I should put “Parmesan cheese” in big quotations here, because this vegan version definitely is not cheese. Yet, it tastes quite similar! I really love this vegan Parmesan cheese recipe and I think you will, too.

This vegan Parm is great sprinkled over savory meals in lieu of real Parmesan. Whether you’re vegan, dairy free, avoiding animal rennet, or looking to limit your consumption of animal products—this recipe is for you.

I’m not the first person to come up with a vegan Parmesan cheese substitute. I’ve tried several recipes over the years, but none quite hit the mark. When I was wandering around Whole Foods the other day, I came across a vegan Parmesan blend in the refrigerated section. It used hemp seeds instead of the raw cashews I’ve used before, which intrigued me.

I didn’t buy that vegan Parm, but the idea stuck with me until I couldn’t ignore it any longer. Hemp seeds seemed like a great choice since they’re tender, nutty, nutritious, and nut free, which is a bonus for my friends with nut allergies. Hemp seeds are also tiny, which means that I could just stir the ingredients together instead of blitzing nuts in the food processor.

So, I bought some hemp seeds on another grocery store run, and came home and started experimenting. Bingo! Meet the best vegan Parm I’ve ever had. You’ll only need five ingredients for this dairy-free wonder.

Continue to the recipe...

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