Without this magic food, that golden powder we sprinkle just about everywhere, vegan recipes wouldn’t be the same. It’s a seasoning staple in many recipes and nutritional yeast flakes, which taste surprisingly like nuts, enhance sauces, salads, mock cheeses, and crackers. If you haven’t tried it yet, beware, once you do, you’ll add it to everything.
So what exactly is it?
Nutritional yeast is not like the active yeast used in bread, for example. It’s a deactivated yeast made of microscopic mushrooms. Active yeast is grown on a sweet by-product (such as molasses) and heated at a high temperature to deactivate it. Depending on where the yeast is cultivated, the taste and nutritional value changes. Popular brands include Torula, Engevita and Red Star. Nutritional yeast comes as either a powder or flakes and is yellow or beige in colour. It’s high in B vitamins, including B6 and the popular B12—essential to a vegan diet—and is an excellent source of fibre and amino acids. Gluten-free, with no cholesterol or saturated fats, it’s a weakness that requires no moderation! Packed with beauty nutrients, it’s also great for your nails, hair and skin—another good reason to load up on it! Pregnant women can also add it to their diets since the nutrients it contains (in particular, folic acid, also called B9) are important for healthy fetus development. Nutritional yeast can be stored at room temperature for several months. I recommend trying it on popcorn, quinoa pasta, in a dressing, or simply sprinkled over a salad.My first time
No one forgets the first time they taste this ambrosia. For me, it was at the vegan restaurant Aux Vivres in Montreal at least eight years ago. If you’re a regular at this restaurant, you know that I’m referring to their famous Dragon Sauce (the one they serve with a bowl of brown rice, beets, lettuce, daikon, carrots, and sprouts). Since I can’t go there every day, I managed to adapt the recipe according to the ingredients I have in my kitchen. I’ve included it for you below.Homemade Dragon Sauce
Yield: About ¾ cup Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: none- 1 clove garlic, very finely chopped
- 45 mL (3 tbsp.) maple syrup
- 45 mL (3 tbsp.) tamari
- 45 mL (3 tbsp. ) water
- 90 mL (6 tbsp.) grapeseed oil
- 60 mL (¼ cup) nutritional yeast
