If you’re curious about why you should add this ingredient to your pantry, or how to use the supplies you already have, here’s what you need to know about nutritional yeast.
Nutritional yeast is the inactive form of the yeast species known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (The active species are the same ones used in making bread, beer, and wine.) The yeast is inactivated by a heating and drying process that gives it a toasted, nutty flavor and is ground into a powder thinly. It will be a flat sheet. Or crushed into flakes (with a slightly disturbing resemblance to fish food).
“When a cell dies, the proteins that make up the cell are broken down, releasing amino acids such as glutamic acid, which is naturally found in many fruits and vegetables,” writes Alicia Kennedy in Serious Eats. This glutamic acid is responsible for the umami flavor in nutritional yeast and explains its comparison to another umami-rich food, parmesan cheese. You get a hint of cheesiness, but you also find nutritional yeast reminiscent of roast chicken, as if the skin had been dehydrated and put in a shaker bottle.
Some people deny comparing cheese when it comes to flavor, but the similarity to Parmesan is apt in terms of how cheese can be used: it can be added to anything. Also, compared to another umami seasoning, MSG, Nooch contains no sodium and can be used in larger amounts. It can also be sprinkled on roasted vegetables, used in salad dressings, or to enhance the umami of soups. (Note that it also acts as a thickening agent.) Serious Eats’ Tim Chin not only adds flavor, but it also relaxes dough and improves elasticity in hand-pulled ramen recipes. discovered.
As the name suggests, it is a highly nutritious food. “A quarter cup of 60-calorie nooch provides more protein than a large egg and is packed with fiber and an array of B vitamins and minerals. , is especially important for vegans, as this essential nutrient is found primarily in animal foods,” writes Ellie Krieger.
Nutritional yeast is available in many supermarkets, health stores, and online. Up to 2 years when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place such as a pantry (refrigerate for slightly longer shelf life). You’ll know it’s expired when its color changes from light yellow to dark brown or when it starts to clump together. Before we get to that point, here are some recipes for using it.
Vegan Broccoli Mac and Cheese. Nutritional yeast, miso and mustard pack a nutty depth and sharp flavor into this cashew-based ‘cheese’ sauce.
maple tofu. Tofu is coated with a combination of cornstarch, nutritional yeast and dried herbs before being oven roasted and tossed with maple mustard sauce.
Chickpea omelet with mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes. Nooch and turmeric are responsible for the color and earthy, nutty flavor of these eggless omelets.
collards and quinoa. This recipe relies on nooch to add a cheesy umami flavor to collard greens mixed with onions, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts.
crunchy nuts and seed clusters. Coconut aminos and nutritional yeast work together in this recipe to make these crunchy clusters even more flavorful and umami.
