The ten best substitutes for Ricotta cheese are:
- Cottage cheese
- Parmesan
- Mozzarella
- Clabber cream
- Fromage blanc
- Sour cream
- Pot cheese
- Requeson cheese
- Mascarpone
- Tofu.
You can try these alternatives if you run out of Ricotta cheese or don’t like its taste. In this article, I’ll explain them in detail and give some of their health benefits. Read on.
1. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cream is a less creamy ricotta cheese substitute. Also, it has a milder taste and is low in fat and calories, making it a suitable alternative to ricotta.
It comes in large and small curd forms, but its small-curd version resembles ricotta. It’s a good substitute for ricotta in preparing cheese additives for mild flavor dishes such as lasagna.
Cottage cheese is extracted from milk curd, while cheesemakers extract ricotta from whey. Therefore, cottage cheese is lumpier than ricotta, which has a fine consistency. You can sieve it before use to remove the excess milk curd to achieve a more refined product.
2. Parmesan
Parmesan is another dairy substitute for ricotta that’s particularly good for a lasagna dish.
Parmesan comes off as dry, so blending it with other cheese options such as Bechamel sauce and mozzarella would be best. This mixture will help you achieve the same ricotta cheese feel in lasagna.
Unlike ricotta, parmesan doesn’t leave your lasagna dish dry with a cracked surface. It adds a nutty and salty flavor instead.
If you’re into ricotta’s grittiness but want to keep it down a bit, you should try a blend of parmesan and cottage cheese.
Parmesan is a functional food in Europe, meaning they classify it as one of the foods with medicinal value. Its high bioavailable calcium content makes it attractive in promoting bone health and development and counteracting osteoporosis.
3. Mozzarella
I’d call mozzarella a close cousin to ricotta cheese. Cheesemakers extract ricotta cheese from the whey that remains after making mozzarella.
However, mozzarella tends to become clumpy and stringier than ricotta cheese. But its taste isn’t as strong as ricotta.
It would be best to pair mozzarella with other cheese options to end with a result close enough to ricotta. And when you go shopping for mozzarella, ensure you pick a creamier brand to reduce the chances of being clumpy and stringy.
Mozzarella contains probiotic bacteria and strains of Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus casei. Human and animal clinical trials show that these bacteria help fight inflammation, improve gut health, and enhance immunity.
4. Clabber Cream
Cheesemakers prepare clabber cream from sour milk. Traditionally, they extracted this cheese from unpasteurized milk, but now they can remove it from pasteurized milk.
You can use clabber cream in place of ricotta cheese in pasta fillings. You can also use it as scones toppings.
Commercial clabber, sour milk, or buttermilk is added to unpasteurized milk to make clabber cream. The end product is a slightly yellow sour cream with a consistency comparable to ricotta.
Clabber cream has vast supplies of minerals, amino acids, and vitamins. Its lactic acid promotes intestinal peristalsis and improves the functions of the pancreas. It also produces antibiotics that help fight off microbes that might cause gastrointestinal complications.
Related The Best Substitutes for Milk in a Recipe | Ultimate Guide.
5. Fromage Blanc
Fromage blanc is an expensive buttery ricotta cheese alternative with a consistency similar to yogurt. It’s a tasty fresh cheese you can use as a dessert topping.
Its mildly sweet and tangy flavor makes it ideal for use as a cheese spread. You can also use it as a cream cheese substitute or eat it with fruits. On heating, it doesn’t liquify too much. Therefore, it’s suitable for cooking. Whip it before use in preparing sauces with spices and herbs.
Fromage Blanc, a French word meaning ‘white cream,’ is a blessing to many who wish to cut down their calorie intake without sacrificing taste. A cup of fromage blanc has 100 calories, while sour cream and heavy cream have 400 and 800 calories, respectively.
6. Sour Cream
Sour cream, formed by fermenting natural cream with lactic acid bacteria, is an excellent alternative to ricotta cream. It substitutes ricotta cream well in making dips for potato chips, crackers, and veggies.
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