What to do with brewer's yeast

August 11, 2008 10:31 AM

What do you do with Brewer's Yeast?

I have a container of Brewer's Yeast, purchased mainly because I'm told it's a somewhat effective galactagogue and since I'm breastfeeding with a low supply, I'm looking for any advantage I can get. I have a recipe for Lactation Cookies that uses Brewer's Yeast that sounds good and sprinkled some of it on my cereal this morning but what else is a good way to incorporate Brewer's Yeast into my diet? I'd especially be interested in how to cook with it (Do I just add it? Does it effect how things bake?).

posted by otherwordlyglow to food & drink (15 comments total)

Sprinkle it on popcorn, and give some to your cat.
posted by hydrophonic at 10:38 AM on August 11, 2008

It's fantastic on popcorn!
posted by phytage at 10:44 AM on August 11, 2008

Popcorn. Yum! For a bit of a kick, sprinkle some chili powder in too.
posted by arcticwoman at 10:47 AM on August 11, 2008

Some vegans I know use it to add cheesy-taste to casseroles and pasta dishes.
posted by arcticwoman at 10:48 AM on August 11, 2008

I've never tried it on popcorn but it seems like that would be sort of gross. Is your brewer's yeast the yellow semi-flaky kind, or the brown powdery kind? I prefer the taste of the brown powdery type, but in either case I generally mix it with milk and drink it up.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 10:51 AM on August 11, 2008

Nutritional yeast is good on popcorn, yes. It is vastly different than brewer's yeast, which is bitter and kind of ick straight up. Do you mean actual brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast?
If brewer's, it's pretty good in smoothies. If nutritional, it's deliciously awesome in a swirly myriad of ways, including straight from the bag!
posted by hecho de la basura at 10:53 AM on August 11, 2008

IIRC nutritional yeast = brewer's yeast. it's good used to "cheese up" vegan dairy-ish recipes. i happen to really like sprinkling a generous amount over pasta with olive oil & salt & pepper.
posted by gnutron at 10:56 AM on August 11, 2008

When I was vegan this was a tasty treat:

1/2 cube (4 tbsps) of margarine
1/3 cup white flour
1 1/2 tbsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp tumeric
1 tbsp wet mustard
1 tbsp tamari/soy sauce
1 1/2 cups nutritional yeast flakes, not powder
tofu hot dogs, frozen peas
6 cups of pasta (2 lbs)
paprika (for looks)

In a saucepan, melt butter on medium low. Whisk in flour until pasty. From boiling water (pre-pasta) add three cups water, 1/2 cup at a time. Add spices, mustard and soy. Slowly whisk in yeast. Then add another 1/2 to 1 cup water to thin out sauce. Cook pasta. Right before pasta is done, toss in wieners and/or peas to heat. Drain pasta and mix in yummy sauce. And salt to taste.

posted by funkiwan at 11:08 AM on August 11, 2008

Is your brewer's yeast the yellow semi-flaky kind, or the brown powdery kind?
I believe it's brown and powdery.

Do you mean actual brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast?
Well, the container says Brewers Yeast. I saw Nutritional Yeast in the bulk foods aisle but the BY was in with the herbs and supplements at Whole Foods. Additionally, the container says "High Potency
Instant Natural
Nutritional Yeast"

and "This imported Premium Nutritional Brewers Yeast...."

So I'm now unclear whether Nutritional Yeast is the same as Brewer's Yeast.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:09 AM on August 11, 2008

For what it's worth, Wikipedia says nutritional yeast is yeast (possibly brewer's yeast) that has been processed in a way that makes it taste good.
posted by grouse at 11:11 AM on August 11, 2008

This is what I have.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:13 AM on August 11, 2008

Brewer’s yeast is most certainly not the same as nutritional yeast. What you have is Brewer’s yeast. It has a more granular texture and a nutty flavor; nutritional yeast is flakey and cheesy-tasting. The recipes people are suggesting above are for nutritional yeast.
posted by breaks the guidelines? at 11:32 AM on August 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

Make some beer for a relative.
posted by kldickson at 11:37 AM on August 11, 2008

Unfortunately, you cannot make beer with it, either. The stuff that is sold as a dietary supplement is inert.
posted by breaks the guidelines? at 11:41 AM on August 11, 2008

I used to know a guy (possibly the first person I ever met who carried a Nalgene bottle all the time) who mixed it into juices and ciders and whatnot.
posted by box at 12:48 PM on August 11, 2008