Nutritional Yeast (Nooch) – What is it? How to use it? + Recipes

This post contains everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Nutritional Yeast: What is it? How to use it? Where to get it? What are the benefits? Is it the same as brewer’s yeast or baker’s yeast? Plus, I’m sharing my favorite vegan recipes using this amazing ingredient!

What is Nutritional Yeast? What is Nooch?

First things first, Nooch and Nutritional Yeast is the same thing. Nooch is simply short for Nutritional Yeast. It’s what the cool kids say.
Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast and can be bought in the form of powder or flakes. It is very popular especially among vegans and health-conscious people because of the cheesy flavor.

How to use Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional Yeast is the holy grail for all things cheesy! You can sprinkle it over food as it is (popcorn!), use it to make a cheesy sauce, or add it to ground cashews for a vegan parmesan. You can use it raw or bake and cook with it.

I’m including my favorite recipes using Nutritional Yeast below!

Where to buy Nutritional Yeast?

Depending on where you live, you might be able to find Nutritional Yeast in typical grocery stores (in the health food section). A natural food store is a safe bet to have Nutritional Yeast. Popular brands are Bob’s Red Mill or Braggs. Some brands taste better than others. It’s worth testing out a few to find the one you like best.

If you can’t find Nutritional Yeast in local supermarkets, you can also order Nutritional Yeast online.

Benefits of Nutritional Yeast

• It contains B vitamins.
• It’s a complete protein.
• It contains trace minerals (zinc, selenium, manganese, and molybdenum).
• Some Nutritional Yeast brands are even fortified with vitamins (oftentimes B12).

Nutritional Yeast. Brewer’s Yeast. Baker’s Yeast. Is it all the same thing?

• Brewer’s Yeast is used for brewing beer. The yeast is an important ingredient in the fermentation process. Brewer’s yeast is bitter.
• Baker’s Yeast is active yeast and makes bread rise. It can be either fresh or dried yeast.
• Nutritional Yeast is deactivated yeast (the yeast cells are killed during manufacturing) and has a nutty, cheesy flavor.

Recipes Using Nutritional Yeast

Nooch Cheese Sauce – it’s perfect for lasagne, pizza, mac & cheese or as a dip for tortilla chips! It’s nut-free!

Vegan Cashew Mozzarella – You’ll only need 7 ingredients for this one! This Cashew Mozzarella is perfect for pizza, quesadillas, or grilled cheese sandwiches!

Vegan Cashew Parmesan – It’s one of the super-easy-to-make homemade staples. You’ll only need three ingredients! Make some vegan Parmesan now because it’s perfect for pasta, pizza, risotto and so much more! It keeps for a long time.

Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches – You’d be surprised how easy it is to recreate a classic Philly Cheesesteak with all-vegan ingredients. In this recipe, we create our own seitan and cheesy sauce that harmonize so well you’d want to see them get married.

“Almigiano” Vegan Almond Parmesan – perfect over pasta, lasagna, pizza or rice-based dishes. It’s a dairy-free alternative to traditional parmesan.

Vegan Mac and Cheese – an absolute American classic. With homemade vegan cheese! Perfect as a main, or as a side dish. Be warned, comfort food!