and all remaining ingredients to a food processor or blender and pulse into a fine meal. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor or salt for saltiness.
- Store in a covered or air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
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