Can I substitute cottage for ricotta cheese in recipes?

Question

I really don't like ricotta, and I've heard that you can use cottage cheese instead, but I'm wary. Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes you can. Run it through the food processor to break up the lumps and get a creamier texture.

There are other alternatives, though. For a spinach-based cannelloni filling I have substituted ricotta with a mixture of grated mozzarella, grated parmesan and heavy cream--just mixed in a bowl with a fork, not even blended--and had a wonderful and flavorful result. The other ingredients were chopped cooked spinach, one or two eggs, a little garlic powder, basil, salt and pepper. Really a nicely flavored, rich filling. I've used it in lasagne as well, layered alternately with tomato sauce between the pasta layers.

Answer 2

Sometimes I have to in a pinch. The little grocery store here doesn't carry ricotta, and the nearest Safeway or Wal-mart is 30 miles away! If I have to substitute, I put the cottage cheese in a double layer of cheesecloth draped over a mixing bowl and let it strain for an hour or so, then I wring the cottage cheese in the cloth, allowing any excess liquid to go into the bowl.

Answer 3

Sure can - I do it all the time. Just take 1 container of cottage cheese & mix together with 1 3oz block of cream cheese.....It will help you get the right texture for the dish & tastes yummy as well!

Answer 4

It depends on what you're making.
Cottage cheese can be very salty, so you wouldn't want to use it in a dessert. But for something like lasagna or manicotti, cottage cheese works very well.

Answer 5

You can use cottage cheese in lasagna or whatever but Ricotta has the best flavor. It may be more expense or fattening but the taste is what counts.

Answer 6

Yes you can sub....cottage cheese has a little higher moisture content but it negligible and it will work in most recipes....

Answer 7

I have frquently substituted ricotta with cottae (large curd). Slightly different taste but still very good. --Or you could always ask Rachel Ray.

Answer 8

OH YES
you want to spend your money pick any 4 cheeses (grate) and the CC
experiment,,, what a joy

Answer 9

yes, you can, but drain the cottage cheese really well.
(Wrap in cheese cloth and squeeze all the liquid out)

Answer 10

yes, just let it drain out the excess liquid with a cheesecloth and small strainer over a bowl first...to get the most authentic effect...don't use the lite or low fat, it kinda tastes like crap and there is not much difference in fat content between the full fat and low fat or lite version...