With just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, you can make delicious, creamy vegan tofu ricotta at home! Use it like you would regular ricotta: to make lasagna, stuffed pasta shells, for dipping, or as a spread.
We especially love adding it to vegan spaghetti, vegan beef stroganoff, or silken tofu scramble for extra creaminess and flavor.
Plant-based alternatives are almost always ridiculously expensive. To slash my grocery budget, I have been making staples from scratch, including tofu mayo, vegan sour cream, and tofu feta.
But during the warmer months, this easy tofu ricotta is something I make on repeat! I like using it as a dip for raw veggies and crackers or spreading it on some homemade vegan English muffins.
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💚Why you will love tofu ricotta cheese
- A dairy-free alternative that is creamy, umami, and rich in flavor
- Low effort and only requires 5 simple ingredients
- Made with tofu, this recipe is packed with protein and nut-free
- Versatile and can be used as a 1:1 substitute for regular ricotta
🧀What you will need
- Tofu - Use extra-firm or firm. No need to press tofu beforehand.
- Nutritional yeast - It is what gives vegan ricotta its umami and cheesy flavor.
- Garlic - I prefer garlic powder for convenience, but you can add 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic as well.
- Miso - Optional; to add a boost of umami flavor.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
✨Ingredient substitutions and variations
- If using in sweet recipes - Omit miso, black pepper, and garlic. Half the salt, and add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar, if desired.
- Herbed ricotta - Add fresh herbs of choice, such as chives, oregano, basil, or rosemary.
- Spinach ricotta - Thaw frozen spinach, then squeeze out excess liquid. Add to tofu ricotta and give it a few pulses in the food processor, or until everything is well mixed.
🔪How to make tofu ricotta
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a food processor.
Step 2: Blend until desired consistency; make it as chunky or as smooth as you like!
🥣Make ricotta without a food processor
Blender - It is possible to make vegan ricotta in a blender. However, it needs more patience as you will need to stop frequently to scrape down the sides.
Without equipment - Finely crumble tofu into tiny pieces, then mix in seasonings. Add a few spoonfuls of plain vegan yogurt for extra creaminess.
Note that the resulting ricotta will be slightly chunkier.
🍕Using vegan ricotta cheese
- Pasta dishes - Lasagna, stuffed shells, baked ziti
- Dipping sauce - for raw veggies, breadsticks, and crackers
- As a spread for toast or sandwiches
- In crepes - It is especially great for my eggless crepes.
❄️Storing leftovers
Tofu ricotta can be refrigerated in an airtight container or glass jar for 4-5 days. For longer storage, divide it using a silicone tray and freeze up to 3 months.
Allow frozen ricotta to thaw overnight in the fridge. Give it a quick stir before using.
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📖 Recipe
5-minute Vegan Tofu Ricotta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 block extra-firm tofu drained
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or lime juice
- ½ tablespoon miso optional
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Break tofu into smaller chunks and add them to the food processor along with the rest of the ingredients.
- Pulse until desired texture; you can make it as chunky or as smooth as you like. Add a splash of water or milk if the mixture looks dry.
- Give it a taste, adding more seasonings if needed. Your tofu ricotta is ready to be served!
Notes
- Make in a blender - It is possible to make vegan ricotta in a blender. However, it needs more patience, as you will need to stop frequently to scrape down the sides.
- Without a food processor - Finely crumble tofu into tiny pieces, then mix in seasonings. Add a few spoonfuls of plain vegan yogurt for extra creaminess. The resulting ricotta will be chunkier.
Save this recipe!
Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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