What are the best substitutes for ricotta cheese in lasagna? To replace ricotta cheese in lasagna, choose ingredients with similar textures, flavors, and appearances. Most soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, goat cheese, and mascarpone, work well.
For more adventurous alternatives, consider paneer, tofu, fromage blanc, or even béchamel sauce.
Who can resist a classic, freshly made lasagna? This rich, flavorful, and satisfying Italian dish never fails to bring a smile to our faces.
In this article, we’ll explore various ricotta cheese substitutes specifically for lasagna preparation. We’ll discuss their characteristics, why they’re suitable, and how to replace ricotta cheese using these options.
Best Substitutes For Ricotta Cheese In Lasagna
Lasagna is famous for its delicious cheesiness, incorporating not only ricotta cheese but also garnished with other types such as mozzarella, parmesan, gouda, or cheddar.
Ricotta is a key ingredient in lasagna, but it’s not part of the sauce. Instead, it’s typically combined with eggs and seasoned with herbs, pepper, and sometimes salt.
This ricotta-egg blend forms a crucial component of the dish, providing creamy richness and essential moisture.
Lasagna can become dry if the ingredients aren’t properly balanced, which is why this mixture plays a vital role in achieving the perfect dish.
As the lasagna bakes, the eggs help set or thicken the dish, preventing it from becoming too watery. While some recipes don’t call for eggs, we recommend including them. Eggs prevent excess moisture from leaking out, ensuring a visually appealing and appetizing lasagna.
To sum up, the most effective and safest alternatives for lasagna ricotta have similar textures, tastes, and colors.
If you’re looking to experiment you can try different substitutes to come up with new and intriguing flavor combinations for your recipe.
1. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese, a favorite ricotta alternative, works well in lasagna and various dishes. Resembling ricotta, it is produced using whey with added acidity, heated, chilled, and drained. Cottage cheese has a coarser texture and higher moisture content than ricotta due to its whey-hanging process.
Choose a medium or fine-textured, dry cottage cheese to closely resemble ricotta. Straining is optional, but adding an egg can help thicken any excess moisture. Flavorful cottage cheese varieties enhance lasagna taste, with basil or chives being popular choices.
2. Cream Cheese
A cow’s milk and cream product, cream cheese offers a spreadable, silky texture, creamier than ricotta or cottage cheese. Its mild flavor, versatility, and availability in low-fat and non-fat options make it ideal for lasagna.
Using more cream cheese than ricotta and adding eggs can improve spreadability and bulk. However, using too many eggs can create a rubbery texture, so consider adding cream or fewer eggs.
3. Goat Cheese
Goat cheese or chevre, made from goat’s milk, offers a spreadable texture between cream cheese and ricotta. Use fresh goat cheese for lasagna as aged cheeses have denser textures.
Its mild, slightly tart flavor is reminiscent of ricotta, but with a distinct “goat flavor.” Goat cheese’s unique taste may not suit everyone, but it works well in a balanced recipe.
4. Mascarpone
Mascarpone’s versatility makes it a popular choice in sweet and savory dishes. Similar to cream cheese, it offers a richer, creamier texture.
Its tart flavor works best in highly-flavored lasagna. Thin it by adding cream or fewer eggs.
5. Tofu
Soy milk-based tofu is a plant-based substitute for cheese or eggs. Use silken or soft tofu as a ricotta substitute in lasagna.
Tofu is suitable for lactose-intolerant, vegan, or vegetarian dishes, offering a healthy, mild flavor that blends well.
6. Paneer
Paneer, or Indian cottage cheese, is a firmer, drier cheese made similarly to cottage cheese. Combine, shred, or chop paneer to achieve a ricotta-like consistency. Adding eggs to paneer lasagna is optional but adds richness.
Paneer’s mild flavor makes it a good alternative if available.
7. Fromage Blanc
This French, yogurt-based cheese offers a buttery, fresh, and slightly tangy taste. Its smooth, spreadable texture closely resembles cream cheese. It works well as a ricotta substitute in lasagna without becoming runny when heated.
No need to add eggs unless a thicker sauce is desired. Availability is the main issue, but it can be made at home with the right ingredients.
8. Bechamel Sauce
Not a cheese substitute, bechamel or white sauce is a popular French sauce. Many countries prefer using white sauce instead of the traditional ricotta-egg mix in lasagna.
Adding cheddar to bechamel sauce makes a creamy, smooth, and delicious ricotta alternative for lasagna. Its customizable consistency and flavor make it an excellent choice when lacking ingredients.
9. Queso Fresco
This fresh, mild Mexican cheese has a crumbly texture, making it a suitable substitute for ricotta in lasagna. To achieve a smoother consistency, blend or mash the cheese before adding it to your lasagna.
10. Feta Cheese
While it has a stronger, tangier flavor than ricotta, feta cheese can be used as a substitute in lasagna. To reduce the intensity of its flavor, consider blending it with cottage cheese or cream cheese.
11. Ricotta Salata
A firmer, saltier version of ricotta, this cheese can be crumbled or grated and used as a substitute in lasagna. Mix it with a softer cheese like cottage cheese or cream cheese to achieve a creamier texture.
12. Pot Cheese
Similar to cottage cheese, pot cheese has a mild flavor and a slightly drier texture. It can be used as a ricotta substitute in lasagna, but you may need to add a little cream or milk to achieve the desired consistency.
13. Gervais Cheese
This French cream cheese has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a smooth, spreadable texture. It can be used as a substitute for ricotta cheese in lasagna, especially if you’re looking for a creamier alternative.
14. Farmer Cheese
Made from pressed cottage cheese, farmer cheese is a fresh cheese with a crumbly texture and a mild flavor. Blend or mash it to create a smoother consistency, and then use it as a ricotta substitute in lasagna.
15. Almond or Cashew Ricotta
For a dairy-free option, consider making a nut-based ricotta using soaked almonds or cashews, blended with lemon juice, salt, and a little water. This alternative offers a creamy, ricotta-like texture and a mild, nutty flavor that works well in lasagna.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use in lasagne instead of ricotta?
You can use a variety of substitutes for ricotta cheese in lasagne, such as cottage cheese, mascarpone cheese, or a mixture of grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Each substitute will offer a slightly different flavor and texture, so choose the one that best fits your taste preferences.
What can I use if I don’t have ricotta cheese?
If you don’t have ricotta cheese, you can substitute it with cottage cheese, cream cheese, or a mixture of grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. The texture and flavor may be slightly different, but the substitute should still work well in most recipes.
What do Italians use instead of ricotta?
In Italian cuisine, ricotta cheese is a popular ingredient in many dishes, but when it’s not available, Italians may substitute it with other soft cheeses like mascarpone, stracchino, or crescenza. These cheeses offer a similar creamy texture and mild flavor to ricotta.
What can I use instead of ricotta in pasta?
If you’re looking to substitute ricotta in a pasta dish, you can try using cottage cheese, goat cheese, or feta cheese. These cheeses will offer a similar creamy texture and can be used in a variety of pasta dishes, from lasagna to stuffed shells.
