CASHEW ‘RICOTTA’ CHEESE
Vegan Cashew Cheese – Thick and creamy, this versatile cashew ricotta cheese is ready in as little as 10 minutes and tastes fantastic! It’s the best vegan ricotta ever and can be used anywhere ricotta is called for!
As vegans and those eating a plant-based diet, you will be thrilled to have this easy, vegan cheese in your culinary library! I absolutely love this stuff and so does everyone else who tries it, vegan or not!
Vegan cashew ricotta cheese tastes just like the ricotta I was accustomed to for many years before becoming vegan. It’s soy-free (no tofu) for those limiting their soy intake, and is a simple recipe with lots of possibilities. Add your own tastes to this basic cheese by adding herbs and spices to suit your taste.
Use this vegan ricotta in Lasagna, Manicotti, or Stuffed Shells, as a topper for crackers or as a spread for sandwiches. I’ve even used it in a Persimmon Ricotta Scone recipe that came out wonderful (I omitted the pepper, onion powder and garlic for the recipe). You can use this with a few adjustments for any recipe that calls for ricotta.
The ingredients for this vegan ricotta cheese are very common making this a great basic recipe for anyone starting out experimenting with vegan nut cheeses. Make yourself some fresh cashew ricotta cheese. Taste and feel the difference compared to processed cheese products. You will not be disappointed!
How To Make Cashew Ricotta Cheese
Step 1: It’s best to soak your cashews in water before starting. There are 2 ways to soak:
- Soak cashew in cool water for 2 – 3 hours, drain and rinse (this method is best for digestion).
- For a quick method of soaking, let cashews sit in hot water for 5 minutes, drain, rinse and continue with recipe.
Why soak cashews? Soaking will help soften the cashews by plumping them up with water and helps the cashews blend easily. Soaking is also said to be beneficial for digestion and mineral & vitamin absorption. If you’re in a hurry, you can still make this cashew ricotta cheese successfully without soaking. You just may need to add a bit more water while blending.
Step 2: Next, place cashews, water, lemon juice/apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a food processor/blender and blend until creamy. Place in a covered container and place in the fridge until ready to use. Or use right away in any recipe calling for ricotta cheese.
And that’s it, vegan cashew ricotta cheese made easy and delicious!
How To Use Vegan Ricotta
You may find yourself eating it right out to the bowl. Enjoy everywhere you would use ricotta cheese!
- Served as is, vegan ricotta is great smeared on crackers with fruit.
- Use it in Vegetable Vegan Lasagna or Simple Lasagna and Asparagus
- Use it for stuffing, like these Cheese Manicotti, Spinach Vegan Stuffed Shells or Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells
- It’s wonderful in this Zucchini Ricotta Pasta with Basil + Mint
- Use in baking for these Ricotta Persimmon Scones
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored in refrigerator for up to 5 days in a covered container.
- Freezer: Cashew ricotta is freezer friendly and can stored in freezer safe containers for up to to 2 months.
I hope you LOVE this vegan ricotta as much we do! It’s:
- Clean eating
- WFPB
- Quick and easy to make
- Healthy, dairy-free option
- & So delicious!
If you try this vegan ricotta, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintCASHEW ‘RICOTTA’ CHEESE
A fabulous replacement for traditional ricotta. Use it anywhere you would use ricotta. This will be a welcome addition to your plant-based lifestyle!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Makes 2 Cups, Serves 8 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: blend
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked
- 1/2 cup water
- juice of 1 large lemon or 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 – 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- himalayan sea salt & cracked pepper, to taste
Instructions
Soak Cashews: First, it’s best to soak your cashews in water before starting. There are 2 ways to soak:
- Soak cashew in cool water for at least 2 hours in a bowl of water, covering the cashews about 2 – 3 inches of water as they will swell up.
- For a quick method of soaking, let cashews sit in hot water for 5 minutes.
Blend: Drain cashews and place all remaining ingredients into a blender or food processor, process until creamy stopping to scrape down the sides every few minutes. Taste for flavors adding any additional ingredients. Some like a salty ricotta so feel free to add as much salt as you want.
Chill: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for an hour or two, this will stiffen the mixture a bit. You can also prepare your dish straight away without refrigeration if needed. Refrigeration will thicken the mixture a bit. If it becomes too thick, add a tad of water and mix well.
Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a 5 – 6 days. To keep longer, store in the freezer for up to 2 months in a freezer safe container. Let thaw in the refrigerator. Give a good stir before using.
Makes approx. 2 cups
Serves 8 – 1/4 cup per serving
Notes
You could do just as well without the nutritional yeast if you don’t have it. I only added a small amount, probably pretty unnoticeable. I will be trying more next time to play around with it a bit. If you do add it, it will add a bit more cheesy flavor and some good nutritional value.
If you have trouble with the mixture blending on it’s own try this because it’s too thick, add a little extra water.
Allergic to nuts or want to keep it lower in fat and calories, try this Tofu Ricotta.
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Made this recipe for the first time and absolutely loved it! I didn’t have lemon juice so I used the apple cider vinegar, what an amazing addition to my veggie spinach lasagna which was a hit with the family! Can’t wait to make some more!
Great on multigrain crackers. Thank you! It is delicious.
So good! I made w/ 2.25 cups cashew, 1 cup water, 1.5 lemons juiced, more garlic than recipe calls for, 2 tablespoons nooch, salt & pepper. Used in a lasagne made w/ gardein crumbles & mushrooms. So good. I sometimes use vinegar if I don’t have lemon, but would highly recommend lemon.
Excellent alternative to cheese. I’ve made this three times now, using it for lasagna and tiramisu and it was amazing. Thank you for such a great recipe. And by the way, I left out the nutritional yeast. And I also left out the onion powder for when I used it for tiramisu.
What is the recipe for 3 cups , using it for the Spinach Ricotti Canneloni which calls for 3 cups?
Great question, Anna! I suggest using the following to make 3 cups of vegan cashew ricotta for the Spinach Ricotti Canneloni:
2 1/4 cups cashews
1 cup water
juice of 1 lemon, about 2 tablespoons or 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
2 small garlic cloves
3/4 – 1 teaspoon onion powder
3/4 – 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
cracked pepper, to taste
Enjoy your dinner!
Made this for dinner for a gluten free vegan friend. Stirred it into cauliflower penne, added caramelized onions and roasted butternut squash. Drizzled with a vegan butter infused with sage It was a hit Even used dollops on top.
My daughter has dairy issues so made her a butternut squash lasagna with it and although she was skeptical, she stated her family really liked it.
All asked for the recipe. Highly recommend
This is a great recipe. Use it for lots of things. If you take this and add spices (for instance Red or Green Thai Curry paste) you end up with a wonderful dip for crackers or veggies. You can add tomato paste and basil and have an Italian dip. Try cinnamon sugar (no nutritional yeast/garlic/onion powder) and you have a sweet spread for toast, etc. The possibilities are limitless.
I can’t wait to try this recipe- next time I go to shop I’ll get the ingredients. I’m on a mission to impress my boyfriend who is vegan curious:) easy healthy recipe like this will be a winner! Thank you!!
It is Amazing, and you both will love it! Enjoy :)
Since this is my 6th time pulling this recipe up in 5 months, I think it’s safe to say it’s bomber. It’s super easy and tastes amazing.
Adjustments I sometimes make is: Miso Paste, Extra Garlic & Fresh Basil Leaves.
I have made this for all sorts of recipes, including lasagna.
Used it for stuffed shells
Worked out great