344358 Mon Nov 20 04:43:25 -0800 2006 42 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2035111 Hi all, I recently added some nutritional yeast to a vegetarian gravy on the suggestion of some other hounds, but I'll be damned if I know what the heck (other than veg gravy) this stuff is good for. I'd be totally into experimenting around if I had any guiding principles about what it's general purpose was. So... what's it for? Mon Nov 20 04:43:25 -0800 2006 47694 litchick 1 2035121 It's very high in B vitamins. And iron, I believe. Mon Nov 20 04:47:58 -0800 2006 2035111 17969 rainey 1 2035818 Nutritional supplement. B vitamin deficiency during pregnancy is a major cause of birth defects. Sort of like cod liver oil. Not so much for cooking. Mon Nov 20 16:29:38 -0800 2006 2035111 13445 Louise 1 2035856 If it is the light flaky kind, not the heavy grainy kind, back in Madison they put it on popcorn. Even at the movies they had a shaker with yeast for the popcorn. Mon Nov 20 16:45:51 -0800 2006 2035111 10580 Betty 1 2035917 It was promoted by 1960s-70s diet book author Adelle Davis, who theorized that Americans didn't get enough vitamins or protein. To correct those imaginary deficiencies, she suggested that people supplement with lots of nutritional yeast, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ, dry milk powder, and raw liver. Mon Nov 20 16:58:22 -0800 2006 2035111 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2036114 Gah. Blackstrap molasses and liver. Double gah. Well, thanks for shedding light on the subject. The flavor it added to the veg gravy was nice -- gave it some depth -- and after tasting it plain (this is indeed the light and flaky kind of nutritional yeast) I can see that it might be a good popcorn accompaniment. I suppose I'll keep it on hand for the nights when our veg friends come for dinner. ;) Mon Nov 20 18:04:36 -0800 2006 2035917 47694 litchick 2 2943274 They weren't imaginary. We cured a serious infection on my index finger through nutritional yeast and other Adelle Davis hints. Fri Sep 14 19:25:23 -0700 2007 2035917 84119 lagatta 1 2036106 I raised my kids in the 80's and among the crowd we ran with Engivita (sp?) nutritional yeast was the ingredient du jour. We mostly sprinkled it on popcorn but it also had a nasty habit of showing up in macaroni and cheese and tossed with cooked veggies. I am sure that if I hunt through the inner recesses of my cupboard there will be a jar of it still lurking. Gah. Probably next to the carob powder (shudder). Mon Nov 20 18:01:56 -0800 2006 2035111 12383 Nyleve 2 2382532 Yes, I remember it on popcorn along with soy sauce and olive oil. Not bad. Tue Mar 13 16:27:40 -0700 2007 2036106 13564 Snackish 1 2036138 I currently use it as a systematic to discourage fleas on my dog and cats. I'm not sure how effective it is but I'll try anything at this point. Mon Nov 20 18:11:41 -0800 2006 2035111 17969 rainey 2 2036954 My cat has a serious addiction to nutritional yeast. My old roommate used to keep a bag of it in the cupboard and my cat would open the cupboard when nobody was around, chew the bag open and go to town. We couldn't figure out what was going on until we caught him with it all over his face. Eventually we started keeping the yeast in a jar above the counter. He also loves pistachios and their shells, so maybe it's the saltiness? Other than that, I've mainly seen it sprinkled on popcorn. Mon Nov 20 21:32:47 -0800 2006 2036138 12836 Candice 1 2037266 vegans/vegetarians use it sprinkled everywhere as well. our local whole foods have it in the salad bar to sprinkle over. i went through a phase where i put it on anything i wanted to add a savory, deeper note to. Mon Nov 20 23:17:13 -0800 2006 2035111 14028 thejulia 2 2037483 yes, it's a great seasoning with sort of a salty flavor. last holiday season, i made the golden gravy from "the real food daily cookbook" which calls for nutritional yeast and it was a hit (and none of the omnis knew it was vegan). link to the cookbook: http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-1580086187-0 Tue Nov 21 00:43:56 -0800 2006 2037266 13941 wowimadog 1 2037289 Here's a recipe for ya. I don't recommend it, personally, but it's a recipe :) Posting because some folks like it, apparently, as did the person who gave it to me, but I thought it was kind of oogy. I have some of the yeast left over, so I might try sprinkling some on veggies and popcorn. Thanks for the idea! NUTRITIONAL YEAST "CHEESE" SAUCE 1/2 c Nutritional yeast flakes 1/2 c Flour 2 ts Salt 2 c Water 1/4 c Margarine 1/2 ts Garlic powder Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan; add water and cook over medium heat, whisking, until it thickens and bubbles. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and add margarine. A dash of red food coloring or a dash of saffron will give it a more traditional color. Mix with cooked macaroni and bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Mon Nov 20 23:25:11 -0800 2006 2035111 48155 juster 1 2037725 It's used a lot as a cheese substitute for vegans. Other than that, it's a seasoning that adds depth and "umami" to foods, a bit like miso. Tue Nov 21 02:26:13 -0800 2006 2035111 10681 piccola 1 2038698 I know that some pizza places put in into their crusts for flavor. Tue Nov 21 16:08:26 -0800 2006 2035111 14083 cooknKate 1 2048971 Several fans I've known say it will give you "trippy dreams". The few times I've had it, I admit my dreams were a little unusual, but it may just be the power of suggestion Mon Nov 27 06:50:53 -0800 2006 2035111 55825 fabkc 1 2064343 Nutritional Yeast is AWESOME! Try this: I got this Dry Bulk Cheese recipe on VegWeb. Very tasty & handy to keep on hand: Dragonfly's Dry Bulk Uncheese Mix: 3 cups raw, organic cashew pieces 2 cups either Red Star or Vegetarian Support, nutritional yeast 3 Tblsp seasoning salt 3 Tblsp garlic powder (NOT garlic salt) 3 Tblsp of onion powder (NOT onion salt) 8 Tblsp of arrowroot powder. Can use cornstarch, but it is not stringy like arrowroot. Directions: Using a VERY dry blender, blend the nuts till they are very fine. Then, blend in batches of about 1 cup and then mix in a dry container. You can keep this tightly covered in the frig for about 6 weeks. To make up, add one heaping 1/2 cup of mix to 1 cup of water and stir over heat till thickened. Use less water and add salsa for queso dip. Pour over hot veggies and/or pasta. Spread on vegan bread and toast for grilled uncheeses. Serves: many! Preparation time: 15 minutes Then I switched it up a bit and thought this might be tasty too: Smokey Uncheese: 3 cups water 1 package (6oz) Agar Flakes 2 cups Dragonfly's Uncheese Mix 1 or 2 tbsp liquid smoke (I like mine really smokey) Directions: Bring 3 cups water and agar flakes to a boil, stirring often. Remove from heat and Add the 2 cups uncheese mix and liquid smoke. Stir well until smooth. Pour into oiled loaf pan and refrigerate. Within an hour you should have sliceable yummy smokey cheese! Sat Dec 02 18:30:19 -0800 2006 2035111 57172 Regular Joni 2 2675512 No offense Joni, I'm sure it's very nutritious and all but I think I'd rather fast than eat something called "cheese" that involves blended cashews, yeast and arrowroot powder. Tue Jun 19 16:59:00 -0700 2007 2064343 12460 Chowpatty 3 4360547 I'm a big fan of nutritional yeast -- as a popcorn topping, a mix-in to sauces and general flavour-enhancer -- but I agree: no fake cheese, please. (By this I mean, feel free to eat it, I'll just leave more for you.) Mon Jan 26 19:21:39 -0800 2009 2675512 10681 piccola 1 2364209 I first discovered nutritional yeast when my dog was extremely ill and I was looking for anything to help. It is high in B vitamins so I got it. Unfortunately my dog died and now I have all this healthy stuff lying around, so I'm now using it. I use the yeast in my yogurt and oatmeal along with milled flax seed and raw wheat germ. It is delicious in both. I'm so new to it though that I didn't know it is supposed to taste like cheese or that it is good on popcorn. Now I'm anxious to try it in other ways. Wed Mar 07 20:44:08 -0800 2007 2035111 80848 jcislordamen 1 2379721 Nutritional yeast contains the highest natural form of the entire B-vitamin complex. It also contains nearly 50% protein. This stuff is WONDERFUL for combatting stress whether from illness, lack of sleep, overwork etc. It is excellent for nursing mothers -- increases their milk supply as well as their energy. In my house we always take it if we are coming down with a cold or something. It is easily taken mixed in juice. Start out with small amounts as it can make one gassy at first. Increase slowly. I take a couple of heaping tablespoons with only good effect. I recommended it to my daughter-in-law when she had her babies (three in a row, all breast fed) and she says it makes all the difference in her health and energy. She also finds it helps the kids avoid colds and sore throats. Mon Mar 12 21:31:57 -0700 2007 2035111 81984 sooz44 1 2675425 hi litchick, et al. I have been using nutritional yeast for years... my elderly mom craves it as does my child and my pets... so it has to be good for something. Actually it has huge amounts of B complex vitamins and is a great source of amino acids. B vitamins are depleted by stress and are also healthy for our neurological pathways. That's why some people feel energized by after ingesting them. I am not vegan so I use nutritional yeast in combination with other ingredients. It is good on popcorn with butter. I put it in things that I also use parmesian or other cheeses with. I put it in mac and cheese as an extra ingredient, and use it cream soups or in dishes like stroganoff or stir fry. Alone on pasta it would be yucky! Two tablespoons is a serving, that's all you need. It is also supposed to boost one's immune system, but I think that's from the B complex vitamins. It's also good in vegan dishes like tofu, coat tofu in nutritional yeast and fry it or use it in tofu salad. Happy cooking! Tue Jun 19 16:30:26 -0700 2007 2035111 106531 nancy roche 1 2675518 Hey litchick: We explain it all in this article - http://www.chow.com/stories/10545 , so check it out! Tue Jun 19 17:01:22 -0700 2007 2035111 40984 aidam. 1 2827260 I just made a huge batch of pesto and replaced the parm cheese with a great combo of nut. yeast and chopped blanchd almonds! Wow! I think it's better than the real thing! Wed Aug 08 18:02:42 -0700 2007 2035111 117812 rsmitty 1 2940487 it's very yummy on popcorn! Fri Sep 14 03:16:00 -0700 2007 2035111 76429 asturtz 1 2943030 I was told by a guy who was guru to a band of hippie vegans that nutritional yeast is the ONLY non-animal source for vitamin A, which is why it's so important for vegans to use it. Apparently any other source, pills included, are based on some animal's liver. When said hippie band settled on a farm, nutritional yeast was one of the first things they set up production for. Fri Sep 14 17:26:08 -0700 2007 2035111 11478 Will Owen 2 2944079 There are many, many souces of beta carotene -- the precursor to Vitamin A -- from vegetable sources, most notably carrots. Vitamin A is stored primarily in the liver, and you can overdo it. Beta crotene is stored pretty much all over,and you'll know you've maxed out when your skin turns orange. And it really does; it happens to people that drink too much carrot juice! Sat Sep 15 09:12:17 -0700 2007 2943030 95291 Richard 16 3 2944976 You are right, and I was wrong. Must've been another of those Senior Moments - the vitamin in question was actually B12. Sat Sep 15 16:41:24 -0700 2007 2944079 11478 Will Owen 1 2943297 the grit vegetarian restaurant cookbook has some great uses for nutritional yeast. i like it on popcorn with cayenne pepper. Fri Sep 14 19:34:32 -0700 2007 2035111 80943 potterybliss 1 3009220 The pinnacle of nutritional yeast (nooch or newt for short) flavor is approached by combining it with soy sauce and olive oil or butter on some kind of mild tasting starch like pasta or brown rice. It's the ultimate in umami-comfort food flavor. Yes, some say it smells like old gym socks, but that flavor cannot be beat. Fri Oct 05 16:36:30 -0700 2007 2035111 104313 paperfree 1 4355061 Besides the "nutritional" part, nutritional yeast is also a great source of savoriness (umami) like you find in soy sauce, boullion, parmesan cheese, and steak sauce. What all those foods have in common is that they're loaded with free amino acids (especially glutamate) that come from fermented, digested, or well-cooked protein. Glutamate can make pretty much anything taste good, which is unfortunately why hydrolyzed protein or bacterial fermentation extracts (like MSG) are added to so many crappy foods. Sat Jan 24 21:11:12 -0800 2009 2035111 260253 randompasserby 1 4356976 I love, love love nutritional yeast. It is great added to any soup at the end( doesn't like to be boiled) or with soy sauce or Bragg liquid aminos and olive oil makes the best salad dressing ever.I always have a jar of it next to my salt and pepper on my counter. Sun Jan 25 17:07:31 -0800 2009 2035111 115481 karenfinan 1 4357049 Tastes good, provides "umami" to vegetarian dishes. What's not to like? Sun Jan 25 17:30:27 -0800 2009 2035111 11995 pikawicca 1 4357229 I used to eat it as a vegetarian for the B vitamins, but honestly I never really developed a taste for it. I rarely use it at all anymore and I don't miss it - there's nothing (popcorn, soup, salad dressing) I would have used it for that I wouldn't prefer to use miso in at this point. Sun Jan 25 18:50:55 -0800 2009 2035111 42367 ratgirlagogo 1 4357260 Are there certain types of brand of this product that are more beneficial than others? Or is it all pretty much the same? Sun Jan 25 19:06:59 -0800 2009 2035111 127625 fern 1 4369798 My husbands boss gave us a container of "yeast", about 6 cups full, with a scooper that I would guess is about 1 tablespoon worth. He said to mix it into juice and use once a day to boost the immune system. We are not vegetarians, BTW, but I have not been well for a couple months. My question is that this stuff is not flaky. It looks like brown granules, almost like instant coffee. I tasted a bit, without juice, and it wasn't very pleasant. Do you think this is the same thing? I can't imagine putting it on popcorn, and I'm not sure what to do with it. Thu Jan 29 11:42:13 -0800 2009 2035111 80937 danhole 2 4369974 Yep - that's it! nice boss, huh? Actually, it does taste better as an accent to other ingredients IMO. Thu Jan 29 12:18:44 -0800 2009 4369798 155034 alwayscooking 3 4370292 Thanks for the confirmation. His boss is always passing along stuff like this to us. He is older, although we aren't exactly young, but we are on the thin side and he isn't. I think his philosophy is that if your belly isn't big, you are not healthy. LOL! But since I have been so sick I am at the end of my rope and willing to try anything. My problem is that I don'/t have much of an appetite, so I will try it in the juice first. If if doesn't dissolve, maybe in some potatoes, or cottage cheese. Breaded food, or fried, just doesn't appeal to me at this point. Thu Jan 29 13:28:50 -0800 2009 4369974 80937 danhole 2 4399318 I'm pretty sure you got brewer's yeast, which isn't the same thing. It's good for you, but I never heard of anyone liking the taste. Sun Feb 08 18:04:52 -0800 2009 4369798 10681 piccola 1 4370026 I mix it in with some panko or cornflake crumbs and use it as a breading for baked zucchini or eggplant slices. I've had cornmeal/nutritional yeast crusted brussel sprouts (not fried) in a restaurant but I never made it myself. Thu Jan 29 12:31:09 -0800 2009 2035111 217807 cheesecake17 1 4370039 Nothing. It makes people feel like they're doing something useful or healthy. Good news is, it won't hurt you. Bad news is, it won't help, either. If you want some of the nutrients in yeast, go have a piece of bread, or drink a bottle of unfiltered beer or wine every now and again. Thu Jan 29 12:35:47 -0800 2009 2035111 111371 greglor 2 4400543 It is delicious, a vegan staple, and great on everything from toast to black beans to salad. Try it! Mon Feb 09 09:05:45 -0800 2009 4370039 263598 BostonNooch