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Lazy Cat Kitchen

A food blog with plant-based recipes from all over the world

Vegan ricotta cheese

September 2, 2016 by Ania - 29

bread spread, easy, gluten-free

vegan ricotta

This is my first cheese recipe, but there will be more, promise! Before I went vegan, cheese was something I didn’t think I would be able to live without, but it turns out I was wrong.

I craved it a bit for the first week but within 3 weeks or so I forgot all about it! My body must have appreciated this decision as I started noticing that a handful of minor health complaints I used to have were no longer there, along with a few extra kilos, which I gained in my stressful London life. I found the weight loss astonishing as I was hardly starving myself. Quite the opposite, in fact.

All in all, I don’t miss cheese very much, but there are some dishes where having a vegan equivalent would have been handy. While I’m waiting for these amazing vegan cheeses to reach Europe, I’ve decided to take matters in my own hands and make my own vegan ricotta for the upcoming recipe.

It was inspired by my numerous cheesecake experiments. Once I found the texture I liked, I decided to go for savoury instead of sweet flavouring and it turned out to be right on the money. As usual, my initial mention of this undertaking saw Duncan pulling faces while (he thought) I wasn’t looking πŸ˜‰ .

Once I was done with my experiment, however, and presented it to him on a piece of toasted sourdough bread with a slice of tomato, a handful of rocket and a few olives, he could not believe that this ricotta-like thing is made from cashews. He was crying out for seconds and marvelling about it all day. Nothing makes me happier than when the taste of my food converts a sceptic.

PS: If you try out this vegan ricotta cheese, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram (#lazycatkitchen). Next week, I’ll be publishing a new recipe that uses this cheese as an ingredient πŸ™‚

vegan ricotta making of

360 calories
4.67 from 6 votes
Print
  • makes: about 1 cup
  • prep: 10 min
  • cooking: 10 min

Ingredients

  • 140 g / 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight
  • ΒΌ cup / 60 ml coconut cream (optional)*
  • 3-4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 tsp white miso paste**
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 roasted (for milder flavour) or raw garlic clove
  • ΒΌ tsp salt
  • good pinch of white (or black) pepper
  • 2 pinches of dry oregano
  • a pinch of dry thyme
  • 3 tsp agar flakes (optional, see INSTRUCTIONS)

Method

  1. Rinse the cashews and chop them roughly to help the blender process them. Divide them roughly into 3 portions.
  2. Place all the liquids – coconut cream, lemon juice and 2 tbsp of water – at the bottom of your blender. Follow by the first portion of chopped cashews. Process until fairly smooth. You will need to use a spatula initially to scrape down the mixture that stays on the walls of the blender. Once the first portion of the cashews is fairly smooth, slowly start adding the remaining cashews, blending well after each addition. If you want the cheese to have a ricotta-like texture, be careful not to over process it. If you want your cheese to be completely smooth, process until the mixture is silky smooth (like my 2nd photo – this cheese was super smooth like a cream cheese).
  3. Season with miso (see notes), nutritional yeast, salt and pepper, dry herbs, garlic and more lemon if you like your cheese on the tangy side.
  4. Put agar flakes and 60 ml / ΒΌ cup of water into a very small pot and set on the lowest heat. Let the mixture come to the boil and then let it simmer for another 10 min to activate. Make sure you stir it the whole time.
  5. Pour activated agar mixture into the blender and blend well. Pour the cheese into a small dish to cool down and set. It tastes better the next day once the flavours have had a chance to mingle but it will be ready to eat after 15-20 min. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  1. NO AGAR METHOD Place the liquids – coconut cream (or water) and lemon juice – at the bottom of your blender. Follow by the first portion of chopped cashews. Process until fairly smooth. You will need to use a spatula initially to scrape down the mixture that stays on the walls of the blender. Once the first portion of the cashews is fairly smooth, slowly start adding the remaining cashews, blending well after each addition.
  2. Since you are not using agar, you simply need to add minimum amount of liquid (that includes coconut cream or/and water) to the cashews in order to retain thick consistency without the need for a thickener. At some point your blender will struggle to process the mixture as it will be very thick and heavy. To remedy this, take blender’s lid off and make small circles (in the direction of the turning blades), with a spatula, a few millimetres below the surface of the cheese mixture to help the blades turn. Please be very careful not to dip the spatula too deep or too close to the blades as it will damage them.
  3. Season with miso (see notes), nutritional yeast, salt and pepper, dry herbs, garlic and more lemon if you like your cheese on the tangy side. Transfer it to a jar and place in the fridge. It will become thicker and spreadable by the next day.

Notes

*I separated mine from a tin of full fat coconut milk by chilling the coconut milk for several days in the fridge.

** While white miso (which in reality is orange-brown) gives this cheese a nice umami flavour, it does change its colour. If you want your ricotta to be white, skip this ingredient or use only a small amount.

If you want more info on some of the ingredients that we use in our recipes, check out our glossary.
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This recipe has been written by Ania. She is the cook, stylist and photographer behind Lazy Cat Kitchen. You can read about her journey into food blogging here. You can also check her out on Pinterest and Instagram.

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    Comments

    Leave a comment

  1. Charles Moose says

    September 2, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    Do you offer a cookbook? If so, how do I get one?

    Reply
    • Ania says

      September 2, 2016 at 5:29 pm

      Hi Charles,

      No, I haven’t published a cookbook as of yet, I’m afraid but thank you for asking πŸ™‚

      Ania

      Reply
  2. Katy says

    September 2, 2016 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Ania,

    Looks good! I will try this once I round up the ingredients.

    fyi: sometime ago, I read an old review of a dish of long green beans with fermented bean curd served at an iconic restaurant in Vancouver’s China Town. The review described the fermented bean curd as tasting like parmesan. Since, then I have been meaning try it.

    On my last trip to the Asian Market in Kelowna, I purchased a teeny, tiny bottle of ‘Che Che Fermented Bean Curd in Sesame Oil’ (with chill). I was hesitant to try something so ‘exotic’, but at the first taste, I found it to be reminiscent of Cambazola, if it were marinated in sesame-chili oil. It is savoury, salty and has a kick of spice. The only veg I had to try it on was steamed, farm fresh cabbage. Not it’s best pairing. Next I tried it on toasted rounds of baguette. A win. It would be even better on Carr’s Water Crackers.

    Katy

    Reply
    • Ania says

      September 2, 2016 at 6:12 pm

      Thanks Katy πŸ™‚ What you describe sounds delicious and I would love to be able to get my hands on that too, I will look for it next time I’m in Athens or perhaps London. Thanks for the tip! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. lillian says

    September 2, 2016 at 7:14 pm

    It looks so tasty, Ania! Since I have all the ingredients I will try it this weekend.

    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Ania says

      September 2, 2016 at 7:38 pm

      Thanks so much, Lillian! Hope’ll like it! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Lynsey Jade || One More Slice says

    September 2, 2016 at 10:34 pm

    OOOH I cannot wait to try this! I have a cannelloni recipe that I am craving but can no longer have because of my dairy intolerance. I think you may have just solved this problem for me!!

    L x

    Reply
    • Ania says

      September 3, 2016 at 11:15 am

      Hi Lynsey,

      Thanks so much, I’m so glad to hear that! Hope you’ll like it! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Jamie says

    November 29, 2016 at 11:23 pm

    Looks delicious. One question: the coconut cream, do you just use the solid part or the liquid part, or mix the two together and use that? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Ania says

      November 30, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      Hi Jamie,

      Thank you πŸ™‚ I get my coconut cream from a chilled tin of full fat coconut milk and that’s the solid part that floats to the top. If using a tin of coconut cream, just mix everything together and use that. Good luck! x

      Reply
  6. Alyssa @ A Bite of Inspiration says

    December 27, 2016 at 6:47 am

    This looks amazing! I love cheese, but can’t eat it too often because of a slight dairy allergy. Ricotta is one of the hardest cheeses to replicate because of the texture and subtle flavor. This one looks spot on! I’ll be trying it soon. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Ania says

      December 27, 2016 at 10:51 am

      Thanks Alyssa, that’s so nice to hear. Hope you’ll love it! Ania

      Reply
  7. Lea Petrella says

    February 4, 2017 at 2:28 am

    Hi,
    I have to manage a cashew allergy (as well as dairy)…
    Do you think this recipe could work with almonds?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Ania says

      February 4, 2017 at 12:38 pm

      Hi Lea,

      Almonds are lower in fat than cashews so you may have trouble obtaining the same creamy texture, but perhaps macademia nuts and sunflower seeds (maybe combined) will work. Crumbled firm or extra firm tofu may be a good solution too. Hope that helps, Ania

      Reply
  8. laura says

    February 26, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Hi Ania,
    Just curious- can you taste the coconut in the end result?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Ania says

      February 26, 2017 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Laura,

      No, I would not say that coconut taste is detectable in the final product. Garlic, lemon, miso and herbs (and neutral cashews) do a good job at masking it completely. Coconut cream is added for extra creaminess. Hope that helps, Ania

      Reply
      • laura says

        March 1, 2017 at 9:53 am

        Awesome, thanks for the quick reply!

        Reply
  9. Marie-Andree Cossette says

    July 21, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    Hello Ania
    My husband and I watched a documentary on Netflix a few days ago named “What the Health”. We were so shocked that the same evening, we decided to become vegans.
    It is a huge steps. I am a senior citizen, and my husband is not far behind. We are also very excited, and up to the challenge. One of the dish I made so many times in my life is the spanakopita. I am thrilled to see that you are offering a vegan version, and am really looking forward to trying your ricotta cheese. Thank you for the work that you do. You are contributing to making the world a better place.
    Marie-Andree Cossette

    Reply
    • Ania says

      July 21, 2017 at 10:35 pm

      Thanks for a lovely comment! I’m so happy to be of use and I hope my recipes will help you in your transition to a plant-based diet. I’ve also watched that documentary and it is truly shocking and gut-wrenching how we have all been deceived and lied to by the very institutions that have supposedly been set up to guide us and protect us. I’m thrilled to hear that this documentary has inspired you and your husband to make such a positive live change! You both rock!! Ania

      Reply
  10. Natasha says

    September 8, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    I love this! I first made it for ravioli, but my favourite use for it has been to top lasagna. I’ve never been able to get that crispy baked top with any other vegan cheese. I can finally make the perfect vegan lasagna.

    Reply
    • Ania says

      September 8, 2017 at 11:16 pm

      That’s so great to hear, Natasha! Thank you πŸ™‚ Ania

      Reply
  11. Jolyane Limoges says

    November 1, 2017 at 6:24 pm

    I tried your ricotta recipe for the spanakopita. I would have to say that the flavour and texture is very good but the coconut taste is overwhelming, and I love coconut. I wonder if I could try it again without the coconut fat because now I am scared the spanakopita will not taste right. Since I hate wasting food I will give it a go with the recipe as it is. Maybe with the filling it won’t be as strong. Fingers crossed!

    Reply
    • Ania says

      November 2, 2017 at 11:23 am

      Hi Jolyane,

      I’m sorry to hear that you detected coconut flavour in this ‘cheese’. As it’s only 1/5 of the bulk of the recipe (1 cup of cashews to ΒΌ cup coconut cream) and there is lots of flavourings (miso, nutritional yeast, lemon, garlic, herbs) that mask it, I did not detect any coconut flavour myself during testing, but I will test it once more just to be sure. You could simply use a small amount water or maybe veggie stock (+ optional olive oil) to mince the cashews if you want to eliminate coconut altogether. Hope that helps! Ania

      Reply
  12. Melanie aucott says

    April 15, 2018 at 5:12 pm

    Hi Thanks for this recipe. Just made my second batch it’s fab. Can you freeze it ? It’s just that I waste the coconut cream otherwise.
    Thanks again

    Reply
    • Ania says

      April 15, 2018 at 6:02 pm

      Hi Melanie,

      My pleasure, I’m really chuffed to hear that you enjoyed it! Yes, sure! I freeze it very often as I’m out of a habit of eating cheese in large quantities these days. Ania

      Reply
  13. kristin addis says

    July 3, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    I made this and used it for zucchini lasagna and it was delicious! In the recipe I wouldn’t have known it wasn’t really ricotta if I hadn’t made it myself. Thanks for another awesome recipe!

    Reply
    • Ania says

      July 3, 2018 at 4:27 pm

      Yay! I’m delighted to hear that, Kristin. I had one person complain about the coconut flavour and I started questioning my own sanity as I cannot detect it in the final product at all. Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Ania

      Reply
  14. Daphne says

    December 20, 2018 at 8:09 pm

    Could you share what we can use the cheese for? Can it be baked on pizza? Will it melt like normal cheese?

    Reply
    • Ania says

      December 20, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      Hi Daphne,

      Yes, you can put it on pizza. As it’s meant to mimic ricotta, I tend to add it on at the end, like they would do in a pizzeria, but it will melt and brown a little, but no, not like dairy mozzarella, I’m afraid. I like spreading it on toast with other savoury (olives, basil, artichokes, peppers, balsamic vinegar) or sweet toppings, you can also put dollops of it on your pasta or vegan risotto. Hope that helps! Ania

      Reply

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Ania Marcinowska
Hi, I'm Ania. I love good food but I love animals more! Adopting a plant-based diet has been the best decision I've made and that's how this blog was born. It's a space where I want to show you that creating delicious plant-based food isn't actually hard at all.
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