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Vegan Ricotta Cheese Recipe

Last Updated: October 28, 2020 By Linnie 1 Comment

 
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PINTEREST IMAGE with words "Plant Based Ricotta Cheese" Overhead shot of Vegan Ricotta Cheese ingredients

Vegan Ricotta Cheese using staple pantry ingredients. Whether you are following a plant-based diet or you are simply out of ricotta cheese and want to make some lasagna, this recipe is for you.

(Gluten-Free, Plant-Based, Vegan, Vegetarian, Low Carb)

Vegan Ricotta Cheese being used in a stuffed zucchini boat recipe

At this point majority of the world is in the thick of it of ‘what we shall not name’. But I do want to help people be able to make some staple dishes using some basic ingredients.

We’ve noticed there are quite a few people trying to make their own taco sauce. We are there with you guys.

We recently made some oatmeal cookies using flax eggs because that is what was in the pantry. Major benefits to being plant-based right now.

TIP: Baking weekends have been implemented in our household and I strongly recommend it as it is good for the soul.

So when we pulled together some lasagna the other night we had to make a batch of our vegan ricotta cheese. Fortunately it requires very few ingredients and they should be all sitting in the pantry right now.

Or if you are fortunate and have access to zucchini right now be sure to check out out Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats.

How to make ricotta cheese without dairy? AKA Vegan Ricotta Cheese

All you need is three main ingredients: Cashews, Nutritional Yeast and Lemon Juice

Alongside salt and water to make it.

It’s actually extremely close to our vegan cheese spread.

Soak the cashews in water for AT LEAST two hours – ideally if you can soak them overnight is best though. Add the rest of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse it until it’s smooth and the consistency of traditional ricotta.

The 5 Ingredients you'll need for Vegan Ricotta Cheese

Can I only use cashews for vegan cheese? What is vegan cheese made out of?

You 100% can use other nuts. Our family personally always has cashews on hand as they are my favorite snack but there are various other nuts that you can use.

Type of nuts you can use in replacement: Blanched no skin on almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds are all really good alternatives. I do find that nuts without skins are the best so if using almonds try perhaps the slivered skins removed types OR soak and peel off the almond skins that way. If you aren’t picky about the texture of the ricotta then it all doesn’t really matter.

If however you are looking for it to look and texture wise be really similar to traditional ricotta. No skins.

So what is vegan cheese made out of? All of the above. I’ve also seen soybeans, tapioca and rice flour in some vegan cheeses as well. But since our goal is to make this out of pantry ingredients. Thought we would keep it simple.. we like simple.

Ingredients about to be pulsed in the food processor to make the Vegan Ricotta Cheese

All our recipes you can make using this dairy free ricotta cheese.

We’ve made quite a few recipes over the years with this base. It’s actually similar to our vegetarian meat replacement, once you you find something you enjoy as a good replacement AND it’s simple. You tend to use it a lot.

  • Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats (Image below)
  • Vegan Cheese Dip
  • Vegan Taco Dip
  • Vegan Parmesan Cheese
  • Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce

One random thing we’ve realized is we don’t have a traditional lasagna recipe but we do have our crockpot lasagna recipe AND this zucchini noodle lasagna so I guess the point I’m trying to make.

We’ll make a point to sharing our vegan lasagna recipe using our vegetarian meat replacement because it’s fabulous and a fantastic recipe to make during ‘what we shall not name’.

Vegan Ricotta Cheese in our Italian Stuffed zucchini boats

easy, quick, delicious, healthy, recipe

Vegan Ricotta Cheese Recipe

Condiments

Gluten-Free, Plant-Based, Vegan, Vegetarian, Low Carb

Italian

Vegan Ricotta Cheese using staple pantry ingredients. Whether you are following a plant-based diet or you are simply out of ricotta cheese and want to make some lasagna, this recipe is for you.
ITALIAN VEGETARIAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS with Vegan Ricotta Cheese
Print Recipe

Yield: 2

Prep Time:120 min

Cook Time:0 min

Total Time:120 min

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cashews
  • 2 Tablespoons concentrated lemon juice (fresh lemon juice works also)
  • 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2-3 Tablespoons water

Directions:

  • 1. In a small bowl add cashews, cover water over cashews. Allow to soak for at least 2 hours, best if overnight. Drain cashews of water after soaking.
  • 2. Add soaked and drained cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, sea salt, to a food processor.
  • 3. Pulse on high for 15 seconds, scrape sides, continue to pulse until ingredients are combined. If a little thick add a Tablespoon of water at a time until it reaches the desired consistency mimicking ricotta cheese.

Author: Linnie

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 826
Other nutrition information: Total Fat: 63.5g , Saturated Fat: 10.7g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 10.7g , Monounsaturated Fat: 37g , Cholesterol: 0mg , Sodium: 21mg , Potassium: 774mg , Total Carb: 48g , Dietary Fiber: 6.1g , Sugars: 6.9g , Protein: 27g
Recipe, images, and text © Veggie Balance

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Filed Under: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Low Sugar, Plant Based, Sauces & Condiments, Vegan, Vegetarian

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Comments

  1. Laura says

    May 22, 2020 at 11:39 pm

    Oh wow! This is great! I can hardly wait to make my own cheese anything. I have not been to the grocery store since March 14 and I will not be going anytime soon.
    I do not have lemon except a few growing outside which is very exciting. So I will use apple cider vinegar with the mother. I am sooooooooo happy.
    I just love your recipes and I appreciate all your hard work. Take care…

    Reply

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Favorite things include traveling the world, chocolate and a huge plate of nachos.

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