This Vegan Parmesan Cheese is made with pumpkin seeds instead of cashews, making it a great nut-free alternative. Requiring just 4 ingredients and a food processor, this pumpkin seed "Parmesan" is also easily made in a matter of minutes. Perfect for sprinkling on pasta, pizza, soups and more!

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slight overhead of vegan Parmesan cheese in mason jar

If you're looking for a nut-free alternative to the multitude of cashew-based vegan Parmesan cheese recipes, I've got you covered. 😉

The answer?

Pumpkin seeds.

Raw pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, to be exact.

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Ingredients you'll need
How to make nut-free vegan Parmesan cheese
How to use this pumpkin seed Parmesan
Does this vegan Parm melt?
Storage
More Vegan "Cheese" Recipes
Vegan Parmesan Cheese [Nut-Free, Gluten-Free]

holding spoonful of pumpkin seed cheese over mason jar of the rest

It all started one day when I saw the bag of pepitas sitting just begging to be given a chance to create something BIG...something an ex cheese addict would want to sprinkle all over her pasta...something like VEGAN PARMESAN CHEESE!

overhead of pumpkin seed cheese in mason jar

Yes, you got me. Ex cheese addict here!

Taking it day by day, vegan cheese experiment after vegan cheese experiment. 😉

Anyway, whether you are a recovering cheese addict, have a cashew allergy or are looking for something a little different, you've got to try this vegan Parm.

overhead of pumpkin seed cheese in mason jar with spoon in it

I don't know about you, but I always preferred the sharp Parmesan cheeses over the mild ones, and this pumpkin seed version has definitely got some sharpness to it!

Perhaps that's why my "unwilling-to-admit-I'm lactose intolerant" daughter and husband are totally down with it. 😉

holding spoonful of vegan "cheese" with rest blurred out below

And, hopefully you will be too! 🙂

Ingredients you'll need

Raw pumpkin Seeds (pepitas)
Nutritional Yeast
Kosher Salt
Garlic Powder

How to make nut-free vegan Parmesan cheese

This vegan cheese is incredibly easy to make. To do so, you'll need a food processor or food chopper.

For smaller jobs like this, I like to use my 3.5-cup KitchenAid food chopper.

It only features two settings, chop and puree, and is perfect for chopping nuts and seeds.

ingredients in food chopper before combining

All you have to do is add all of the ingredients to the bowl of your food processor/chopper.

Use the pulse or chop setting and pulse/chop until the "cheese" is ground to your liking.

ingredients in food chopper after combining

Enjoy!

slight overhead of vegan "cheese" in mason jar with spoon in it

How to use this pumpkin seed Parmesan

Sprinkle this vegan version anywhere you would a dairy-based Parmesan.

We enjoy adding it to the gluten-free pizzas we get at the pizza shops that don't yet have a vegan cheese option.

We also love it on top of some gluten-free pasta with our pumpkin pasta sauce or vegan Bolognese and sprinkled on our vegan pasta fagioli soup.

And it's the "cheese" featured in our vegan cacio e pepe.

close-up front view of pasta on white serving dish garnished with pepper and pumpkin seed Parmesan

Does this vegan Parm melt?

No, it doesn't melt, but if you're looking for a dairy-free Parmesan that does, I'd recommend Violife or Follow Your Heart.

Storage

This pumpkin seed Parmesan can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed mason jar or other airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

More Vegan "Cheese" Recipes

holding a scoop of vegan Parm up over the mason jar of the rest

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5 from 8 votes

Vegan Parmesan Cheese [Nut-Free, Gluten-Free]

Course Condiment

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan

Keyword dairy-free, gluten free, meatless monday, nut free, nutritional yeast, pepitas, pumpkin seeds, vegan, vegan cheese, vegan parmesan

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings tablespoons

Calories 20kcal

Author Sherri Hall

Ingredients

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
¼ cup nutritional yeast
1 ½ teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of your food processor/chopper. Use the pulse or chop setting and pulse/chop until the "cheese" is ground to your liking.

(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)

Suggested Equipment/Tools

Food Chopper

Notes

"Cheese" can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed mason jar for up to 3 weeks.

Recipe makes 20 tablespoons. Nutrition information is based on a serving size of 1 tablespoon.

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Nutrition

Calories: 20kcal | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g

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