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Nutritional Yeast – Here's how (and why) you should use it
Nutritional Yeast – Here's how (and why) you should use it.
First of all, what is nutritional yeast? "Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast, often a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is sold commercially as a food product," Wikipedia writes. It's different from the yeast you use in baking because it doesn't foam or froth. Because it's inactive, it can't cause dough or bread to ferment or rise. You can often find nutritional yeast in the bulk bin of your local health food store.
Nutritional yeast has several benefits. One big benefit of nutritional yeast is that it is often high in B12, an important vitamin that many of us are deficient in. The B12 in yeast is either included as an additive at the end of its manufacture, or else the yeast is grown in a B12-enriched medium. Some nutritional yeasts do not contain vitamin B12; to be sure, check the list of nutrients on the container.)
Aside from B12, nutritional yeast is also a complete protein -- t contains other B vitamins, is low in fat and sodium, is free of sugar and gluten, and it contains iron.
Nutritional yeast is often used by vegans as an alternative to dairy products. If you're looking to make a vegan version of a meal that includes melted cheese or Parmesan cheese, you probably want nutritional yeast.
The key when using nutritional yeast is that it is dry and flaky, so you need a bit of liquid to go with it — olive oil or fairly moist food works well. What foods go well with nutritional yeast? Many! Here are 10 ways to use nutritional yeast on a regular basis:
1. In any rice or pasta dish (with one exception)
Mix nutritional yeast in with rice and pasta dishes of almost any sort. There is one exception, however, and that's mixing it with something containing tomato sauce, which seems to overpower it. That said, nutritional yeast does go well with actual tomatoes.
2. On bread or rice cakes
Whether as toast or as part of a sandwich, sprinkle a little nutritional yeast on top of olive oil. Do the same thing on rice cakes. These options are especially good with some lettuce and/or tomato on top.
3. With garbanzo beans
Nutritional yeast is excellent on various types of beans, and especially in rice or pasta dishes that include beans, but the simple dish of garbanzo beans plus nutritional yeast plus a little salt is a winner.
4. In soup
It works very well in some soups and sauces in place of cream (to thicken it).
5. With yellow/green beans & spicy curry mix
A little bit of nutritional yeast, maybe olive oil, and salt on some yellow or green beans is delicious. For some extra spunk, adding in a somewhat spicy mix as well is extra tasty (a curry spice mix, for example).
6. Scrambled tofu
Do you like some scrambled tofu, tomatoes and potatoes for breakfast (or even just the scrambled tofu)? Mixing in some nutritional yeast makes it especially good. With its high calcium content, tofu is a great match for nutritional yeast. Tofu actually has about twice as much calcium per 100 grams as milk (and it doesn't turn around and leach that calcium from your bones).
7. On popcorn
It's quite popular to sprinkle nutritional yeast on popcorn. It makes for a tasty and somewhat more nutritious snack.
8. With peas, corn and carrots
This is another simple dish but one to love. Mixed with a bit of tahini is especially good and provides that extra calcium kick.
9. On salads
Sprinkling some nutritional yeast on top of your favourite salad as an extra condiment is another option.
10. On steamed kale
Kale is packed with calcium. It has more calcium per 100 grams than milk (and, again, kale doesn't turn around and leach calcium from your body). Sprinkle yeast on top for an added punch.
Nutritional yeast is indeed a magic powder for those who want to cut down on or eliminate animal products from their diets! We started http://KindMeal.my to help you make that transition to a more compassionate and healthful diet, and every week we have new partners all over Malaysia coming on-board and offering promotions on meat-free dishes. Check out the latest ones!
Source: http://goo.gl/6edhwz
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