Are you looking for a dairy free or vegan friendly substitute for ricotta cheese? In this article you will find the best ricotta alternatives no matter what you are making.
So whether you are making a sweet dessert, or savory dinner, you will find exactly what you can use in your particular recipe.
You won’t need a lot of ingredients or extra time, so these ricotta subs will help you get your recipe finished in no time!
So what are the best dairy free substitutes for ricotta cheese?
The top non-dairy ricotta substitutes are silken tofu, mashed bananas, and avocado.
Make sure to read up for how to best use each of these alternatives, as well as how to get them to taste as similar to ricotta cheese as possible.
Non Dairy and Vegan Friendly Ricotta Cheese Alternatives
Ricotta is a soft cheese with a mild, pleasant flavor. It’s quite versatile and can be found in everything from breakfast recipes, to dinner and dessert. While most popular for pasta dishes like lasagna and manicotti, it’s also used for filling crepes and even cheesecake.
No matter what you are making, if you need a dairy free ricotta alternative, you have a few options. The key to using a replacement ingredient is to achieve a similar texture and flavor. And any of these options will provide your recipe with exactly that.
Silken Tofu
The best all around dairy free substitute for ricotta cheese is a firm, silken tofu. It provides a texture quite similar to ricotta cheese and can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.
To achieve the right flavor you will want to make a couple additions, depending on the type of recipe you are making.
When using silken tofu in a savory dish, such as lasagna or manicotti, add a dash of seasoned salt and a quality olive oil. This combo will pair wonderfully in any savory dish that calls for ricotta cheese.
If you are using silken tofu in a sweet recipe, simply add a touch of lemon juice before adding it to your other ingredients.
Note: When subbing for ricotta it’s important to use silken tofu. Regular tofu’s consistency is too thick too be suitable as a ricotta alternative.
Equivalent
1 cup of silken tofu equals 1 cup of ricotta cheese
Mashed Bananas
Mashed bananas are a great way to add a creamy texture and wonderful flavor when replacing ricotta cheese.
Mashed banana is a versatile vegan friendly option that can be used in place of ricotta in all types of recipes. While I prefer it in sweet dishes, it can be used in savory recipes as well.
Keep in mind that the flavor of banana will be present in your final dish so consider how well it will pair with the other ingredients in your recipe.
Use ripe bananas and mash them before adding to the rest of your recipe.
Equivalent
3 ripe mashed bananas equals 1 cup of ricotta cheese
Avocado
Avocado is another excellent dairy free replacement for ricotta that can be used in sweet or savory dishes. Avocado has a pleasant, mild flavor that works equally well in dinner or dessert, so it is a great option for any recipe that calls for ricotta.
Select a ripe avocado and mash it before adding it to the rest of your ingredients. The average, medium sized avocado equals about one cup when mashed.
Equivalent
1 medium avocado, mashed equals 1 cup of ricotta
Bottom Line
You can replace ricotta cheese in any type of recipe with each of these dairy free options. They are a quick and easy way to make a recipe vegan friendly. While I prefer silken tofu, as it is such a versatile option, equally suited for sweet or savory dishes, mashed banana or avocado are both great options as well.
The key is to get your conversion ratio right and to use high quality ingredients. Steer clear of regular tofu though, as it’s consistency is not suitable as a ricotta substitute.