As staple pantry items go, one would be hard pressed to find a vegan that wouldn’t call nutritional yeast an MVP. It is made from deactivated yeast and sold in the form of yellow flakes, granules, or powder and is a significant source of B-complex vitamins, along with trace amounts of several other vitamins and minerals.

Nutritional yeast is a savory ingredient that can impart a slightly cheesy-umami flavor, making it a popular vegan cheese substitute among plant-based dieters, sprinkled on top of dishes Parmesan-cheese-style or infused into sauces.

Market research firm Datassential reports that 50% of the population knows about nutritional yeast and its presence has increased on restaurant menus by 56% over the past four years.

Click through the gallery to learn more about the Flavor of the Week and see how one restaurant chain is using nutritional yeast on menus