Pork Free Paleo Cashew Parmesan
If you've been missing that salty, savory sprinkle on top of your pasta, salads, or roasted vegetables, this cashew-based blend is about to become a pantry staple. Raw cashews and nutritional yeast come together in a food processor to create something that genuinely mimics the fine, crumbly texture of grated Parmesan — without any dairy in sight. A little garlic powder and sea salt round out the flavor so it tastes complex and satisfying rather than like a sad substitute. The whole process takes just a few pulses; the key is stopping before the cashews turn into a paste, keeping that dry, sandy texture that makes it so convincingly cheese-like. It's completely free of any pork-derived ingredients, and since you're making it yourself, there's no need to squint at labels or worry about what's hiding in a store-bought blend. Keep a jar in the fridge and reach for it whenever a dish needs that finishing touch — it works on everything from zucchini noodles to roasted broccoli.
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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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