Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (2024)

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By Rachel Garduce

Are you following a dairy-free lifestyle? If so, you’ll want to try this paleo nutritional yeast vegan cheese sauce recipe made with cauliflower.

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (1)

Half of our family has gone dairy-free due to battling auto-immune conditions. So we’ve been exploring various ways to make our favorite recipes without cheese.

One of our favorite dishes is lasagna so we looked for a way to make the popular Italian casserole fit into our low carb paleo lifestyle. It’s really just the noodles and cheese that are a no go for us.

We decided to use strips of zucchini for the noodle layer for the paleo lasagna. And rather than take the normal route of making a nut cheese, we opted to make a nutritional yeast vegan cheese sauce using cauliflower.

After giving the cheese sauce a taste, we knew we had a winner that could be used in other recipes. In fact, we ended up making another batch to use as a dipping sauce for veggies.

The best thing about this paleo cheese sauce is that it whips up quickly in a high speed blender. But you can also use a food processor to puree the ingredients together until smooth.

Why it works

Cauliflower Pearls (pre-chopped cauliflower) saves you the time and trouble of chopping whole cauliflower.

Creamy and rich olive oil or ghee adds healthy fat to this delicious cheese sauce.

Onion and garlic powder provides the savory flavor that makes it go amazingly well with snacks, salads and meals.

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (2)

Nutritional Yeast Cheese Sauce

To make this amazing dairy-free cheese sauce, we started out by lining a baking pan with cauliflower pieces. Then, we drizzled extra virgin olive oil over them.

We then roasted the cauliflower in a 375°F oven until they were tender and slightly golden. That took about 15 minutes.

The baking pan was removed from the oven and set on a rack to cool slightly.

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (3)

Then, the roasted cauliflower was added to a blender along with water, salt, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast.

After pulsing the ingredients initially together, the mixture was then blended until it was smooth.

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (4)

For additional flavor, onion and garlic powder are added into the mixture.

It’s blended again until the consistency is just right for using as a cheese sauce. If needed, additional liquid can be added. But it should be somewhat thick.

Recipe Variations

Drizzle it over broccoli for a super healthy snack. Your kids might not even be able to resist!Or serve it with your favorite pasta. If you’re a carb-lover, use zoodles for a healthier alternative!

You can also pour it over baked leeks and smoked salmon. Mm-mmm!This vegan cheese sauce is also a great dip for sweet potato fries.

Use this cauliflower cheese with zucchini and arugula salad pizza!Add in some crunchy bacon bits. You can never go wrong with bacon!

And you can throw in some jalapeños to add some spice to this cheese sauce. A spicy dairy-free cheese sauce is perfect for nachos!

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (5)

Paleo Cheese

Now when cheese is needed for your favorite casserole, you’ll have a fantastic paleo cheese to replace it with. I’ll admit that I was a little hesitant to use cauliflower as a cheese substitute, but the texture and flavor is perfect for adding cheesy flavor to baked dishes.

Although you can find vegan cheese in local markets, many times there’s added corn and potato starch. Unfortunately, corn starch isn’t paleo friendly and it’s something that’s avoided on a grain free diet.

We may have to give this sauce a try with our low carb gluten free tortillas. Adding in homemade taco seasoning would give the cheese a nice Mexican flavor.

It might work as a taco sauce or in combination with grilled chicken for dairy-free quesadillas. There are certainly many possibilities to use this cauliflower cheese sauce beyond lasagna.

You may even want to try adding in some cheesy flavor to our easy paleo meatloaf with bacon recipe. In fact, we used to add mozzarella and parmesan cheese to our old meatloaf recipe before going dairy-free.

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (6)

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe

Are you looking for another way to get your kids to eat their vegetables? Then this cauliflower cheese sauce might be just the thing you need!

A vegetable based vegan cheese sauce is proof to picky eaters that eating veggies doesn’t have to be torture. This is a useful trick to have up your sleeve if you have kids who don’t really like eating their greens. They’ll be really surprised to find out that the new sauce smothering their favorite snack is made with cauliflower!

This flavorful sauce goes with almost anything! The beauty about this cheese sauce is its versatility. You can prepare it for your lunches, dinners, snacks, lunch boxes and parties!

We hope you enjoy this easy paleo cheese sauce recipe as much as we do. For another delicious dairy-free recipe, try a paleo buffalo chicken casserole.

Don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments below if you give the recipe a try.

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (7)

Yield: 12 people

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Are you following a dairy-free lifestyle? If so, you'll want to try this paleo nutritional yeast cheese sauce recipe made with cauliflower.

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces Cauliflower Pearls, or freshly chopped cauliflower
  • 2 teaspoon olive oil, or ghee
  • 1 ¾ cup water
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Drizzle cauliflower with olive oil to coat and roast for 15 minutes, until tender and slightly golden.
  2. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
  3. Place cauliflower in blender with water, salt, lemon juice and nutritional yeast.
  4. Blend until smooth.
  5. Add in onion & garlic powder.
  6. Blend again until you get the consistency that you would like.
  7. Serve over your favorite vegetables, as a dipping sauce, over nachos or in lasagna.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

cup

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 20Sodium: 304mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gProtein: 1g

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All content on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

None of the information contained in this website should be used to initiate use of dietary supplements, vitamins, herbal and nutritional products or homeopathic medicine, and other described products prior to consulting first with a physician or healthcare provider. The owner of this site and it's writers disclaim any liability based on information provided in this website.

About Rachel Garduce

Rachel is the contributing content curator for All Natural Ideas. She is dedicated to a life of natural living and holistic practices. Working as a clinical therapist, she enjoys helping others and holding a space for a like minded community.

Paleo Nutritional Yeast Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much nutritional yeast to use in place of cheese? ›

Sprinkle nutritional yeast on anything you'd normally top with parmesan, or add it to sauces, soups and dips. You usually need about half the amount of nutritional yeast as you would parmesan—just taste as you go.

How to use nutritional yeast for cheese? ›

The simplest application is to use nutritional yeast the same way you would grated Parmesan cheese. Toss a couple of tablespoonfuls with a little bit of olive oil, salt, and freshly popped popcorn for a “cheesy” snack with a subtle nutty flavor to rival even the most tempting flavored chip or corn puff.

Does vegan cheese have nutritional yeast? ›

The ingredients used in vegan cheese vary depending on the type of cheese being made and the desired texture and flavor. The most commonly used ingredients include plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, agar agar, tapioca starch, coconut oil, cashews, and chickpea flour.

Can you eat vegan cheese on paleo? ›

(Nut-Free, Vegan option) Paleo, AIP, even vegan - this tapioca cheese MELTS and STRETCHES and can be baked into things like pizza, lasagna, and cheese buns. Versatile and spookily authentic, you won't miss dairy-based cheese once you make this!

Is there any downside to nutritional yeast? ›

Too much nutritional yeast added too quickly to one's diet can cause problems with digestion, such as abdominal cramps and diarrhea. A high-fiber diet is good for digestive health.

Can I replace Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast? ›

There are a few reasons why nutritional yeast is commonly used as a substitute: Cheesy Flavor: Nutritional yeast has a naturally cheesy and nutty flavor that resembles the taste of Parmesan cheese. This makes it a suitable option to add a savory, umami taste to dishes.

Should I refrigerate nutritional yeast? ›

Nutritional yeast can lose some of its vitamin content in warmer temperatures so it's best to store it in the fridge or tightly sealed in the freezer in a ziptop bag. In Michigan where it was cooler I stored mine in a dark cupboard.... done here in Texas I keep it in the fridge.

How do vegans use nutritional yeast? ›

A source of complete protein, you can use nutritional yeast to thicken and flavor soups and stews, sprinkle it onto crunchy snacks and so much more. For those following a vegan diet, it's a good source of cheese flavor when making pastas or anything where you'd want cheese.

Does nutritional yeast thicken a sauce? ›

Nutritional yeast can also be used to help thicken sauces, soups, broths, salad dressings, and dips. If the form of nutritional yeast isn't specified in a recipe, you can use either the powder or flakes — they both dissolve well and have the same flavor.

Is there a vegan substitute for nutritional yeast? ›

Coconut Aminos or Liquid Aminos

If you are looking for a nutritional yeast substitute that is both vegan and yeast-free, coconut aminos are a great option. This is a liquid ingredient that has a sweeter taste than nooch, but it still has the salty, umami kick you might be looking for.

How much nutritional yeast should a vegan eat? ›

Including just 2 tablespoons a day can help vegans incorporate important nutrients in their diets, so having a canister of this wonder food around is a good way to ensure you'll get that extra nutritional boost.

What cheese is best for paleo? ›

Cream Cheese, Ricotta, and Other Softer Cheeses
  • Basic Dairy-Free Cream Cheese (Primal Kitchen) – contains nuts (cashews)
  • Almond Cream Cheese (Fast Paleo) – contains nuts (almonds)
  • Paleo Cream Cheese Frosting (Swiss Paleo) – contains nuts (cashews)
Feb 6, 2023

Why is there no cheese in paleo? ›

Dairy. A strict paleo diet does not allow dairy products because hunter-gatherers did not milk cows. This includes milk, butter, yogurt, sour cream and cheese.

What dairy is best for paleo diet? ›

Many people on a paleo diet today also include some sources of full-fat dairy, such as butter, cream, yogurt or whole milk. It's ideal if the dairy you eat or drink is from grass-fed cows.

How much nutritional yeast should you use? ›

Serving sizes for nutritional yeast depend on the recipe, but you typically use 2–4 teaspoons (5–10 grams). Nutritional yeast is shelf-stable for up to 2 years when stored properly. You can add it to many foods for a nutty, cheesy, or savory flavor, as well as extra vitamin and mineral content.

Which nutritional yeast tastes most like cheese? ›

Organic Nooch Flakes

If you're searching for a vegan-friendly cheesy flavor boost, these yeast flakes are a pantry must-have. I recently got my hands on these Organic Nooch Flakes, and honestly, it's been a game-changer for my vegan diet. The nutty, cheesy flavor has transformed my salads and roasted veggies.

Does nutritional yeast make things taste cheesy? ›

Its flavor is nutty and savory, making it a delicious addition to all sorts of dishes. Most often, it's used to add cheesy flavor to plant-based recipes, like my Vegan Mac and Cheese. There, it creates the umami that Parmesan or cheddar cheese would add to regular mac.

Can you put nutritional yeast in everything? ›

And basically anything else! Nutritional yeast is an excellent ingredient to give any dish extra flavor and increase the protein content.

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