Vegan Tofu Ricotta

Name: Vegan Tofu Ricotta
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 14 Ounce Block Extra Firm Tofu; 8 Ounces Silken Tofu; 2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast; 1 Tablespoon White Miso (optional - look for a variety labeled "mellow"); 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar; 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1 ½ Teaspoon Salt

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Make vegan tofu ricotta for creamy lasagna, tangy dips, or just as a spread by itself. This six ingredient recipe takes 5 minutes.

A bowl of tofu ricotta on a platter of pita chips and bread.

When I was testing my vegan lasagna recipe, I knew I needed a good ricotta substitute. Something that has the classic ricotta texture and flavor, but is easy to make with simple, affordable ingredients.

Some vegan cheeses use cashews, which definitely create a rich flavor, but I didn't want my ricotta to have any pre-soak time. And I like the protein benefits of using tofu.

So tofu ricotta was created.

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Why I love this Tofu Ricotta
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Step-By-Step Instructions
FAQ & Expert Tips
Serving suggestions for tofu ricotta
Recipe Prayer
More Homemade Cheese Recipes
Tried this recipe?
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A bowl of tofu ricotta with a piece of baguette dipped in.

Why I love this Tofu Ricotta

Dietary needs - this tofu ricotta is oil-free, nut-free, dairy-free, plant-based, gluten-free, and sugar-free
Cheese-like texture - in classic ricotta style, this tofu ricotta has a curd-like texture. It's a little softer of a cheese than a dairy ricotta to account for the fact that tofu doesn't melt like cheese
Ready in 5 minutes - it only takes a few minutes to whip up a batch of this cheese
Nut-Free - many vegan cheese recipes use nuts to help thicken or add flavor, but this recipe is made without any nuts. If you have nut allergies, this is the recipe for you

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Extra Firm Tofu AND Silken Tofu: the combination of a firmer tofu and a softer tofu creates the curd-like, but still soft texture that we need for lasagna, stuffed shells, or dips. I have not tested this, but it's likely that two blocks of medium firm tofu would produce a similar result
Nutritional Yeast: this wouldn't be a vegan cheese recipe without nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is known for its cheesy flavor and is the main source of cheesy goodness in this recipe.
White Miso: White Miso adds a briney flavor that is characteristic of cheeses like mozzarella. I know that sometimes it can be hard to find miso, so I've left this as an optional ingredient, but it is highly recommended. If you do omit the miso, you may find you need more salt
Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV adds acid to create the tang that most cheeses have. You could also use lemon juice
Garlic Powder
Salt

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and pulse until just combined. Do not puree or over mix.

Tofu ricotta step 1 - blend the ricotta ingredients.

FAQ & Expert Tips

Does this ricotta taste like tofu?

No. The spices like nutritional yeast, vinegar, miso, and garlic powder help create a cheese-like flavor.

Storage

Store leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge.

Serving suggestions for tofu ricotta

Make vegan lasagna
Enjoy with pita chips or vegetables
Use to stuff pasta shells
Make wfbp pizza crust and add to a white pizza with veggies

A slice of vegan lasagna topped with a basil leaf.

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for this healthy version of ricotta. Thank you for this food that gives our body nutrients. Amen.

More Homemade Cheese Recipes

Tried this recipe?

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