I’ve been trying to branch out and try new ingredients, especially those typically associated with vegan cooking.  During my experimentation, I ran across Nutritional Yeast in several recipes (including my spicy “buffalo wings”.)  I had no idea what it was, so I consulted my friendly local Internet and found out all sorts of interesting tibits.

• Nutritional yeast is made from letting certain strains of yeast feed on mineral-enhanced molasses.   After the yeast has grown to a certain size, it is pastuerized to kill it.
• Nutritional yeast is high in B vitamins and has enough amino acids to form a complete amino acid chain, making it a good nutritional supplement for vegans.
• According to the link above, nutritional yeast also contains elements which regulate blood sugar and can aid in stress reduction.

The first recipe in which I ran across nutritional yeast came from the book How It All Vegan!: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet (lest you think that’s a typo, it’s a play on words.  Replace vegan with began.)  Give it a try, I really liked it.

Eazy Breezy Cheezy Sauce

You will need:

• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 4 teaspoons arrowpowder or corn starch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1. In a small saucepan, whisk together the yeast, flour, arrowroot powder, and salt. 
2. Add the water and oil and continue to whisk thoroughly.
3. Stir over medium heat until the sauce becomes thick.
4. Stir in the mustard and stir 30 seconds.

Yield: 2-4 servings

Blogger’s Notes:

1.  Be careful with step 3.  I thought the sauce was never going to get thick and the BOOM! glop.
2.  Next time I make it, I will increase both the Dijon and the salt.
3.  If you using corn starch, my advice would be to add another teaspoon at least.  Arrowroot is a much better thickener than corn starch.

Try it and tell me what you think!

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Tags: cheese sauce, lactose intolerant, nutritional yeast, vegan