2 formerly fringe ingredients are mainstream

Coconut aminos, nutritional yeast are more widely available.

Now that vegetarian, glutenfree and lactose-free dishes have graduated from special requests to regular menu items, it follows that once-fringe ingredients that address these dietary concerns are also going mainstream. Two seasonings — coconut aminos and nutritional yeast — are becoming more and more common because they meet the needs of today’s eaters. Here is what you need to know to make the most of these unique ingredients:

Coconut aminos

Coconut aminos is a brown liquid seasoning made from the fermented sap of the coconut palm blossom, which is then seasoned with salt. It doesn’t taste like coconut — rather, it is very similar to soy sauce, but it’s lighter, less intense and somewhat sweet. Coconut aminos’s spike in popularity is partly because it’s glutenand soy-free, so it makes an excellent soy sauce substitute for people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance or soy allergies. It is also considerably lower in sodium than soy sauce, with 90 to 140 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon, depending on the brand, compared with about 290 milligrams for the same amount of regular soy sauce and 162 milligrams for low-sodium soy sauce.

People are also buying coconut aminos because they believe the many false and misleading claims they read about it online, and

its popularity has risen with that of restrictive diets such as paleo and Whole30, which allow it but prohibit soy foods. Proponents contend the seasoning is bountiful in amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and other nutrients, and that it lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer.

None of these claims is factbased. Though coconut aminos contains the amino acid glutamate, which gives it its savory taste, it is not a nutritionally meaningful source of amino acids in general. One serving of coconut aminos (one teaspoon) provides zero grams of protein. As for other nutrients, though fresh coconut sap contains vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, scant — if any — are retained in the processing of the sap into coconut aminos, and there are no studies to back up any disease prevention benefits. Many laud coconut aminos for being MSGfree, but traditionally brewed soy sauce doesn’t have MSG either. And besides, though a small percent of people may be sensitive to the additive, its unhealthy reputation is largely unwarranted.

Some people switch to coconut aminos because they are avoiding soy products out of concern for the food’s bioactive compounds such as phytoestrogens. But besides the fact that a couple of daily servings of traditional soy foods is not alarming for most people, soy sauce itself has negligible amounts of these compounds.

So disregard the hyped claims about coconut aminos and consider the ingredient as a good option if you are cooking for people with gluten intolerance, soy allergy, and/or need to reduce their sodium intake.

Nutritional yeast

Nutritional yeast has long been a flavor and nutrient powerhouse for vegans, though it has mostly been relegated to a lower shelf of the health food store. Now that vegan diets have been knighted by the likes of Beyoncé, nutritional yeast is having a moment. It even has a cool new nickname — nooch.

Nutritional yeast is similar to the brewer’s yeast used in baking, but it is deactivated through a heating and drying process. Its pale yellow flakes have a nutty, cheesy flavor, so it is ideal for producing such flavor in dairy-free dishes. It’s also packed with essential nutrients: A quarter cup of nooch, which has 60 calories, provides more protein than a large egg and is packed with fiber and an array of B vitamins and minerals. It is often fortified with vitamin B12, which is especially important for vegans because this essential nutrient is primarily found in animal products.

Though nutritional yeast is safe for most people, it is not recommended for those with irritable bowl disease, glaucoma and hypertension because it may exacerbate those conditions. And because nutritional yeast supplementation may lower blood sugar, people with diabetes should consult their doctor before adding it to their diets.

Use nutritional yeast whenever you want a hint of cheese flavor in a dairy-free way, adding it to taste the way you might add Parmesan cheese to a dish. It is delicious when sprinkled on warm popcorn, in risotto or on pasta dishes, in mashed potatoes, on cauliflower, and to make vegan mac-and-“cheese.”

You can pick up a jar of nutritional yeast in a health food store (where it is no longer hiding in the corner) or at chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joes.