Vegan Cashew Ricotta Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan ricotta cheese made of? ›

In general, there are two main methods for making vegan ricotta: one with soy milk and the other with blended nuts and tofu. They are both delicious. However, we recommend you try the soy milk method, which yields ricotta that is ridiculously similar to real Italian ricotta.

Nuts, such as cashews, almonds, and macadamias, are commonly used in vegan cheese-making due to their creamy texture and high-fat content.

There are a few plant-based ricotta cheese brands and alternatives out there. I've used Tofutti ricotta and made my own tofu ricotta to make baked ziti, and both were good.

So what cheeses are vegetarian? Fresh cheeses like ricotta, mozzarella, paneer, cottage cheese, and cream cheese tend to be vegetarian by nature, requiring lemon juice or citric acid to coagulate instead of rennet. Otherwise, look for cheese that explicitly states that it was created with vegetarian rennet.

As vegan blog Wag Free Food notes, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut cream are popular ingredients to make vegan cheese. The high-fat content of coconut makes it easier to create a creamy, decadent, cheese-like product.

For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella. Eggs help prevent the ricotta from drying out and serve to bind the ricotta so it doesn't become runny.

Cashew nuts are a great alternative as a base for vegan cheese. They are low in saturated fat, taste great, and are a good source of protein. High oleic expeller pressed sunflower oil can be used for added creaminess in place of coconut oil.

Taste and Nutrition. Containing oilseed and plant milk, vegan cheeses are rich in minerals (magnesium) and antioxidants, and they possess anti-inflammatory properties, all of which protect against damage caused by free radicals.

In fact, some nutritionists recommend soaking raw cashews before dehydrating them to eat as a crunchy snack to aid in digestion and nutrient absorption. Cashews were one of the pioneering ingredients for vegan cheeses and creams.

Cottage cheese: As far as ricotta substitutes go, light and mild cottage cheese is your best bet. In fact, some people prefer to use cottage cheese because it has a similar flavor and fewer calories.

Is tofutti ricotta vegan? ›

- Dairy-Free, Vegan.

The cheese is made with a main ingredient of coconut oil and tapioca starch, this is a common pairing of main ingredients you'll find in mass produced vegan cheeses around the world.

Like many other types of cheese, authentic mozzarella uses animal rennet, a substance obtained from the stomach lining of young animals that have not yet been weaned. Many vegetarians and lactose intolerants cannot consume mozzarella and a variety of other classic European cheeses due to this restriction.

What Ingredients Are in Vegan Cheese? Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. You can also find cheeses that derive from agar, tapioca, peas and arrowroot.

Cheeses That Don't Use Rennet

"Many softer styles of cheese like mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and cream cheese use whey or another type of acid as their coagulant instead of rennet, so they will be safe for vegetarians," says Birnbaum.

Ingredients. Pasteurized Organic Whole Milk, Organic Vinegar, Sea Salt.