Violife Just Like Parmesan Vegan Cheese Review

EV’s Take: The Vegan Parmesan Cheese We’re Grating on Everything

If you’re like me, Parmesan cheese is a way of life. Pasta just feels naked without it, and soups, salads, and everything in between just taste better with a scattering of finely grated Parmesan cheese on top. Plus, when you’re at home, you never have to say “when.”

If you’re on a vegan journey, one of your big hurdles may be finding replacements for foods that taste delicious and work as well as their animal-based counterparts. Fortunately, Violife delivers a great grating cheese that melts beautifully into dishes.

Reproducing a dairy-free version of a cheese that follows centuries of tradition is no easy feat, and Violife really delivers an exceptional plant-based alternative to a classic cheese. That I can use it seamlessly as I would traditional Parmesan cheese is a major win. I love that they captured the sharpness and complexity of traditional Parmesan cheese, too. 

My only minuscule complaint is that the cheese has an overpowering buttery flavor–almost like movie theater popcorn–which makes it a cheese I would not slice up and have as a snack. That said, I think this butteriness is actually what makes it work well when grated into dishes because it accents other flavors nicely; it’s just not a flavor I enjoy on its own.

Does Violife Parmesan Cheese Melt?

Yes! Violife Parmesan melts really nicely into dishes. I prefer to use a microplane to grate it finely, but you can also use the larger holes on a cheese grater. 

What are the ingredients in Violife Just Like Parmesan?

Violife is appropriate for vegan and plant-based diets, as well as those avoiding soy, gluten, and nuts. From the Violife website, the ingredients are as follows: Filtered Water, Potato & Rice Starch, Food Starch-Modified (potato), Coconut Oil, Salt (Sea Salt), Rice Protein, Parmezan Flavor (vegan sources), Olive Extract, Beta Carotene (Color), Vitamin B12.

I’m ready to cook! How should I use Violife Parmesan?

If you have your grater in your left hand, your Violife parm wedge in your right, and all you need is a recipe, look no further.

Just today, I posted a really delicious recipe for roasted garlic tomato sauce using Violife Just Like Parmesan, which would be perfect if you’re looking for a simple, straightforward place to start. But because I’ve been eating Violife for years, I’m going to share with you one of my favorite recipes that I developed for my plant-based cookbook a few years ago.

This recipe for broccoli and cheese grits is a nod to the iconic soup and makes use of Violife’s Parmesan wedge and our favorite vegan ricotta cheese from Kite Hill.

Vegan Broccoli and Cheese Grits

Move over broccoli and cheese soup, we're currently obsessed with this cheesy spin on a classic.

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 438kcal

Equipment

• Ovenproof skillet
• Medium pot
• Whisk

Ingredients

Broccoli:

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 pound broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons plant-based butter
• ½ cup vegan white wine or use vegetable stock
• 1 cup vegetable stock

Grits:

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup yellow corn grits
• 2 tablespoons plant-based butter
• ¼ cup oat milk
• ½ cup plant-based ricotta cheese
• ½ cup Violife Just Like Parmesan Cheese finely grated
• ½ cup vegan cheddar cheese finely grated
• Salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, minced, for garnish

Instructions

Start the broccoli:

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
• Heat the avocado oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until it softens.
• Add the broccoli and cook for 1–2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the tomatoes and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper.

Roast the broccoli and tomatoes:

• Transfer the skillet to the oven for 12–15 minutes or until the broccoli and tomatoes begin to char.
• Remove the broccoli from the oven and transfer to the stove. Carefully mash the tomatoes into the broccoli.

Finish the broccoli:

• Turn the heat on the broccoli to medium. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Melt the plant-based butter in the skillet. Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper. Once frothy, add white wine and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook until thickened and reduced, about 5–7 minutes. Taste and season to your preferences. Turn off the heat.

Cook the grits:

• While the broccoli roasts, cook the grits. Bring 3 cups of salted water to a boil and add the corn grits. Whisk regularly for 25 to 30 minutes until tender.

Finish the grits:

• Stir in the oat milk, plant-based ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and vegan cheddar and season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve:

• Divide the grits between bowls and pile the broccoli on top. Garnish with parsley.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 673mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g

Where Can I Buy Violife Just Like Parmesan Cheese?

From their store locator, the Violife Parmesan cheese wedge can be purchased at major grocers like Sprouts, Wegmans, Safeway, and Whole Foods. You can also buy Violife on Amazon.

Did you try Violife’s Parmesan wedge? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!