Vegan's Cheesy Little Secret

When you think of yeast, I'm sure tasty is the last description that comes to mind. But something many omnivores don't know is that our veggie-loving vegan friends use just that to add a major flavor burst to their favorite cheesy dishes.

Nutritional Yeast, unlike the kind used to make bread rise or the cringe-inducing fungal kind, is a deactivated "dead yeast" used by many vegans as a cheese substitute because of it's nutty, creamy, and cheesy flavor.

"Nutritional yeast is produced by culturing the yeast with a mixture of sugarcane and beet molasses for a period of 7 days, then harvesting, washing, drying and packaging the yeast." (Wikipedia.com)

Some dishes it's regularly used in include Macaroni, Mashed Potatoes, Popcorn, Scrambled Eggs, Nacho Dips, Pesto, and Pasta Sauces. It's high in protein and B12 vitamins, low in sugar and sodium, and free of sugar, dairy, and gluten. Basically, it's a miracle condiment.

A serving size of two tablespoons has a mere 50 calories, 4 grams of fiber, and 8 grams of protein!

I tried it for the first time recently, using my other new miracle (the Food Processor), to make Butternut Squash Baked Macaroni and Cheese. The result was fabulous.

I swiped the recipe (as usual) from my favorite vegan blogger Angela.



Picture from "Oh She Glows"

Try the recipe here: Butternut Squash Mac 'n Cheeze.

You can find Nutritional Yeast at most health food stores like Whole Foods, Erewon, and Trader Joe's. They sell it in big cartons, but the cheapest way to buy it is by the pound from the bulk bins.

I know the this yellow, flaky substance may be a little intimidating to most dairy-eaters, but give it a try. You won't be disappointed.