Artificial Flavors Free Paleo Cashew Parmesan
If you've ever squinted at a store-bought "parmesan alternative" label only to find a list of natural and artificial flavors you can't quite place, this cashew version is a breath of fresh air. Every ingredient is exactly what it sounds like — raw cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, sea salt, and a pinch of onion powder — nothing hidden, nothing synthetic. The food processor does all the heavy lifting, pulsing everything down into a fine, crumbly texture that genuinely mimics the salty, savory punch of finely grated parmesan. Nutritional yeast is the real MVP here, lending that deep, cheesy umami flavor without any dairy or additives. The key is stopping before the cashews turn pasty — you want dry, sandy crumbs that sprinkle beautifully over pasta, salads, roasted vegetables, or anything else that could use a savory finish. It stores easily in an airtight jar, so you can make a batch and reach for it all week long.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp onion powder (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Add the cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, and onion powder (if using) to a food processor.
- 2
Pulse 10–15 times in short bursts until the mixture resembles coarse, dry crumbs — about the texture of finely grated Parmesan. Stop before the mixture turns into a paste; the cashews should still look dry and sandy, not clumped.
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