Easy 4-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan Cheese: The Ultimate Savory Sprinkle for Your Dishes

Looking for a quick, easy, and delicious way to add cheesy flavor to your favorite dishes? This Easy 4-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan Cheese is the perfect solution. With just four simple ingredients and a few pulses in your food processor, you’ll have a rich, savory topping ready to sprinkle on pastas, casseroles, salads, and more. It's plant-based, full of flavor, and so simple to make!

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There’s something magical about the simplicity of a few ingredients coming together to create something that elevates a meal. This Easy 4-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan Cheese is exactly that—simple, quick, and yet totally transformative. In just a few minutes, you can make your own rich, savory, plant-based parmesan that can be sprinkled on pastas, casseroles, grain bowls, or really, anything that could use a cheesy boost.

This is a recipe that I absolutely love because it requires just four ingredients and a small food processor. It’s a no-fuss, no-waste way to enjoy that cheesy flavor without the dairy. Cashews, nutritional yeast (aka nooch), garlic powder, and a pinch of sea salt come together to create a crumble that mimics traditional parmesan in both texture and taste. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve unlocked a secret, and it’s a secret you’ll want to share!

Why You’ll Love This Vegan Parmesan Cheese

This vegan parmesan cheese is incredibly versatile and perfect for anyone looking to add a rich, cheesy finish to their plant-based dishes. The base of cashews is finely ground to mimic the texture of hard dairy parmesan, so it has that satisfying bite. Nutritional yeast provides that beloved cheesy flavor, and the garlic powder and sea salt bring everything together with a sharp savory punch.

Once you make this, you’ll want to sprinkle it on everything! It adds that final touch to dishes that you didn’t even realize you were missing. From your daily pasta to a roasted vegetable bowl, this vegan parmesan will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.

And the best part? You can make a batch and store it in the fridge for up to four weeks. Keep it in an airtight mason jar and have it ready whenever you need a quick, cheesy topping.

Easy 4-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup raw unsalted cashews

• 1/4 tsp granulated garlic powder

• 3/4 tsp Himalayan sea salt

• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast (aka nooch)

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients into a small food processor: Place the cashews, garlic powder, sea salt, and nutritional yeast into the food processor.

2. Pulse until fine and granulated: Pulse the ingredients until the cashews are broken down into a fine, crumbly texture that resembles grated parmesan. This process should only take a few pulses, so keep an eye on it to avoid turning it into a paste.

3. Transfer to a mason jar: Once the mixture is ready, pour it into an airtight mason jar and store it in the fridge. It’ll keep for up to four weeks.

4. Serve and enjoy: Sprinkle this vegan parmesan cheese on top of your favorite dishes, and enjoy the cheesy, savory magic it brings. Whether it’s pasta, salads, or roasted veggies, it’s the perfect finishing touch!

   
   

Notes:

• Don’t soak the cashews beforehand: The cashews need to remain dry for this recipe to work. Soaking them would make them too soft and affect the texture of the parmesan.

• Adjust salt to taste: Feel free to reduce the amount of salt if you prefer a less salty flavor.

• Other nut options: If cashews aren’t your thing, try using almond slivers or pine nuts—both work beautifully in this recipe and bring a slightly different flavor to the mix.

The Perfect Dishes to Sprinkle This Vegan Parmesan On

Once you have your vegan parmesan cheese made, you’ll be looking for ways to sprinkle it on everything. Here are a few of my favorite dishes where this savory cheese really shines:

• Creamy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip: This dip is rich and creamy, and the vegan parmesan adds the perfect finishing touch when sprinkled on top before baking.

• Creamy Vegan Tomato Orzo: Pair this luscious orzo with a sprinkle of parmesan for a depth of flavor that takes it to the next level.

• Sage Cream Sauce over Homemade Pumpkin Ravioli: Add a cheesy kick to this fall-inspired dish with a light dusting of vegan parmesan right before serving.

• Creamy Alfredo Pasta with Seasonal Zucchini, Broccoli, and Fresh Aromatic Dill: The combination of zucchini, broccoli, and fresh dill is delicious on its own, but add vegan parmesan, and you’ve got a meal that’s bursting with flavor.

• Pastitsio (Greek-Style Lasagna): A sprinkle of vegan parmesan on this comforting Greek lasagna brings an extra layer of cheesy goodness to this classic dish.

Each of these dishes benefits from that rich, cheesy flavor, and the vegan parmesan is the perfect finishing touch.

Why Make Your Own Vegan Parmesan?

There are many reasons to make your own vegan parmesan cheese at home. Not only is it quick and easy, but you also have control over the ingredients. Making your own means you avoid unnecessary preservatives and additives that can often be found in store-bought versions. Plus, you can adjust the flavor and texture to your exact liking.

Final Thoughts

This easy 4-ingredient vegan parmesan cheese is a must-have in your plant-based kitchen. Whether you’re sprinkling it over pasta, casseroles, or roasted vegetables, it brings a cheesy, savory richness that will make your dishes shine. With just four simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, you’ll have a homemade vegan cheese that’s healthier, fresher, and more affordable than anything you can buy in the store.

Give it a try and let me know how it turns out! Drop a comment below or share your creations with us on Instagram by tagging @consciousvegankitchen_. I’d love to see how you’re using this vegan parmesan in your own cooking.