Nutritional Yeast

I posted about Nutritional Yeast in one of my stories awhile ago, but I love this ingredient so much I wanted to give it some space of it's own.

Nutritional Yeast is dried yeast that is grown on molasses and then harvested.  It has no leavening ability, so therefore does not make anything rise like traditional yeast. 

Quite frankly, I wish it had a more esthetically pleasing name like Nutritional Umami or something more telling of its wonderful ability to add depth of flavor that is often missing in vegan or vegetarian recipes.  Umami is the fifth taste in addition to the ones we always talk about; sweet, sour, salty and bitter.  It is a savory taste reminiscent to broths and fermented foods.  

Nutritionally, this ingredient is a game changer for those who are eating little or no meat.  It is loaded with B Vitamins like Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Folate, B12, and Niacin and a Tbsp has 3 grams of protein.  It is vegan, and gluten free and has a wonderful cheesy nutty flavor that I think you will enjoy adding back in if you are omitting the cheese in a recipe.

I sprinkle it on my salads, add it to salad dressings, and make a sauce with it for roasted veggies in addition to using it in specific recipes.  I think to key to being satisfied with your meals it to try to avoid “missing” anything you really like to eat. Nutritional Yeast helps me fill in the void that sometimes happens when converting a beloved recipe to a healthier version.