Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast, which comes in yellow flakes. These flakes are usually enriched with B vitamins.
It is typically used in vegan cooking to imitate a cheesy flavor. Nutritional yeast has an umami flavor, that is nutty and slightly cheesy. Nate describes the flavor as a powdered version of the popular cracker Cheez-Its.
Nutritional yeast can be found in most vegan household pantries, and is commonly used to flavor dishes that usually would use cheese. It can be sprinkled on pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and blended in sauces.
You may also see or hear the term “nooch”. This is a common vegan slang word for nutritional yeast.
Nutritional yeast is not only delicious, but it lives up to its name in the nutrition department. Two tablespoons only contain about 60 calories, and are packed with 9g of complete protein. It also contains B vitamins, as well as fiber.
