Just because we’re vegan doesn’t mean we miss the flavor of cheese! Thankfully, we have nutritional yeast to mimic the flavor in this recipe.
Plus, the addition of sunflower seeds adds a fun texture and mildly nutty taste!
free 7-day vegan meal plan
Your next week of eating is planned out with these quick and delicious vegan bowls, meal prepping steps & full grocery list.
We love how there are more vegan options in store, but we understand not everyone has access to certain ingredients. That’s why we created this vegan parmesan option! Plus, you know exactly what’s going in it since you’re making it yourself.
Wanna make more vegan cheeses at home? Try out our vegan tofu feta or almond ricotta cheese!
Recipe highlights
- Made in 5 minutes
- Meal prep-friendly
- Affordable
- Nut-free
- Beginner-friendly
- Simple ingredients
All you need is a pan, measuring equipment, spoon, and blender or food processor!
Ingredients needed
- Sunflower seeds — our nut-free parmesan base! Slightly nutty flavor.
- Hemp seeds — for added texture and some omega-3s.
- Nutritional yeast — adds the perfect cheesy taste!
- Salt — add as much or as little as you need.
- Lemon zest — a hint of freshness to balance flavors.
- Garlic powder — for added flavor. Garlic is the best!
Find exact measurements and serving suggestions below!
How to make vegan sunflower seed parmesan
- Place the sunflower seeds into a skillet over medium heat and lightly toast for 2-3 minutes, until slightly golden. Move them with a wooden spoon to toast evenly.
- Place in a bowl and let cool completely.
- Transfer into a blender or food processor with the rest of the ingredients and process to get a coarse powder.
- If in a blender, only blend for 1-2 seconds at a time! In the food processor, pulse a few times and scrape down the sides. If you blend too much, you’ll get sunflower butter.
Storage & serving suggestions
Store in a container in a cool, dark place. You can place it in the fridge to make it last a couple of weeks.
For seasonings, feel free to adjust as needed! Onion powder would make a great addition. You can also add some chili powder or paprika for an extra kick.
As for sunflower parmesan uses, you can use it on anything you like! Add on top of vegan bolognese, pizza, popcorn, breadsticks, and whatever your heart desires.
FAQs & tips
Can I use pre-roasted sunflower seeds?
Yes, you can! And you can skip the roasting step if you’d like! The flavor may not be as pronounced, but it will still work.
What can I use instead of sunflower seeds?
You can use almonds or cashews if you’d like. If you want to keep it nut-free, you can use pumpkin seeds as well!
Keep in mind the resulting flavor will be different if you swap out the sunflower seeds. Make sure to taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
My cheese turned into butter!
Oh no! Unfortunately, you may have blended too long. You can definitely use the butter for sauces or casseroles, but you will have to make the recipe again.
Thankfully it takes no time! Make sure to blend/pulse in 1 second increments to make sure you get the right consistency.
Are sunflower seeds healthy?
Yes, they contain many nutrients! Notably, they contain vitamin E, fiber, selenium, folate, iron, zinc, and copper.
More vegan cheese recipes
Did you make our vegan sunflower seed parmesan cheese and like it? We’d love to read about it, so be sure to leave a review and share it in the comments below. You can also Pin this recipe here!
Ingredients
- 1 cup sunflower seeds 140 g
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds
- ½ cup nutritional yeast 30 g
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Place the sunflower seeds into a skillet over medium heat and lightly toast for 2-3 minutes, until slightly golden. Move them with a wooden spoon to toast evenly.
- Place in a bowl and let cool completely.
- Transfer into a blender or food processor with the rest of the ingredients and process to get a coarse powder.
- If in a blender, only blend for 1-2 seconds at a time! In the food processor, pulse a few times and scrape down the sides! If you blend too much, you’ll get sunflower butter.
Notes
- Add on top of pasta, pizza, popcorn, and more!
- Sunflower seed parmesan can be stored in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
- Adjust seasonings as needed.
Alena Schowalter is a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with her husband, she founded nutriciously in 2015 and has been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages towards a healthy plant-based diet. She’s received training in the fields of nutrition, music therapy and social work. Alena enjoys discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature and creating new recipes.
Umami, slightly nutty, and deliciously cheesy — our vegan sunflower seed parmesan cheese is the perfect topping! Add on top of pasta, pizza, popcorn, and more. Made in 5 minutes.