Is it possible to replace ricotta with cottage cheese? What to replace cheese with. Salad with soft whey cheese

In Italian cuisine recipes you can often find such an interesting ingredient as “Ricotta”. We suggest you figure out what this product is, how to use it and how to replace ricotta cheese.

What is Ricotta

"Habitat" of Ricotta cheese - recipes of Italian cuisine. Meanwhile, calling it cheese can only be conditional - in fact, the basis for the preparation of this dairy product is not milk, but whey, which is formed during the production of cheeses.
This soft cheese contains lactose, which gives it a slightly sweet taste. It is also rich in microorganisms valuable for the human body, in particular calcium, and is saturated with vitamins B and A. Its beneficial properties do not end there - this delicacy also contains proteins in an easily digestible form that can saturate the body with essential amino acids such as tryptophan and methionine. Also, this “Italian” is considered a dietary product; it should be part of the diet of a growing organism and an organism exposed to physical activity.

What do you eat ricotta with?

The range of use of this curd cheese has long crossed the boundaries of Italian cuisine and has become firmly entrenched in Mediterranean cuisine. At the same time, its delicate taste can be enjoyed in its pure form or with toast, or complemented with tomatoes and other vegetables. But that's not all. Pasta, lasagna, and pizza cannot do without it. There is also a special recipe for Italian Easter cake with this product. But it “looks” especially harmonious as part of desserts: cakes, mousses, pancakes, creams, to which it gives a special taste sophistication.

Dessert recipe with ricotta

As already mentioned, this dairy product is considered especially valuable when used in desserts. And we invite you to try a recipe called “Fiadone in Italian.” This is one of the most popular Italian desserts with an incredible vanilla-citrus aroma, amazing taste and absolute simplicity of preparation.
Required ingredients:

• corn starch (can be replaced with potato starch) - 1 tbsp. l.
• ricotta – 250 g
• granulated sugar – ¼ tbsp
• eggs – 3 pcs.
• salt - a pinch
• lemon zest – 1 pc.
• vanilla – 1 tsp.

Cooking method:

1. Let's start preparing our Italian dessert by whipping sugar and eggs until white. At this stage, you can adjust the taste of the dish with the amount of sugar. The indicated dosage will give the “golden mean” of sweetness and cheese taste, so you can reduce it if you prefer the taste of cheese or, on the contrary, increase it if the sweet taste is your priority;
2. then pour salt, starch, vanilla and zest into the egg-sugar mixture, beat well and add ricotta to the mixture;
3. Pour the resulting dough onto a baking sheet lined with paper and bake for 30-40 minutes at 180C. Watch the dessert and the color of the crust - it should be golden, and the fiadone itself should not burn;
4. Cut the finished dessert into squares or triangles.

Ricotta Salad Recipe

Another option for a successful dish with this product is salad. Try our gourmet chicken salad recipe.

Required ingredients:

• ricotta – 250 g
• water – 3 tbsp. l.
• apples (red) – 3 pcs.
• honey – 1 tsp.
• chicken fillet (boiled) – 3 pcs.
• olive oil – 6 tbsp. l.
• green salad
• ground black pepper
• grainy mustard – 2 tsp.
• white wine vinegar – 1 tsp.
• Quail eggs (boiled) – 2-3 pcs

Cooking method:

1. Let's make a dressing by mixing oil, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper, honey and water;
2. Cut the washed apples in half, cut out the core and cut into thin pieces. Cut the chicken into thin strips. Grind the cheese with a fork. We tear the salad into pieces with our hands;
3. Place the meat with apples and salad on a dish, top with ricotta, pour over the dressing and garnish with egg halves.

How to replace Ricotta

Since this product is still “overseas” and is not available to everyone, many housewives, reading such recipes, wonder what can replace it. Of course, it will not be possible to completely compensate for its unique taste, but, fortunately, it is not irreplaceable. Recipes where this Italian cheese is replaced with soft cottage cheese, including home-made cottage cheese, or curd cheese, for example, Almette, will be harmonious in taste.

In Italy, they treat all products very carefully and use them to the maximum without leaving waste. Italian chefs have found use for whey and created amazingly delicious ricotta cheese. We will talk about the intricacies of preparing delicious dishes using cheese.

The main product for making cheese is whey. The liquid that remains after preparing traditional cheese.

There are several types of ricotta:

• the variety produced from sheep whey is called Ricotta Romano;
• Ricotta di Bufala is made from buffalo milk and whey;
• salted variety, aged for 3 months – Ricotta salata;
• baked fresh cheese until the crust turns brown – Ricotta infornata;
• smoked version – Ricotta affumicata;
• aged cheese, produced over the course of a year from various types of whey (cow, sheep, goat, buffalo) - Ricotta forte.

Composition, calorie content and nutritional value

The cheese has nutritional qualities due to its amazing composition, which includes:

• vitamins (A, E), responsible for the condition of the skin and eye activity;
• potassium;
• B vitamins that normalize the activity of the nervous system;
• zinc;
• calcium is the main value of the product, which is responsible for the skeletal system. Helps improve the condition of nails and hair;
• vitamins (D, K);
• Selenium, which helps improve muscle activity.

Ricotta has low calorie content compared to most cheeses. Therefore, it is ideal for dietary nutrition. Calorie content is only 174 kcal per 100 g.

The same mass of product contains:

• proteins – 11 g;
• carbohydrates – 3 g;
• fats – 13 g.

What do you eat with ricotta cheese?

Smoked and aged varieties of ricotta are eaten like hard cheeses that are familiar to everyone.

Fresh ricotta is cut into pieces and served with herbs, bread or vegetables, complemented with wine.

Used as a base for:

• cheesecake;
• cream;
• filler for coarse pasta.

Cheese is used to replace cream and sauces are prepared based on it. The product serves as an excellent filling for ravioli, meat pies, lasagna and pizza. Ricotta is a wonderful ingredient for salads and desserts.

What can you substitute for ricotta cheese?

If you have decided on a dish, but could not find ricotta, then you can easily replace it with:

• cottage cheese;
• sour cream;
• fromage blanc (buttery cheese);
• tofu (vegetarian cheese);
• mascarpone;
• buttermilk cheese;
• cream cheese;
• goat cheese;
• paneer

What smell and taste does the product have?

The cheese tastes sweetish. The texture is curd-cream with a white-cream tint. The aroma is unusual and at the same time delicate.

Pasta with ricotta and tomatoes

Many people do not know what can be made from ricotta cheese. We recommend starting your acquaintance with the product with the simplest thing - by preparing pasta.

Ingredients:

• salt;
• spaghetti – 550 g;
• onions – 2 pcs.;
• olive oil – 25 ml;
• hot pepper – 1 pc.;
• black pepper – 0.3 teaspoon;
• tomatoes – 550 g;
• garlic – 3 cloves;
• ricotta cheese – 220 g.

Preparation:

1. Chop the onions. Chop the garlic cloves. Remove the skin from the tomatoes. To make it easier to remove, pour boiling water over the tomatoes.
2. Pour oil into a saucepan and place onion cubes. After a minute, add the garlic cloves. Add a pod of hot pepper. Fry.
3. Place tomatoes. Simmer uncovered for 8 minutes. The fire should be minimal.
4. Crumble the ricotta and place in a saucepan. Salt and sprinkle with pepper. Stir. Simmer for 3 minutes.

Salad with soft whey cheese

A tasty and original appetizer will serve as a good snack and will go perfectly with any dinner dish. Salad with ricotta cheese and beets is a great option for the whole family.

Ingredients:

• beetroot – 120 g;
• sugar – 190 g;
• arugula – 15 g;
• balsamic vinegar – 190 ml;
• corn salad – 15 g;
• pine nuts – 5 g;
• ricotta – 110 g;
• salt – 2 g;
• dill – 4 g.

Preparation:

1. Place the beetroot in the oven and bake for 1.5 hours. The temperature will be 165 degrees. Then smoke in a smokehouse for half an hour. You can even build a smokehouse at home. To do this, take an old pan and place sawdust on the bottom. Place beetroot in a sieve. Cover with a lid and put on fire.
2. Chop the lettuce. Chop the arugula. Mix.
3. Chop the dill and add chopped cheese. Mix. Add salt and roll into a ball.
4. Pour vinegar into the saucepan. Sweeten. Simmer until the mixture becomes thick and sauce-like.
5. Place a cheese ball on top of the arugula. Add chopped beets. Pour over the prepared sauce. Decorate with nuts.

Cheesecakes for breakfast

This type of cheesecake has a delicious aroma and taste. The crust is crispy and the flesh is tender. Try to prepare the proposed version and cheesecakes will become a favorite dish in your home.

Ingredients:

• powdered sugar – 65 g;
• corn starch - 4 tbsp. spoons;
• ricotta cheese – 250 g;
• vegetable oil – 5 tbsp. spoon;
• Philadelphia cheese – 120 g;
• yolk – 1 pc.;
• flour – 45 g.

Preparation:

1. Drain the ricotta. To make the cheesecakes soft, place half of them in a sieve and grind. Mix with the remaining amount of cheese.
2. Sprinkle with powder and mix. Add flour. Knead. Pour in the yolk. Mix the prepared mixture with Philadelphia. You will get a dense mass.
3. Form into a sausage. Cut into 11 pieces. Roll each part into a puck and dip in starch.
4. Fry in oil over low heat until golden brown.

Ricotta cheese cream for cake

The creamy mass will be airy and non-greasy. Suitable for any desserts.

Preparation:

1. Chop the onion. Chop the pumpkin pulp. Mix. Pour in water and olive oil. Add some salt. Sprinkle with pepper. Mix. Place on a baking sheet. Place in an oven at 200 degrees to bake. Hold for 27 minutes.
2. Place butter in a saucepan. Add flour and stir. Fry for 3 minutes. Pour milk in a stream. Mix. Cook for 7 minutes. The mass will become thick. Add chopped ricotta. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Stir.
3. Place spinach in a shallow saucepan and add a large spoonful of water. Sprinkle with pepper and salt. Stir and simmer for 7 minutes.
4. Place half of the pumpkin in the bottom of the pan. Cover with some of the spinach. Pour in half the sauce. Sprinkle with salt and cheese shavings. Cover with lasagne sheets. Scatter over the squash, then the spinach. Pour over the sauce. Cover with lasagna sheets and sprinkle with cheese.
5. Bake at 180 degrees oven. Time – 37 minutes.

Cookie dessert with fruit and cheese

This exquisite delicacy will decorate any festive feast.

Ingredients:

• ricotta cheese – 550 g;
• strawberries – 420 g;
• banana – 210 g;
• cookies – 130 g;
• honey – 25 g;
• vanillin;
• coconut flakes.

Preparation:

1. Drizzle honey over ricotta. Sprinkle with vanilla. Slice the banana. If the strawberries are large, chop them. Break the cookies.
2. Place the ingredients in a tall glass with a long stem. The first layer is cheese. Strawberries on top, then banana. Sprinkle with cookies. Cover with ricotta. Sprinkle with coconut flakes.

Italian Ricotta cheese is often used to prepare various dishes: salads, lasagna, pizza, all kinds of desserts and many others. It is good both in combination with other products and as a rich dish.

Curious! Ricotta cannot definitely be called cheese, since this product is not made from milk, but from whey.

You can often hear that ricotta is a soft cheese, light cottage cheese or curd cheese. No matter what this product is called, it does not become less tasty. In addition to its taste, ricotta contains a large amount of vitamins and microelements that are good for health.

Fact! Ricotta has a slightly sweet taste due to the lactose it contains.

What can you replace ricotta with?

Although ricotta is not an expensive product, it is not always found on the shelves. What to do if the recipe has already been selected, but this ingredient cannot be found? In this case, the choice is not difficult to make, since there are more than enough alternative options.

Cottage cheese. It has a mild taste, which makes it similar to ricotta. However, cottage cheese is less plastic and contains less fat. This makes it a healthier substitute for cheese. Cottage cheese can be used as a substitute for ricotta to make the filling for lasagna or other dishes that require mild cheese.

Advice! In order to remove excess whey, the cottage cheese must be lightly squeezed before adding to the dish.

Sour cream. Sour cream is made by fermenting natural cream with lactic acid bacteria. Ricotta can be replaced with sour cream to make sauces. To tone down the sour cream flavor a little, you can add garlic, herbs, and various spices to the sauce. In addition, sour cream can be added to cream for cakes and desserts.

Fromage Blanc. A buttery cheese with a structure similar to yogurt. It has an interesting and unusual taste with a slight sweetness. It is very rare in stores due to its high cost. Ricotta can be substituted in desserts or as an addition to fruit. Can also be added to various sauces.

Tofu. Tofu cheese is made by pressing fermented soy milk. Before adding tofu to dishes, like cottage cheese, it must be squeezed out of excess whey and lightly blended with a blender to obtain a consistency similar to ricotta. Tofu is used to make lasagna, ravioli and various baked goods.

Interesting! Tofu is a popular product among vegetarians and people suffering from cow's milk intolerance. This cheese also has a high protein content with a small amount of fat and carbohydrates.

Mascarpone. Like ricotta, mascarpone originates from Italy. Mascarpone is a thick creamy mass with a pleasant creamy taste. Mascarpone cheese, unlike ricotta, is quite fatty. Therefore, people watching their figure should limit its use. Mascarpone is usually added to various cakes and desserts. All kinds of sauces are made on its basis.

Buttermilk cheese. This cheese is not often found on the store shelf. It has a mild taste with a slight sourness. In appearance it resembles a cream. Buttermilk cheese can replace ricotta in cheesecakes and as a topping for pasta.

Cream cheese. Due to the fact that cream cheese has a soft, creamy structure, it can easily replace ricotta in various desserts and sauces. However, since ricotta is made only from milk and cream cheese is made from cream and milk, it has a higher fat percentage. Some manufacturers offer reduced-fat cream cheese for sale, but the taste of this product differs from the original.

Goat cheese. In appearance, this cheese is similar to Fromage Blanc. Goat cheese can be used in place of ricotta in desserts or as an addition to fruit. The main condition is the freshness of the goat cheese. Only fresh cheese will taste similar to ricotta.

Fact! Goat cheese can be consumed by people who are intolerant to cow's milk.

Paneer. The cheese comes from India. Paneer is very similar to ricotta not only in its appearance and bite, but also in the way it is made. It is produced by heating cow's milk and adding a small amount of lemon juice to it. Suitable for grilled dishes, as well as various fillings and desserts.

Interesting! Paneer is suitable for vegetarians as no rennet is added during its preparation.

How to make your own ricotta

If you couldn’t find ricotta in the store, and you can’t replace it with anything, you can cook it at home yourself.

To make ricotta there are several simple recipes:

Homemade ricotta recipe 1

• A package of yogurt or full-fat kefir must be placed in the freezer until completely frozen. The colander is placed on the pan and covered with gauze.
• After this, the package with yogurt or kefir needs to be cut and the contents placed in a colander. After the mass has melted, the whey will drain into the pan, and the curd mass will remain in the colander.
• Then, the resulting mass should be squeezed out of the remaining whey and transferred to a resealable container.
  

Homemade ricotta recipe 2

• To prepare ricotta you will need: pasteurized milk - 1 liter, 22% cream - 0.3 liters, salt - 1/2 teaspoon, juice of half a lemon. Mix milk, cream and salt in a saucepan. Then it is placed on low heat until it boils.
• The mixture must be stirred periodically. After the mixture begins to boil, lemon juice is added to it. When the milk curdles and begins to separate from the whey, remove the pan from the heat and cover with a towel.
• When the mass has cooled down a little, it must be transferred to a colander covered with gauze and left for about an hour. During this time, the serum should disappear. In order to remove it completely, the mass should be squeezed out in gauze and transferred to a closed container.
• For a richer taste, you can add even more parmesan, grated on a fine grater.

As you can see, you can easily replace ricotta with either store-bought products or homemade cheese. In any case, the finished dish will decorate the table.

We all sometimes cook overseas dishes to surprise our loved ones and guests. All kinds of lasagna, beignets, cheesecakes, crispelle... In Italy, an ingredient with an intricate name is added to these dishes - ricotta. What is this product and how can you replace ricotta if you don’t have it on hand? It turns out everything is very simple.

What is Ricotta?

Ricotta is a dairy product that is made from whey. Is of Italian origin. Some call ricotta soft cheese, others – light cottage cheese, and still others – curd cheese. Thanks to the lactose it contains, it has a sweet taste. This product is rich in calcium and contains vitamins A and B. Ricotta is low-calorie, so those who are watching their figure can safely consume it.

How to use ricotta?

Ricotta is eaten both in its pure form and added to a huge number of dishes: lasagna, salads, pastas, ravioli, pizzas. It is actively used in the preparation of sweet dishes: cheesecakes, pancakes, creams and much more. What if you can’t find ricotta, what can you replace it with?

What to replace Ricotta with?

This product cannot always be found on store shelves, and it is not cheap. Many housewives are looking for an equivalent replacement. So what can you use instead of Ricotta?

Ricotta can be replaced with:

1. Soft low-fat cottage cheese (for example 5% fat)
2. Curd cheese (without fillers)
3. Extra heavy cream with lemon juice
4. Homemade homemade cottage cheese

How to make your own ricotta?

Store-bought ricotta can be replaced with homemade one. Let's look at several popular recipes for making ricotta:

1. Place the package of yogurt in the freezer. After it has frozen, cut the packaging, take a pan, and place a colander lined with gauze on it. Place the frozen yogurt in a colander and leave to thaw overnight. During this time, the whey will drain into the pan, and a curdled mass will remain in the colander. We collect the gauze into a knot and squeeze out the mass.
2. For 4 servings we will need: 1 l. pasteurized milk, 300 ml. cream 22%, 1/2 tsp. salt, juice of half a lemon. Mix milk and cream, add salt. Place on low heat, stirring occasionally. Bring the mixture to a boil. When the mixture boils, add lemon juice and stir well. When the curdled milk leaves the whey, remove the pan from the heat and cover with a towel. The mixture needs to be allowed to brew, so we transfer it to a colander with gauze. You need to wait for the whey to disappear (we wait about an hour), collect the gauze into a bundle and squeeze out the resulting mass. Homemade ricotta is ready.

How to replace ricotta cheese Ricotta cheese comes from Italy. It has a rich, creamy, somewhat sweet flavor and a grainy texture. It is prepared by processing the whey left over from the preparation of other cheeses. Ricotta cheese is used in a variety of ways. It is used to make cheese paste, added to lasagna, and used in desserts, casseroles, cannoli, pizza and many other dishes. However, if you need ricotta cheese for cooking, but you don’t have it, you can do without it by replacing it with other ingredients 1. Cottage cheese Cottage cheese has a mild taste, which is similar to ricotta, only it is less plastic. Cottage cheese is lower in fat and calories, making it a healthier alternative to cheese. Cottage cheese can be used in place of ricotta when preparing the filling for lasagna and other dishes that call for a mild-flavored cheese, just before using it, it should be squeezed a little to get rid of excess whey. 2. Fromage Blanc This is an expensive, buttery and very tasty cheese that has the consistency of yogurt. Finding it in stores is quite difficult. It has a tangy, slightly sweet flavor and makes a great substitute for ricotta cheese. Its name, fromage blanc, means “white cheese” in French. It is commonly used in desserts or with fruits, and in making sauces with herbs and spices. You can beat it a little before using it. 3. Sour cream Sour cream is made by fermenting natural cream with the help of lactic acid bacteria. Sour cream is a good substitute for ricotta when you need to make sauces for vegetables, crackers and chips. To improve the taste of sour cream sauce, you can add herbs, spices and other products to it. It is also used as a topping for cookies, cakes, and baked potatoes. 4. Tofu cheese Tofu is produced by fermenting soy milk, after which the resulting mass is pressed. Tofu is used instead of ricotta after adding spices and aromatic herbs. This cheese is very popular among vegans, as well as those who are intolerant to regular cow's milk. Before using tofu, just like cottage cheese, you should squeeze it a little. After this, you need to beat it with a blender so that its consistency becomes similar to ricotta. Tofu can now be used as a filling for lasagna and pasta, as well as in baking and making ravioli. Tofu is high in protein but low in fat and carbohydrates, making it a better choice than regular cheese. 5. Buttermilk Cheese Buttermilk cheese is a very good substitute for ricotta as a topping for macaroni and cheesecakes. Although it is rarely available in stores, you can easily make it yourself. To do this, take a colander and put several layers of gauze on the bottom. Then you need to place a colander on a large saucepan, pour the buttermilk into it and let the liquid drain. It is better to put the pan in the refrigerator and wait until the mass remaining in the colander takes on the appearance of cheese. Buttermilk cheese has a mild and somewhat sour flavor and a creamy texture. 6. Goat cheese Only fresh goat cheese can be used as a substitute for ricotta; old goat cheese is no longer suitable, as it will have a stronger taste. It is good to use with fresh fruit or as a topping for desserts. The consistency of fresh goat cheese is similar to fromage blanc. It is also suitable for those who cannot tolerate cow's milk. 7. Potted (curd) cheese Potted cheese is similar to cottage cheese. It has the same crumbly and dry texture, mild taste and fresh aroma. It is called pot roast because it is cooked in a pot on the stove. It contains a certain amount of whey, but there is not as much of it as in cottage cheese. The cheese is soft and flavorful, but spoils quickly. You can add herbs and spices to it and use it instead of ricotta in a variety of dishes. 8. Mascarpone Mascarpone is also an Italian cheese. It is a cream and is made using citric, acetic and tartaric acid. This white cheese is used in the preparation of desserts such as tiramisu or wine foam cream. Unlike ricotta, mascarpone has a somewhat tart taste, so it is best used in dishes that contain very flavorful ingredients, such as garlic. Mascarpone is thicker than ricotta, so you can lightly beat it in a blender before using it. However, this cheese is much richer. 9. Cream Cheese Cream cheese is a good substitute for ricotta due to its soft, creamy texture. The only difference is that it is much fatter. Ricotta is made only from milk, and cream cheese is made from milk and cream. This cheese is good to use when preparing lasagna, cheesecakes, various desserts, and also as a spread. It is especially delicious with nut bread. You can find medium-fat or low-fat cream cheese on sale. 10. Paneer Paneer is an Indian cheese made by heating cow's milk and adding lemon juice to it. This cheese is very similar to ricotta, except that it is made at a higher temperature. In Indian dishes it is usually used with spinach or peas. Paneer is perfect for vegetarians as no rennet is added during its preparation. It can be used for stuffing, curry, grilling and also in desserts.