Vegetarian Parmesan

mimihops

Does anyone here know where to get a vegetarian parmesan?? I checked on the Tesco website and they say the Parmigiano Reggiano is vegetarian, but I'm not sure if thats correct... Would love to find a really good alternative as I find myself craving parmesan these days. I'm actually not a vegetarian just don't eat meat or meat based products but would still eat mussels and some fish on occasion, so not a vegetarian...yet!!

kmick

There is no such thing as vegetarian parmesan.

There is however a soy based "parmesan style" substitute.

http://www.britstore.co.uk/p8664/Florentino-Parmazano-60g/product_info.html

It tastes nothing like parmesan in the way the preground parmesan shaker we all used 20 years ago for spaghetti tasted nothing like parmesan. Parmazano is no better than this stuff and probably worse if I am being truthful.

As a background one of the main desired properties of permesan is naturally high levels of monosodium glutamate, the much maligned flavour enhancer used in everything from chinese food to Tayto crisps. Parmesan is in essence a very expensive and very tasty type of salt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami

Its easy enough to get MSG - perhaps if you can find a dry vegetarian cheese and add some MSG you may be able to get something similar. However I have yet to find a vegetarian (non-animal rennet) cheese that is nice.

henryporter

Two good, Irish made, substitutes (in fact nicer!) are Gabriel and Desmond cheeses. More information here: http://www.wcnc.ie/, and can be bought at Sheridans Cheesmongers

kmick

henryporter wrote: »

Two good, Irish made, substitutes (in fact nicer!) are Gabriel and Desmond cheeses. More information here: http://www.wcnc.ie/, and can be bought at Sheridans Cheesmongers

Vegetarian?

henryporter

kmick wrote: »

Vegetarian?

That's what was requested, wasn't it?? See here for more details: http://www.sheridanscheesemongers.com/index.php/products/prodcheese/77 You'll need to select the specific cheeses as their details are given in popups

mimihops

cool thanks, will have a look for some of those west cork cheeses!

Weyhey

kmick wrote: »

Vegetarian?

I've also believed Gabriel and Desmond to contain vegetarian rennet. Gabriel seems harder to get lately. Desmond seems nicer to me and looks just like parmesan (can't remember if it tastes like it). I buy a triangle and cut it up into smaller sections, wrap it in clingfilm and freeze it as a little goes a long way and it's easy to finely grate while frozen. Fallon and Byrne also stock it by the way.

Locomotion

Finally found a great Parmesan substitute

Tastes just like Parmesan but is made with a vegetarian rennt made from Artichoke Thistle. Absolutely delicious. Little bit pricey at €29 per kg but well worth it if you're looking for that perfect topping for any italian dish.


http://www.sheridanscheesemongers.com/cheese/gran-kinara/

New Home

Hi folks, as we all know both Parmesan (aka Parmigiano Reggiano) and its cousin Grana Padano are definitely not vegetarian-friendly because of the animal-based rennet used, but not all the cheese sold as 'parmesan' in the supermarkets is exactly that. Parmesan and Grana are 'protected' by law and can only be produced in certain areas using specific recipes, but there's another brand of very similar cheese which cannot be called either P. or G. because of its provenance and the fact that it's produced with vegetarian rennet. The brand in question is Gran Moravia, and I've seen in on sale with the other 'real' parmesans in Dunnes. It's virtually indistinguishable from a 12- or 18-month-old Parmigiano, it is definitely vegetarian friendly as it's also made with vegetable rennet, and it's slightly cheaper than the other Parmesan I saw beside it too. I'm in no way linked to that company, but I do love that cheese.

Raminahobbin

OOOOH!!!! That's quite curious... I've never had parmesan, but always come across recipes needing it and just leave it out. I shall give this a go in a fancy risotto or something. Thanks NH

New Home

Any time... I loooooooooove risotto...

New Home

I just checked, and on the wedge I have in the fridge there's the 'Vegetarian Society Approved' symbol.
It was for 2013-14, but the VegSocApproved website still mentions it.



http://www.vegsocapproved.com/corporate08/company.asp?id=1080