What Can I Replace Cottage Cheese With in a Recipe
What if you are a vegetarian but love cottage cheese? What if you are allergic to cottage cheese? What if your cooking recipes require cottage cheese, but you cannot consume or you hate it.
Besides, if you opt not to eat meat, you cannot use animal-based cheeses; what is your choice?
Your solution is finding something with familiar features but different flavors. The reading below will offer you cottage cheese alternatives to meet your requirements no matter what problems you have with cottage cheese.
Should-Known Information About Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is classified as unaged cheese, which makes it a distinct mild flavor. The cottage cheese is creamy, smooth, soft, tasty, affordable, versatile, making it the most popular ingredient in savory recipes and insane desserts.
Cottage cheese can be combined well with various foods, ranging from yogurt, fruits, toast to salads, and served as a substitute for mayonnaise.
That cottage cheese is low in calories compared to other kinds of cheese makes it familiar to dieters and some health devotees. Besides, due to its low content of fat, this cheese is a popular choice among athletes.
Additionally, cottage cheese is an abundant source of protein, calcium, vitamins (A, B), minerals, sodium, and osteoporosis which are beneficial to your health.
Each 100 grams of cottage cheese will contain nutritional compositions as follow:
Cottage Cheese Benefits Your Health
Cottage cheese is super healthy and nutritious. Why do I say so? Let's read the passage below to know.
This kind of cheese is always an ideal choice for those who want to lose weight due to its high protein but low-calorie content.
The combination of cottage cheese consumption and resistance training also helps athletes improve their muscles.
Containing a great amount of calcium, mineral, phosphorus, and protein, cottage cheese is beneficial to bone strength.
Besides, cottage cheese will control your blood sugar levels. The high protein component of paneer will help you with a slow release of sugar into the blood.
Potassium in cottage cheese plays a vital role in balancing body fluid and salt, while sodium can help you with maintaining heart health.
The cottage cheese is added in diverse cooking recipes from breakfast, sauces, desserts, and even main savories for those mentioned advantageous sides.
What To Substitute Cottage Cheese?
There are plenty of cottage cheese substitutes across the world, but here are the best ones similar to cottage cheese and beneficial to your health. Trust me!
- Ricotta Cheese
- Mozzarella
- Goat's cheese
- Feta Cheese
- Kefir Cheese
- Mascarpone Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Fromage Blac
- Parmesan Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Whipped Heavy Cream
- Almond Milk
- Greek Yogurt
- Tofu
- Hummus
- Egg Whites
- Chickpea Puree
- Red Or White Bean Puree
- Poultry
- Lean Meat
- Fish
Top 21 Outstanding Cottage Cheese Alternatives
Here are some alternatives to cottage cheese in many different ways. Now, let's go through one-by-one.
Cheeses As Cottage Cheese Replacement
To alternate cottage cheese, you should think about some other cheeses with thoroughly or slightly similar features to cottage cheese. Here are some suggestions for you.
1. Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is always a top priority among cottage cheese replacements of its light and fluffy texture. Thus it can be a cottage cheese replacement in cannelloni, pasta, pizza, calzones, or cakes like doughnuts and bronies.
You can take an equal amount of ricotta cheese as the required amount of cottage cheese.
Ricotta cheese has a lot of similar nutrition values to cottage cheese. It contains more vitamins and minerals and, importantly, fewer sugars and sodium, making it the ideal choice for you to replace cottage cheese.
However, the noblest drawback of ricotta cheese is that it is higher in cholesterol and saturated fat.
2. Mozzarella Cheese
If you need to replicate cottage cheese texture, mozzarella is your best bet for a cottage cheese alternative.
Generally, mozzarella is lower in cholesterol but incredibly higher in vitamins A, B12, calcium, and phosphorus compared to cottage cheese.
You can use mozzarella cheese to alternate cottage cheese in making pizza or lasagna.
3. Goat's Cheese
Another reduced-fat cheese that can be an alternative to cottage cheese is goat's cheese. It is tangy and creamy, which makes it a good stuffing for pizza, toast, salad, or pasta dishes.
Also, this cheese is peculiarly tart and earthy due to the presence of medium-chain fatty acids.
Like cottage cheese, goat's cheese is also a rich source of protein, calcium, probiotics, minerals, and vitamins. Thus, it can be one of the best cottage cheese replacements when it comes to nutritional values.
4. Feta Cheese
Similar to ricotta, goat's cheese, or mozzarella, feta cheese works as a cottage cheese substitute. Feta cheese is a crumbly and white cheese with an abundant calcium supply.
Feta cheese is made with sheep's milk, which makes it a rich and buttery flavor. Besides, it is as super nutritious as cottage cheese. Thus it is often used in all kinds of dishes ranging from appetizer, a main dish to desserts like tuna salads or kinds of pasta.
5. Kefir Cheese
With the similarities of nutritional values and health benefits, kefir cheese contributes to the cottage cheese substitute list.
Kefir cheese is good for weight loss, stress relief, better digestion, and healthy skin as cottage cheese.
You can replace cottage cheese with kefir cheese to make top stuffings for cakes, soups and mix it with salads.
6. Mascarpone Cheese
Mascarpone cheese is Italian cream cheese with high-fat content. What makes this substitute noble is that it can be used for both desserts and savory dishes. You can add it to risotto, cheesecake, tiramisu recipes instead of cottage cheese.
Mascarpone cheese will be used in an equal amount as the required cottage cheese amount in recipes. However, you can add lemon juice to mascarpone to lighten it.
7. Cream Cheese
When considering taste and texture, cream cheese can also be one of pureed cottage cheese replacements.
Moreover, considering the nutritional values of the cheese, you know that it will be a richer source of sodium, potassium, and vitamin A than cottage cheese. Thus, if you are advised to consume these nutrients, use this replacement.
Additionally, this alternative will work perfectly in diverse savory and sweet recipes, including cheesecake
8. Fromage Blanc
If you want to find an alternative with a cottage cheese-like taste, fromage blanc must be your choice because it has a mildly tangy and sweet flavor as cottage cheese.
Fromage blanc means white cheese. It is made with skimmed or whole cow's milk and sometimes with cream for improving the taste. What makes it a real treat is its creamy soft texture and yogurt-like buttery flavor.
You can replace cottage cheese with fromage blanc in a variety of desserts and savory dishes.
9. Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan is known as a cottage cheese replacement as they have similarities related to nutrition values. Both are rich sources of protein, sodium, and calcium, but parmesan cheese has more vitamin B12 and A, making it a suitable cottage cheese substitute.
Thus, you can replace cottage cheese with parmesan cheese in baked spaghetti, mashed potatoes, or bruschetta chicken, and many other recipes.
Creams, Yogurt, And Milk Serve As Cottage Cheese Alternatives
Other options for cottage cheese replacements come from creams, yogurt, and milk. Let's see how they work.
10. Sour Cream
Cottage cheese is sour due to lactic acid. Thus if you want to replace cottage cheese with sour flavor, consider using sour cream.
Cottage cheese is lumpier than sour cream, so to replace cottage cheese with sour cream in recipes, you need to blend it and control the thickness with milk.
11. Whipped Heavy Cream
If you want to replace blenderized cottage cheese with something lighter and airier consistency to your recipe, whipped heavy cream meets your requirements well.
Whipped heavy cream is made by whipping a whisk or mixer until it is light and fluffy. This cream is a prevalent cottage cheese alternative topping for fruit and desserts such as pie, waffles, or cheesecake.
The cream would offer you an abundant source of vitamin A, calcium, potassium, and carbs which are super beneficial to your body.
12. Almond Milk
Almond milk is plant-based milk as it is manufactured from almonds with a creamy texture and nutty flavor.
Almond milk is low in protein, vitamin, sodium, and calcium as cottage cheese, so if you don't want to consume calories and fat, this kind of milk can be an alternative to cottage cheese.
13. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a prevalent alternative to cottage cheese as it has some similar features related to nutrition values with those of cottage cheese.
Greek yogurt is high in protein and calcium but low in calories and sugars and contains probiotic bacteria, which makes it a great choice for cottage cheese replacement.
However, the taste of Greek yogurt is slightly different from cottage cheese when it has tartness. You can omit the tartness by adding sourness into a recipe.
Besides, Greek yogurt is strained from most of its whey, which makes it resemble the consistency of cottage cheese. Thus it can replace cottage cheese in creating simple but delicious desserts.
Vegans As Cottage Cheese Alternatives
For those who love vegetarian diets with cottage cheese taste or texture, here are some recommended ideas.
14. Tofu
As a dairy-free source of protein, tofu would be the top priority of cottage cheese alternatives for vegetarians.
Tofu is a good source of plant-based protein, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus but contains no cholesterol and low sodium, making it an ideal option for cottage cheese replacements when being mashed.
You are recommended to use mashed-tofu as pasta fillings or some baked dishes.
15. Hummus
Another vegetarian military diet replacement for cottage cheese is hummus. It is healthy, nutritious, and affordable, like cottage cheese.
Hummus can provide you with a variety of minerals, vitamins, and plant-based protein. Importantly, hummus is a great source of dietary fibre which cottage cheese doesn't have.
Hummus can be used for substituting cottage cheese in spreads and pasta stuffings.
What Else To Alternate Cottage Cheese?
Besides cheeses, creams, milk, yogurt or vegans, you can also replace cottage cheese with egg whites, bean or chickpea puree or some kinds of meat as a protein source.
16. Egg Whites
If you want a dairy-free cottage cheese substitute with high-protein and low-calorie content, egg whites should be considered. Instead of using cottage cheese, you can opt for egg whites to serve your breakfast with fruit and an egg white omelet.
Egg whites also offer health benefits as cottage cheese when they can help with reducing cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and blood pressure problems. Notably, they can deter signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
17. Chickpea Puree
When it comes to stuffings and spreads, you have another choice as a cottage cheese alternative: chickpea puree, as it is considered the wealthiest protein supplier.
Like cottage cheese, chickpeas are super healthy and nutritious. They will aid you in weight loss, skin health, better digestion, hair loss, bone strength, and heart health.
Chickpea puree will be a good substitute for cottage cheese if you tend to cook ravioli and pasta or you want to look for a vegan replacement for baking recipes.
18. Red Or White Bean Puree
Like chickpea puree, bean purees from white or red beans can also become alternatives to cottage cheese in some recipes like pasta or chicken enchiladas.
In terms of nutritional values, red bean or white bean are healthy and nutritious cottage cheese replacements when they contain high amounts of vitamins, fibre, iron, or zinc which are beneficial to your health.
19. Poultry, Lean Meats And Fish
Poultry, lean meats, and fish are cottage cheese alternatives for protein supplying sources. Grilled chicken breast, lean ham, or canned tuna are excellent ideas for replacements for cottage cheese.
These substitutes are also renowned preferences among others when they are accompanied by a green salad or fat-free yogurt.
Thus, instead of using cottage cheese with green salad, try eating tuna salad with fat-free yogurt. That will make you excited.
FAQs
If you have any questions related to cottage cheese substitutes, keep reading. Maybe you can find out the ultimate solutions for it.
How to preserve the freshness, flavor, and quality of sour cream and cottage cheese?
There are some ways to keep your sour cream and cottage cheese fresh, flavorus and high-quality:
- Store them as soon as possible after buying them.
- Use a clean utensil and avoid touching inside.
- Carefully smooth the surface before putting it back in the fridge.
Which substitute is most closely familiar to cottage cheese?
Among the 21 substitutes above, ricotta cheese is most similar to cottage cheese when considering texture, taste, and making process.
Can Greek yogurt substitute for cottage cheese in bodybuilding?
Like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt is also good for your bodybuilding as it contains high calcium, protein, carbs and fat.
Which can be used in lasagna instead of cottage cheese?
Besides cottage cheese, if you are a vegetarian, you can use ricotta, tofu, parmesan, or mozzarella cheese instead. Besides, if you consider protein supply, lean meats or fish can be your choice.
What should I use to replace cottage cheese in baking?.
In baking, ricotta cheese and cottage cheese will yield the closest results, so you can use ricotta cheese to replace cottage cheese in baking recipes.
Expectation Vs. Reality
Above are fascinating things that you can substitute for cottage cheese in your cooking recipes. They all are beneficial, flavorus, tasty, and nutritious.
However, not all of them can replace cottage cheese ingredients irrespective of recipes; some of them are good to be alternate cottage cheese in desserts or cakes; others would be better to be cottage cheese substitutes in savory dishes.
Thus, whenever you want to replace cottage cheese with other things, please check whether it is suitable in taste, texture or even nutrients so that you can ensure the quality of your dishes.
Moreover, these nutritional values are changed depending on manufacturers' purposes, so go through nutrition information before purchasing them.
If the article is helpful to you, please share it with your acquaintances, and feel free to leave the comment below to share your experiences about cottage cheese replacements.
References:
- Soupersage. 2021. Nutrition Comparison: Parmesan Cheese Vs Cottage Cheese. [online] Available at: <https://www.soupersage.com/compare-nutrition/parmesan-cheese-vs-cottage-cheese>.
- Dairy Products.nutriarena.com. 2021. Benefits of Cottage Cheese vs Kefir. [online] Available at: <https://dairyproducts.nutriarena.com/en/benefits-of-cottage-cheese-vs-kefir/comparison-7-13-16>.
- How to Cure. 2021. 6 Goat Cheese Benefits That Will Amaze You. [online] Available at: <https://howtocure.com/goat-cheese-benefits/>.
- Healthline. 2021. Why Cottage Cheese Is Super Healthy and Nutritious. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cottage-cheese-is-super-healthy#weight-loss>.
- Fatsecret.com. 2021. Calories in 100 g of Cottage Cheese and Nutrition Facts. [online] Available at: <https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/usda/cottage-cheese?portionid=56423&portionamount=100.000>.
- Medicalnewstoday.com. 2021. Chickpeas: Health benefits and nutritional information. [online] Available at: <https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280244>.
What Can I Replace Cottage Cheese With in a Recipe
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