This Creamy Vegan Ricotta uses almonds instead of dairy, and it is so good and so versatile! Use it on its own as a dip, added to lasagna, as a ravioli filling, dolloped on pizza, and so many other ways. It’s made in five minutes with just five ingredients.
this recipe &t.constructor;&t;Are you a ricotta loverhow it tastes dolloped on pizza. Naturally, it was something I missed when I started making all dairy-free recipes, and then went vegan. Since ricotta cheese is traditionally made with whey, a by-product of making cheese, it’s definitely not naturally vegan or dairy-free!
Thankfully, ricotta is something that is pretty easy to make a vegan substitute for, and in my opinion, it tastes just as good as the original! We love that this recipe is made in less than 10 minutes with just 5 ingredients!
What you need to make dairy-free ricotta cheese:
- Silvered Blanched Almonds: blanched is important here, as it helps keep the ricotta nice and white. If your almonds aren’t blanched, you’ll have flecks of the brown skin throughout. You can aso use cashews if preferred!
- Lemon Juice or Apple Cider Vinegar: I generally go with lemon juice, but ACV also works if you don’t have lemons or prefer the flavor. They each as a slightly different kind of tanginess, but both turn out deliciously! You can also use a combination of both for a good balance of flavors – if you do that, go with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon ACV, and then adjust to your tastes.
- Nutritional Yeast: a favorite for vegan cheeses for a reason! It helps add a delicious cheesy flavor to your vegan ricotta.
- Garlic Cloves: not traditional, so leave out if you don’t want a garlicky flavor, but I love the extra flavor it adds when you’re adding this ricotta to something like lasagna, baked ziti, or pizza. You can also use roasted garlic. But definitely leave this out if you plan on using the ricotta for something on the sweeter side, like pancakes.
- Sea Salt: adds a ton of flavor and really takes things from “almond-y” to savory and cheesy.
- Water: just to help us get to the right, creamy consistency. The amount you use will depend on how thick or creamy you want your ricotta to be, and whether your nuts were soaked before blending or not.
How to make it:
We love a recipe so easy, it barely needs steps! To make this, all you have to do is combine all of the ingredients in the blender, starting with the low amount of water, and blend until it comes together, about two to three minutes. I recommend using the tamper on your blender to help keep things going, or scrape down the sides often.
Once it comes together, add more water as needed/desired, taste, and add more lemon/garlic/salt as you’d like to get to the flavor you’re after.
How do I store vegan ricotta?
If you’re not using it immediately, transfer it to a lidded jar and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
You can also store it in the freezer in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. When ready to use, transfer to the fridge for a few hours or overnight to thaw before using.
Tips for the best vegan ricotta:
- A high-powered blender helps get things super creamy, so if you have one, I definitely recommend using it.
- If you don’t have a high-powered blender, be sure to soak your nuts first. It’s not necessary when using a high-powered blender, but if not, it will help you get the creamiest result!
- Don’t skimp on the seasonings: lemon or ACV really helps bring out the tanginess, and a good amount of salt brings out the flavor.
My favorite ways to use almond ricotta:
- In my Best Vegan Lasagna Recipe
- On this Ricotta Heirloom Tomato Tart
- Stirred into this Vegan Baked Ziti
- Dolloped on my favorite Gluten-Free Sourdough Pizza Crust
- Make a dairy-free version of these Lemon Ricotta Ravioli
Creamy Vegan Almond Ricotta
- Author: Rachel Conners
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1½ cups 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Creamy Vegan Ricotta uses almonds instead of dairy, and it is so good and so versatile! Use it on its own as a dip, added to lasagna, as a ravioli filling, dolloped on pizza, and so many other ways. It’s made in five minutes with just five ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale- 1½ cups slivered blanched almonds or raw cashews
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 garlic cloves or 6 cloves roasted garlic (leave out for more neutral ricotta)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- ½ to ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients, starting with ⅓ cup water, to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed (~2 minutes). It should be well pureed and not chunky. If the mixture needs some help blending, add more of the water, a little at a time, until you’ve reached a thick, creamy texture. Use the tamper to help the mixture blend, if needed.
- Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt for overall flavor, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, and lemon juice for acidity.
- Use immediately, or transfer to an airtight container or jar and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Condiments
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Vegan
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