Dairy-Free Ricotta Cheese Recipe for Vegans

Going without cheese isn't easy. Ricotta cheese has a dairy-free option. Whether you're vegan, on a low-fat diet, or just cutting out dairy, this recipe will help you get your cheese fix without breaking your diet.

Healthy and light, this ricotta cheese substitution is great for pasta dishes like lasagna, manicotti, and ravioli, and it also works well in vegetable bakes and casseroles. It is also refreshing as a cool and creamy addition to a fresh salad. While most recipes with tofu call for you to drain it, you do not need to do so for this recipe; just open the box.

I Tried All the Vegan Cheese Products at Trader Joe’s So You Don’t Have To

Choosing Tofu for Dairy-Free Ricotta

There are two major types of tofu: silken and regular tofu. They come in a variety of textures: extra-soft, soft, medium, medium-firm, firm, extra-firm, and super firm. Non-silken tofu is also known as regular tofu. This recipe specifically calls for extra-firm silken tofu. You may find that silken tofu is packaged differently than regular tofu, which means silken tofu may be in a different area of the grocery store. Because silken tofu does not require refrigeration, you may have to look harder to find it. You'll also find both solid and crumbled varieties of silken tofu. The best option to go with is drained and crumbled. Although this recipe lists instructions to mash the tofu with a fork, buying it crumbled will help the remaining ingredients combine with it better, and create a more uniform consistency that some prefer with ricotta cheese. Some vegan ricotta cheese recipes call for blending, but this one does not. If you like a smoother texture, you can blend the ingredients together.