What is nutitional yeast and why is it used?

[Missrawdiva]

I copied a recipe for lasgne last week, and it required nutrional yeast. What is it and why is it required?? And.. where do I get it?? Can it be found at a local grocery store or do I get it for Whole PAYCHECK or a health foods store.

[Svadhyaya]

Ask for it at a health food store - most groceries don't carry it.
It isn't very expensive and is often sold in bulk, so you can only buy as much as you need.

It is a yellow flakey or powdery substance that is absolutely delicious and is a wonderful substitution for cheese - it totally tastes cheesy and is fabulous sprinkled over soups and salads.

See....I used delicious, wonderful, and fabulous to describe it.
It must be good!

[juliebove]

It's a bi-product of making molasses. It's loaded with vitamins like B and has some protein. Your regular grocery probably won't have it unless it has a large health food section and even then the only one of those I've seen that does stock it is Fred Meyer. It will be located next to the Brewer's Yeast. Oddly, most stores will carry Brewer's Yeast but not Nutritional. Both come in the same kind of can. Make sure the one you buy does not contain whey. Some do. The different ones have different tastes. They also have different textures. Some are more like a powder, some are more like a flake. I've bought the Fred Meyer house brand and also Red Star. Both taste good.

[tinystrawberry]

Theres some recent threads on this topic if you use the banana and search for nutritional yeast :cool: it is known to be a source of b12 for vegetarians/vegans, it isn't raw but i still use it.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

mmm I love it... lots of nutrients (hence the name, heheh), lots of flavour. I used to add only about 1/2 tsp to my soups when I was starting with it. Now, I add about 2 tbsp! LOTS of cheesy flavour, and my 3.5 year-old niece loves it!! "Auntie, can I have some East?" *snickers*

I usually mix it with some dulse flakes. I do this so I don't have to take supplements for iodine, b12, magnesium, iron, etc etc etc