2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
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 at all. Now in Russia you can find several analog products that, if necessary, can play the role of ricotta.
A little about the product
Strictly speaking, ricotta really cannot even be called a cheese, since it is made from the whey left over from other types of cheese. Distinguished by a delicate creamy taste that has a slight hint of sweetness, it is slightly grainy in texture. 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 andcalled ricotta soft cheese, light cottage cheese, or even one of the varieties of curd cheese. However, no matter how it is called, 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 who lead an active lifestyle. A low calorie content allows you to include it in the menu for losing weight people to diversify the diet.
Replacement options
If you're wondering if ricotta can be substituted for recipes that call for it, the answer is yes. The cheese itself, although relatively inexpensive, will be very difficult to find in many stores, especially in rural areas. So just go shopping a little and choose one of the products below, which, in terms of taste, may well become analogues.
Cottage cheese
Regular cottage cheese may well be the answer to what you can replace ricotta in the recipe. If you choose a quality product, then in terms of its consistency and softness of taste, it is quite capable of replacing cheese. Although there are a few things to keep in mind. 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 beneficial for he alth. In general, using cottage cheese instead of ricotta is great when it needs to be used as a filling insmall quantities for dishes like lasagna or other that require mild cheese.
Sour cream
If you need to prepare a sauce or topping for a dish, then in the question of what can be replaced with ricotta, the answer will be a simple rustic sour cream. This product is made in an original way by fermentation, when lactic acid 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. The sauce with this ingredient goes especially well with vegetables, and also as a dip for crackers and chips, since sour cream sauce perfectly absorbs the tastes and aromas of various spices and herbs.
However, the interest in substitutes for ricotta most often arises in baked goods, as the cheese is found in a number of toppings for cakes and cookies. In this case, sour cream will indeed 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 it is worth buying the famous Japanese tofu cheese. It is obtained by fermenting soy milk, 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 only be used in dishes with ricotta after adding herbs and spices.
If you decide to replace the ricotta with tofu, then before using it, you need tosqueeze lightly, and then beat well with a blender so that the cheese begins to resemble ricotta in consistency. This replacement option is great for those who suffer from lactose intolerance, as well as those who are recommended to consume foods rich in protein, but with a small amount of carbohydrates and fat in their composition.
Mascarpone
Most often, housewives have a question about 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 can replace ricotta cheese: mascarpone is a cream in its consistency, which is made by adding citric, tartaric and acetic acid to 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 in their composition. Also, mascarpone is a noticeably fatter and thicker cheese, and therefore it needs to be lightly whipped before use to get a more suitable consistency.
Tips for housewives
Above, not all products were listed that can be the answer to the question of what can replace ricotta. If needed, cream cheese, paneer, pot cheese, and goat cheese are also great options. However,Before making the exact decision to replace, you should definitely think about what kind of dish you are preparing. It is depending on the desired option that an analogue is chosen, since they have different tastes and textures. So, mascarpone is perfect for baking, but paneer will be in perfect harmony with curry or vegetables. So before you make an exact decision, you need to focus not so much on what is on the store shelf in front of you, but on exactly what end result in the dish you want to get. Well, in order to make the replacement more creamy in texture, you should add a small amount of natural yogurt to it.
Conclusion
As you can see, if you want to find an analogue or replacement for Italian ricotta is quite simple. Yes, they may vary slightly in consistency, so they may need to be blended before adding to the dish, or even seasoned with herbs and spices. However, in cases where it is not possible to purchase real ricotta, then this substitution option will be the best way to prepare a delicious dish and not waste time making cheese yourself.
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