Nutritional yeast: It’s delicious, flaky, and somehow cheesy.
I hadn’t heard much about nutritional yeast until a couple of years ago, and if I’m being honest, didn’t really know how to use it until late last year.
But once I realized the benefits of nutritional yeast and tasted just how flavorful it can make my food, I was hooked.
What is nutritional yeast?
As its name suggests, yes, nutritional yeast is yeast, and it’s the same species used to bake bread. But nutritional yeast is grown to be a food, so it’s deactivated, meaning the yeast cells aren’t alive.
When you buy it in the store, nutritional yeast will look like little yellow flakes or a yellow powder. When you taste nutritional yeast, it will have an umami flavor.
Health benefits
According to Medical News Today, 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast has 60 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fiber. It also offers loads of B vitamins, iron, and potassium.
Fortified nutritional yeast will also have Vitamin B12, which makes it an especially great food for those eating a plant-based diet. That’s because Vitamin B12 is not found naturally in plant foods, so most plant-based eaters need to take a supplement. Eating some nutritional yeast can be a good way to add more Vitamin B12 into your diet.
How to use
Nutritional yeast is extremely versatile and can be sprinkled on just about anything. I add it to my salads, pasta, grain bowls, and just about everything else.
You can use it as a seasoning to give your food a delicious umami flavor, or add it to your pasta for a cheesy taste and texture. Here’s our recipe for a delicious plant-based ‘cheese sauce’ that uses nutritional yeast.
Where to find
You can find nutritional yeast at most grocery stores. It’s often stocked in the spice aisle, the baking aisle, or the health food aisle. Some of our favorite brands of nutritional yeast are Bragg and Bob’s Red Mill.
Ready to give nutritional yeast a try? We want to see how you use it!
