Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

If making the vegan parmesan cheese at home, place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until fine. Set ¼ cup aside for the recipe.
Peel and slice the potatoes. Slice the potatoes into 1/8-inch thick rounds with a mandoline or with a sharp knife. Divide the slices into 4 equal piles.

Melt the butter in the microwave, for about 30 seconds. Brush the bottom and sides of your oven-safe nonstick 10” fry pan with the butter.

Starting in the center and overlapping the slices by about half, arrange one pile of the slices in a spiral pattern, starting with the smaller slices in the center and larger slices around the edges, making sure the bottom of the pan is completely and evenly covered. Brush generously with melted butter and sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese.

Build the second layer, this time starting on the outside into the center again using the larger slices around the edge. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with more parmesan.

Repeat the layering two more times, buttering and seasoning in between each layer. You should end the final layer of potatoes working from the outside in and ending with the last slice in the middle. Slowly and evenly pour all the remaining butter over the top layer and season with the remaining vegan parmesan cheese.

Place foil down onto the potatoes, then weigh down the potatoes by topping it with another oven skillet or pie plate. Fill the fry pan or pie plate with pie weights and bake for 25 minutes.

Remove the weights and foil then bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes, or until the potatoes on top start to turn golden brown.

Allow the skillet to cool slightly, for about 5 minutes, then place a cutting board or a large plate over the fry pan. Using oven mitts, grasp both the board/plate and the pan, flip over and remove the pan. The potatoes should just fall right out of the pan, but if they don’t easily come out, run a knife around the edges to loosen it.

Garnish with fresh thyme if desired and cut the potato cake into wedges and serve immediately.