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Best Dairy-Free Substitutes for Parmesan

Parmesan contributes salt, umami (glutamates), and a dry, grateable texture. Nutritional yeast is the umami engine of almost every good substitute.

The substitutes, with ratios

Nutritional yeast + cashews + salt, pulsed (use like grated parm)

Best for: Pasta, salads, garlic bread

3 parts nuts : 1 part nooch : salt. Sub sunflower seeds for nut-free.

Plain nutritional yeast (1 tbsp per 2 tbsp parm)

Best for: Stirring into sauces, risotto, soups

Store-bought vegan parmesan (1:1)

Best for: Melting and broiled toppings

Watch out

Parmesan also carries serious salt — when a recipe uses it as seasoning (pasta water, risotto), taste and add salt separately or the dish lands flat.

Adapt a recipe free with RecipeFix → · Dairy-Free Recipe Converter · Vegan Recipe Converter · Nut-Free Recipe Converter

Frequently asked questions

What does nutritional yeast taste like?

Savory, nutty, faintly cheesy — it's rich in the same glutamates that make parmesan satisfying. Start with half the volume of the cheese you're replacing and adjust.

Related guides: Melting Cheese · Milk · Heavy Cream · All guides