The name nutritional yeast, or ‘nooch’ to those in the know, doesn’t sound like it belongs to a food that would be on the list of yummy things to eat. However, hear me out, I’d like to convince you that it may be worth trying.
What exactly is this nutritional yeast? It’s actually deactivated yeast. The yeast is cultured in a medium like sugarcane or beet molasses for several days, then ‘killed’ with heat, where next it is dried and processed in to the flakey substance sold in stores.
Why should you try it? Nutritional yeast can be a power house of vitamins and minerals. Typically a two tablespoon serving includes 4 frames of fiber, iron, and B vitamins and a host of other minerals and amino acids. Fortified nutritional yeast is also high in specifically B-12 and riboflavins. That is great for vegetarians who can not get B-12 from meat sources, as it is not found in plant form.
So what does it taste like? I would describe it as umami and a little cheese-like. Many vegans know of it as a substitute for cheese flavoring. Like many people, my favorite way to use it is sprinkled with a little salt and pepper over some fresh popcorn popped in a big pan with a bit of coconut oil or ghee, but it’s also good to toss on vegetable or egg dishes, can be used as a sauce thickener in place of flour, or basically in place of anywhere where you might use a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Actually, blending nooch in the food processor with almonds creates ‘almond parmesan’ that is even closer in taste and texture to the real thing.
Have I peaked your curiosity? I hope so. It’s sure an interesting ingredient to work with and has a very unique flavor, not to mention all of the good for you nutrients. Look for it in the health food or bulk section of your grocery store, or of course it can be ordered online.