Gwyneth Paltrow's Bizarre Food Substitute For Parmesan Cheese Has People Saying 'WHAT??'

Now that’s a spicy… non-Parmesan way to make meatballs?

At least that’s what Gwyneth Paltrow claims. The Academy Award-winning actor appeared on Wednesday for a cooking segment on Today to promote her gluten-free, dairy-free turkey meatballs. And even though the Goop Kitchen recipe called for a cup of Parmesan, Paltrow introduced a controversial alternative: arugula.

She surprised Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly with the dairy-free swap:

“If you want to avoid dairy, one trick that I do is I dice up arugula, and I put it in… “

Now, in her defense, arugula is occasionally used as a dairy-free alternative thanks to its peppery bite and texture, which some people compare to sharper cheeses like Parmesan. The leafy green is often used in savory dishes for its peppery flavor and texture, making it a popular dairy-free addition for some home cooks.

Paltrow doubled down on the unconventional ingredient choice:

“It sounds weird, but it kind of adds a nice texture to it, and it's delicious.”

You can watch the viral clip here:

And judging by Carson Daly's reaction, he wasn't entirely convinced, either.

The suggestion immediately reminded some viewers of Paltrow's past comments about her eating habits. Back in 2023, the Goop founder revealed that her daily diet typically consisted of coffee, soup or bone broth for lunch, and a paleo dinner with “lots of vegetables” around 6 p.m.

The Healthline website described the paleo diet as follows:

“[D]esigned to resemble what human hunter-gatherer ancestors ate thousands of years ago.”

Paltrow's comments drew criticism from some viewers and registered dietitians, who described the approach as overly restrictive.

She later addressed the backlash surrounding those comments:

“This was a transparent look at a conversation between me and my doctor. It's not meant to be advice for anybody else. It's really just what has worked for me.”

Reacting to the newest food swap clip—which has been viewed more than 3 million times on Instagram—internet users couldn't help but poke fun at the Parmesan replacement, while others viewed it as another example of celebrity wellness culture gone too far.

As you might expect, the internet was not exactly ready to, well, grate this new recipe:

@shawnyboy1983/Instagram

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@claudia_celina_bombom/Instagram

@the_cognition_dietitian/Instagram

@ellendelcottomay/Instagram

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@meanttoeat/Instagram

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@noahcastillero/Instagram

Here's the full cooking segment:

- YouTube TODAY Food

Goop Kitchen has also found itself at the center of controversy.

The company faced an explosive boycott after collaborating with and promoting convicted con artist Anna Sorokin, aka the infamous Anna Delvey. Critics, including public figures, accused the brand of glamorizing a grifter who victimized working-class people and families.

Like the broader Goop empire, the kitchen division has also faced criticism for its premium-priced wellness philosophy, which excludes gluten, dairy, and seed oils. Critics have frequently dismissed those concepts as expensive and unscientific wellness trends.

The brand has also faced allegations related to foodborne illness. Multiple customers and online commentators reported Salmonella infections and severe food poisoning after eating food from the kitchens. Many users expressed outrage when the company reportedly offered discounts on future orders rather than more substantial remedies or refunds.

Last year, however, Paltrow appeared to soften her stance on restrictive eating:

“I’m a little sick of it, if I'm honest, and getting back into eating some sourdough bread and some cheese. There, I said it. A little pasta after being strict with it for so long.”

So, maybe that’s why Paltrow’s latest kitchen revelation has people so confused. After publicly welcoming cheese back onto the menu, viewers weren’t expecting to hear a defense of arugula as a Parmesan stand-in. Either way, the unusual swap succeeded at one thing: getting everyone talking and side-eying the ingredients.