hemp seed parmesan

Because you need Parmesan

Delicious and savory hemp seed Parmesan - hemp seeds, 3 ingredients and a baking dish. That’s all you need to create your new secret weapon to enhance your favorite recipes.

Simple happiness, now that's a great combo

I get jazzed when I can combine a few simple ingredients and end up with something yummy, easy and quilt-free. Something I know I’ll always happily need to have at the ready.

Mix and let go

Nothing fancy here. Seriously. We’ll be mixing up the lemon juice, miso and oregano and tossing in the hemp seeds. In the oven it goes. Make sure that you mix in the miso. It sometimes likes to tease you with a few clumps. No worries, you’ll be stirring your baked delicacy from time to time.

What the heck is miso?

Miso is a paste made from fermented soybeans mixed with salt and yes, a mold called koji. It must be ok because it’s the same thing used in sake. Miso has a wonderful flavor and it comes in a few varieties . The darker, the more complex the flavor. I used white miso which is the mildest, but seriously, use what is available to you. You’ll find it in many supermarkets in the Asian section. If not, go for an Asian market. They’ll have it. It also lasts a long, long time in the fridge.

Watch it bake

You need about 15 minutes to bake this, but beware – this will depend on your oven and the heaviness and size of your baking dish. I’ve learned through experience that it will keep cooking after you take it out of the oven. I like to remove it out of the dish immediately, so I don’t get it too brown. This is one case where you are better off to lean toward less than over browned.

It’s baked, now what?

Even a little hemp seed Parmesan jazzes up pasta and pizza. If you want to make a killer pesto, this is your way forward. Smear that on a piece of bread with some tomatoes and you are squarely in the bruschetta zone.

Final thoughts

Today, I would challenge anyone who suggests that whole food, plant-based diets are limiting or boring. That said, when I first started my plant-based journey, I limited myself by trying to recreate my old animal product diet. When I gradually left that behind, I discovered a wealth of new flavors and textures. Think expanding options, not replacing. Think ‘another music in your different kitchen’. Perhaps that’s too cheesy, but hopefully, you get the drift. Peace.

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