Lasagna is one of the most delicious foods in Italian cuisine. It is creamy and simply overflowing with flavors that will leave you smacking your lips with joy. One of the core ingredients for authentic lasagna is ricotta cheese.
This type of cheese is made with whey proteins that are left over from the process of making other types of cheese. Ricotta is made from milk, vinegar, and cream, which is what accounts for its extremely creamy texture.
But what if you do not have any ricotta cheese for your lasagna? What are the best substitutes for ricotta cheese in lasagna? Well, we have compiled a list of some of the best ricotta cheese substitutes that you can try in your meal right away.
List Of Best Substitutes For Ricotta Cheese
Cream Cheese (14.5g)
Calories: 50.8
Fat: 5g
Sodium: 46.5mg
Carbohydrates: 0.8g
Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 0.5g
Protein: 0.9g
Vitamin A: 44.7mcg
Choline: 3.9mg
Vitamin E: 0.1mg
Substitute ratio: 1:1
Goats Cheese (28g)
Calories: 102
Protein: 6 grams
Fat: 8 grams
Vitamin A: 8% of the RDI
Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11% of the RDI
Calcium: 8% of the RDI
Phosphorus: 10% of the RDI
Copper: 8% of the RDI
Iron: 3% of the RDI
Substitute ratio: 1:1
Feta Cheese (40g)
Calories: 100
Protein: 6.2g
Fat: 8.1g
Saturated fat: 5.5g
Carbohydrate: 0.6g
Calcium: 144mg
Substitute ratio: 2:1
Ricotta Salata (57g)
Calories 150
Total Fat: 6.5g
Saturated Fat: 3.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 25mfg
Sodium: 790mg
Carbohydrate: 10g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 14g
Vitamin A: 4%
Calcium: 15%
Vitamin C: 0%
Iron: 0%
Substitute ratio: 1:1
Cottage Cheese (113g)
Calories: 81
Protein: 14 g
Carbs: 3 g
Fat: 1 g
Vitamin B12: 29% of the Daily Value (DV)
Sodium: 20% of the DV
Selenium: 19% of the DV
Riboflavin: 15% of the DV
Phosphorus: 13% of the DV
Calcium: 5% of the DV
Folate: 4% of the DV
Substitute ratio: 1:1
Ricotta Cheese Nutritional Value (124g)
Calories: 171
Total Fat: 9.8g
Saturated Fat: 6.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat: 2.9g
Cholesterol: 38mg
Sodium: 123mg
Total Carbohydrates: 6.4g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 0.4g
Protein: 14g
What Does Ricotta Cheese Taste Like?
Ricotta cheese is very creamy and melts extremely well, which is why it is often used as a key ingredient in lasagna. It has a very light flavor that can be paired with other cheeses without overwhelming their flavor.
This cheese also pairs very well with tomatoes and the two together make for a very bold and mouth-watering dish. This is also a great choice if you are a vegetarian, but want to get some protein in your diet.
This also has a much lower fat content than a lot of other cheeses, so if you are trying to cut back on calories, then this is a decent option. Ricotta cheese can also be used as the main cheese on a pizza, or you can grate it up and put it in a salad.
But what if you cannot find ricotta cheese and you need to find a substitute for your lasagna very quickly? Well, we have compiled a list of some great cheeses that have a similar texture and flavor to ricotta cheese.
Best Ricotta Cheese Substitutes
1. Cream Cheese
This is a good replacement for ricotta cheese, as it melts and behaves in much the same way as ricotta. This has a much stronger flavor than ricotta, so if you want to use it instead, then you should put less in, otherwise, it might really overwhelm the final dish.
This cheese is often smeared onto bread and cream cheese bagel are a common breakfast option all over the world. Cream cheese has a lot higher fat content than ricotta, so it might not be a wise choice if you are trying to cut back on calories.
2. Goats Cheese
This is a tangy alternative to ricotta cheese, but it is just as creamy and easy to mix with other cheeses. You can get various types of goat’s cheese, depending on how long you let it age. If it is aged longer, it is crumblier, whereas younger goats’ cheese is much creamier.
This will give your lasagna a much more potent flavor, so we would recommend that you use this cheese very sparingly. But if you get the balance just right, goat cheese will be a great compliment to the sweeter tomato that features heavily in the dish.
3. Feta Cheese
This is a cheese that is either made from sheep’s milk, goat’s milk, or a combination of the two. It is another very bold cheese that contains a lot of salt. You can use feta as a topping on pizza or grated on a salad.
Feta is another cheese that will offset the spicy tomato just nicely, although you will have to make sure that you get the measurements just right. Feta is very crumbly, and you’ll want to add it towards the end of your cooking session.
4. Ricotta Salata
This is another one that is made from sheep’s milk, and it is a very creamy and bitter cheese that will certainly pack a punch. You usually add this to milk and then mix it together to create a very thick paste that you can then add to your lasagna or pasta dish.
This cheese also works well when spread on toasted bread and can be a common accompaniment to a lot of breakfast options. This is a milder cheese, which is great if you want to mix it with other cheeses for texture rather than flavor.
5. Cottage Cheese
Now we end with a very cheese that is mild in flavor with a crumbly texture, very similar to goat and feta cheese. This is another low-fat cheese, so if you are trying to reduce the calorie content in your lasagna, then this is the ideal substitute.
Cottage cheese contains a lot of water, so you’ll have to make sure that it has been drained properly before you add it to your lasagna. To drain the cottage cheese adequately, press it into a colander until no more water comes out.
Popular Recipes That Call For Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta Hotcakes
This is a great little twist on a classic breakfast pancake, resulting in a creamy dessert with a hint of zest. This is given that sweet kick with fresh blood oranges and a little extra honey.
Baked Spinach And Ricotta Stuffed Shells
These are melt-in-your-mouth pasta shells cooked fresh and featuring delicious mild ricotta cheese. This is a great vegetarian meal that you can make in less than an hour.
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Now we have pasta that makes for a light and zesty summer meal. You can have this meal ready in 15 minutes and it comes with Parmesan cheese, spinach, and garlic.
Conclusion
Ricotta is the cornerstone of authentic Italian cuisine, and you might feel at a loss if you don’t have any in the refrigerator.
But don’t worry, all the ricotta cheese substitutes for lasagna that we have listed above are easily available and might make your final meal taste better.
