Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese Recipe | Shane & Simple (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Shane Martin · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Creamy and cheesy Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta. Perfect as a dip or making your favorite vegan lasagna. Easy, healthy, and absolutely delicious! Dairy-free and nut-free.

Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese Recipe | Shane & Simple (1)

The way I see it, you’ve got two choices when it comes to making vegan Italian food. One, you can buy that fake ass cheese that ain’t no better than the crap that comes from cow secretions. Or, you can make this Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta and give your arteries a freaking break. Are you ready?

Let’s get it on!

Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese Recipe | Shane & Simple (2)

Let me just say, I have NEVER regretted going vegan or plant-based. Not once! And, if you read my story, you’ll understand why. The years of stuffing crap down my gullet, including and especially cheese, wreaked havoc on my body and heart. Finally, I woke up and those things are no longer an issue.

But, for the sake of beingtransparentand honest, there are times I think about lasagnas and manicottis stuffed with delicious, decadent, rich ricotta cheese. I’m happy to say those cravings are very short-lived and much less severe. And, it’s primarily because I have found what I consider to be the perfect remedy. My Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta. BOOM!

Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese Recipe | Shane & Simple (3)

When faced with a dilemma, like a cheese craving, you can either succumb to it or kick its ass. I choose the latter because I refuse to go back to my old way of life. The high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, diabetes and all the other ailments that threatened my life. NO WAY!

So, I did a lot of recipe research along with a lot of tweaking and testing. I finally hit on something I really liked. Personally, I feel this is a really great ricotta replacement. It’s delicious, creamy, cheesy, low-fat, loaded with protein and can be used anywhere you would use traditional ricotta.

And, one of the best things about this recipe? You can adjust to your own taste preferences. Unlike all those boring and unhealthy store-bought products. Just sayin’…

Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese Recipe | Shane & Simple (4)

This Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta is not just great for lasagnas and manicottis. You can dump it on a veggie pizza, drop some on top of plainpasta with marinara sauce, or even serve as an appetizer. It goes great withcrackersand/or bread. The possibilities are endless. And, it’s stupidsimpleto make.

All you need is a block of tofu; nutritional yeast;some seasonings;a little lemon and you’re good to go. The spinach is not really necessary, but I always like to get a little green in my food. Oh, and did I mention the time? You can do this in about 10 MINUTES!

Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese Recipe | Shane & Simple (5)

I really think you’re going to like this Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta. It’s creamy, cheesy, delicious, healthy and incredibly simple to make. Did I mention that already?

If you do make it I want to know. So, please leave a comment below with a star rating. And, share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #shaneandsimple. I want to see your work.

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Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 10 reviews

Dairy-free, nut-free, creamy, cheesy heaven. Use this Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta anywhere you would use traditional, heart clogging, cholesterol-raising ricotta!

  • Author: Shane Martin
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Total Time: 11 minutes
  • Yield: 9 servings 1x
  • Category: Filling, Side, Snack
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 14 oz. block firm or extra firm tofu (NOT Silken)
  • ½ cup fresh spinach (chopped or whole)
  • ¼½ cup nutritional yeast (depending on how “cheesy” you want your ricotta)
  • 3 tbsp. Italian seasoning. Or (you can use 1 Tbsp. dried basil, 2 Tbsp. dried oregano)
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. salt

Instructions

  1. Break tofu apart and put in food processor. Add lemon juice, nutritional yeast, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt. Blend until fairly smooth and ingredients are well combined.
  2. Add spinach and pulse 8-10 times or until spinach is chopped well and incorporated into ricotta. That’s it…you’re done.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 Tbsp.
  • Calories: 54
  • Sugar: 0.2 g
  • Sodium: 268.1 mg
  • Fat: 2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2.9 g
  • Fiber: 1.3 g
  • Protein: 5.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

Check out some of my other “cheese” alternatives recipes. My Plant-Based Parmesan,Game Day Cheese Dip, &Easy Vegan Lasagna Rolls!

And, I have other tofu recipes as well. My Damn Good Tofu Scramble is incredible, especially when it’s paired with my Spicy Vegan Breakfast Sausage. Also, don’t forget my one ingredient Easy Baked Tofu (20 Minutes!). It’s great on salads and stir fries.

Enjoy!

Helpful Articles

Vegan or Plant-Based: What’s The Difference?

Easy Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese Recipe | Shane & Simple (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan ricotta cheese made of? ›

In general, there are two main methods for making vegan ricotta: one with soy milk and the other with blended nuts and tofu. They are both delicious. However, we recommend you try the soy milk method, which yields ricotta that is ridiculously similar to real Italian ricotta.

Do they sell vegan ricotta cheese? ›

There are a few plant-based ricotta cheese brands and alternatives out there. I've used Tofutti ricotta and made my own tofu ricotta to make baked ziti, and both were good. But for this review, I finally tried Kite Hill vegan ricotta cheese, and I was really impressed with the results.

Is ricotta vegetarian? ›

So what cheeses are vegetarian? Fresh cheeses like ricotta, mozzarella, paneer, cottage cheese, and cream cheese tend to be vegetarian by nature, requiring lemon juice or citric acid to coagulate instead of rennet. Otherwise, look for cheese that explicitly states that it was created with vegetarian rennet.

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese? ›

Ingredients Used in Vegan Cheese
  • Nutritional Yeast: It is a deactivated yeast rich in B vitamins and has a slightly cheesy flavor. ...
  • Agar Agar: This is a gelling agent made from seaweed. ...
  • Tapioca Starch: Tapioca starch is a starchy flour made from cassava root. ...
  • Coconut Oil: This is a plant-based oil high in saturated fats.
Mar 30, 2023

Why use an egg with ricotta cheese? ›

For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella. Eggs help prevent the ricotta from drying out and serve to bind the ricotta so it doesn't become runny.

Who makes vegan ricotta cheese? ›

Tofutti Brands, Inc. - Dairy-Free, Vegan.

What is a cheaper alternative to ricotta cheese? ›

Cottage cheese: As far as ricotta substitutes go, light and mild cottage cheese is your best bet. In fact, some people prefer to use cottage cheese because it has a similar flavor and fewer calories.

What is McDonald's vegan cheese? ›

The cheese is made with a main ingredient of coconut oil and tapioca starch, this is a common pairing of main ingredients you'll find in mass produced vegan cheeses around the world.

Is there a substitute for ricotta cheese? ›

Cottage cheese delivers a chunky texture, perfect for pancakes or quick bread; remember to give it a blend for smooth textures. Meanwhile, a bit tangier but creamy, Greek yogurt works like magic in dips or baked treats, an easy one-to-one sub for Ricotta shortages.

Why is pesto not vegetarian? ›

The reason is because classic basil pesto contains pecorino and Parmigiano-Reggiano, which are both made from milk curdled in animal rennet. That means that most of the pesto sauces you see on supermarket shelves are not vegetarian.

What is the main ingredient in vegan cheese? ›

Vegan cheese is usually made from soy, nuts, vegetable oils, and various other natural ingredients like peas or arrowroot. Vegan cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cheese by some, and may reduce your risk of heart disease due to its lower content of fat.

What was vegan cheese made out of? ›

What Ingredients Are in Vegan Cheese? Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. You can also find cheeses that derive from agar, tapioca, peas and arrowroot.

Does ricotta cheese have animal enzymes? ›

Soft-style cheeses often use an acid, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or whey. "Many softer styles of cheese like mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and cream cheese use whey or another type of acid as their coagulant instead of rennet, so they will be safe for vegetarians," says Birnbaum.

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