The Best Cottage Cheese Alternative That Matches Its Taste And Texture

Sometimes a grocery list isn't enough to keep you from forgetting delicious ingredients (namely, the high-protein wonder that is cottage cheese) during a trip to the market. To spare you the hassle of running back out, a suitable stand-in does exist whenever you're in a pinch. We present: ricotta.

Although cottage cheese is made from milk curds and ricotta is crafted from whey, the two dairy products do have a lot in common. In addition to sharing an equally pearly color, the cheeses boast a similar consistency that's creamy as well as moist. Evidently, this makes ricotta pretty interchangeable in recipes, even if it does have finer curds than cottage cheese. Yet, its nearly identical flavor profile is really what allows the cheese to act as an excellent alternative. After all, much like cottage cheese, ricotta has a mild and milky flavor profile.

As for which exact dishes lend themselves to being replaced with ricotta, no-bake recipes are a great starting point. Its gustatory and textural attributes allow ricotta to be smeared onto toast, spread into dips, or folded into ice cream with ease. Given its comparable moisture level, ricotta can also take the place of cottage cheese in recipes that require cooking. Essentially, it'll behave the same way (softening rather than melting), which means that ricotta won't negatively impact textures when substituted into casseroles, mashed potatoes, tuna melts, and beyond. What's more, ricotta's fattier composition can actually render sauces smoother, meatballs more tender, and pancakes far fluffier.

The good news is that ricotta can usually be substituted for an equal amount of cottage cheese. That said, because it does lack the same amount of liquid, you might want to try mixing it with a spoonful of dairy before introducing the cheese into a recipe in order to guarantee the best textural outcome. Likewise, remember that because ricotta won't have a delicately tart twang, you might need to adjust how a recipe is seasoned. 

Another thing you need to know about ricotta is that it's important to think carefully before using just any container. Rather than firm and funky renditions like ricotta salata or smoked ricotta, always opt for fresh ricotta (the fresher the better), as it mimics the moist and creamy nature of cottage cheese. Whether you select a big-brand tub or an artisan option is up to you. However, we recommend the latter, as its super smooth curds are more reminiscent of cottage cheese curds. Additionally, consider the type of milk used to make the ricotta. Given that cottage cheese is often made with cow's milk, a cow's milk ricotta will offer similar flavors unlike cheeses made with grassy sheep's milk or buttery buffalo's milk.

Naturally, because fresh ricotta is such a stand-up substitute for cottage cheese, it's worth noting that (strained and blended) cottage cheese can also be used in place of ricotta. As per usual, however, the differences between ricotta and cottage cheese mean the taste and texture of a recipe may vary when you swap the two. On that note, we'll leave you to the experimentation!