Ricotta cheese, which is now actively used for cooking both main dishes and desserts, came to Russia from Italy. However, if you buy it in a store, you can easily purchase a low-quality product that will only spoil the taste of food. That is why it is very important to know how to replace ricotta in cooking so that it does not affect the final result. Now in Russia you can find several analog products that, if necessary, can fulfill the role of ricotta.
A little about the product
Strictly speaking, ricotta really can’t even be called cheese, because it is made from whey left over from other types of cheese. Characterized by a delicate creamy taste, which has a slight note of sweetness, it is a bit grainy in its consistency. The process of making ricotta can be understood even from the name itself. If you translate this word from Italian, you get "re-cooked."
All this has led to the fact that culinary experts cannot agree and call ricotta soft cheese, light cottage cheese or even one of the varieties of cottage cheese. However, no matter how they call it, the result is still the same - this product is considered one of the most tender and delicious in its category. In addition, it is filled with a huge amount of useful vitamins and minerals, which are very useful for children and people leading an active lifestyle. And low calorie content allows you to include it in the menu for losing weight people to diversify the diet.
Replacement Options
If you are wondering if it is possible to replace ricotta in recipes that require its presence, then the answer will be quite positive. Cheese itself, although it is relatively inexpensive, however, to find it in many stores, especially in rural areas, will be very difficult. So you just have to go shopping a bit and choose one of the products below, which by their taste can well become analogues.
Cottage cheese
Ordinary cottage cheese may well be the answer to what can be replaced with ricotta in the recipe. If you choose a quality product, then by its consistency and soft taste it is quite capable of replacing cheese. Although you should consider several features. So, ricotta is more plastic and contains a much higher amount of fat, so in the end the dish may turn out to be a bit dry. However, cottage cheese is more healthy. In general, the use of cottage cheese instead of ricotta is perfect in cases where it needs to be used as a filling in small quantities for dishes like lasagna or others that require cheese with a mild flavor.
Sour cream
If you want to make sauce or topping for a dish, then in the question of what can be replaced with ricotta, the answer will be a simple village sour cream. This product is made originally by fermentation, when sour-milk bacteria are added to natural cream. However, since sour cream has a very liquid consistency, it can be used to replace ricotta in liquid dishes. Especially successful sauce with this ingredient is suitable for vegetables, as well as a dip for crackers and chips, as sour cream sauce perfectly combines the tastes and aromas of various spices and herbs.
However, the most common interest in how ricotta can be replaced arises in baking, since this cheese is part of a number of toppings for cakes and cookies. In this case, sour cream will really be the most suitable option.
Tofu cheese
If we turn to the question of what can replace ricotta in baking, as well as in a number of other dishes for vegans, then you should buy the famous Japanese tofu cheese. It is obtained by soy milk fermentation, and then the resulting mass is pressed and soaked for a long time. However, it should be borne in mind that this product is characterized by an almost complete lack of taste, and therefore it can be used in dishes with ricotta only after adding herbs and spices.
If you decide to replace the ricotta with tofu, then you need to squeeze it slightly before use, and then beat well with a blender so that the consistency of the cheese starts to resemble ricotta. This replacement option is perfect for those who suffer from lactose intolerance, as well as those who are recommended to consume foods that are rich in protein, but which contain a small amount of carbohydrates and fat.
Mascarpone
The most common question among housewives is whether ricotta can be replaced with mascarpone. In fact, this replacement option will be quite successful, since this soft cheese is also of Italian origin and is often used in the preparation of a number of national desserts. However, some features of this product should be taken into account before deciding exactly what ricotta cheese can be replaced with: mascarpone is a cream in its consistency, which is made by adding citric, tartaric, and acetic acid to the raw materials.
Because of this, mascarpone has a very tart taste. Therefore, they should be replaced with ricotta only in those dishes that have products with a strong taste and aroma. Mascarpone is also a noticeably more fatty and thicker cheese, and therefore, before use, it must be slightly beaten to obtain a more suitable consistency.
Tips for housewives
Not all products that could answer the question of how to replace ricotta were listed above. If necessary, cream cheese, panir, potato and goat cheese will also be excellent options. However, before making the exact decision to replace, you should definitely think about which dish you are preparing. It is depending on the desired option that the analogue is selected, since they have different tastes and consistencies. So, a mascarpone is perfect for baking, but a panir will be advantageously in harmony with curry or vegetables. So before you make the exact decision, you need to focus not so much on what is on the shelf in front of you, but on exactly what the final result in the dish you want to get. Well, in order to make the replacement more creamy in texture, it is worth adding a small amount of natural yogurt to it.
Conclusion
As you can see, if you want to find an analog or replacement for Italian ricotta, it’s quite simple. Yes, they may vary slightly in consistency, so they may need to be broken with a blender before adding to the dish or even seasoned with herbs and spices. However, in cases where it is not possible to purchase a real ricotta, such a substitute option will be the best way to prepare a delicious dish and not waste time making cheese yourself.