Several options will make good substitutes for ricotta
Ricotta is an Italian sheep's milk cheese used in pasta sauces, custards, cheesecakes and dips. People also eat ricotta as a snack with crackers, fruits or vegetables. But if you're not a fan of ricotta cheese, or you're out of it at the moment, there are other options.
Cream Cheese
This is an excellent substitute for ricotta because it will give you a similar creamy texture when preparing dishes that call for ricotta. If you're making a peanut butter espresso cheesecake, you can substitute cream cheese. In a medium bowl combine three 8-oz. packages of cream cheese, a cup of chunky peanut butter, a cup of sour cream, two eggs, three teaspoons of brewed espresso, two teaspoons of vanilla and a cup of dark brown sugar. Place mixture inside a round springform pan lined with chocolate graham cracker crumbs and place in a baking dish filled with an inch of water. Bake in a 350-degree preheated oven for an hour.
Sour Cream
This is especially good if you're making a flavored dip to go with vegetables, fruits or crackers. To make a garlic-basil dip, combine three teaspoons of chopped garlic, a cup of chopped basil, a cup of sour cream, three teaspoons each of salt and white pepper, one teaspoon of garlic powder and a teaspoon of onion powder.
Cottage Cheese
This is especially good if you're preparing a cheese filling for a lasagna. In addition to a container of cottage cheese, combine two cups of Parmesan cheese, a teaspoon each of salt and black pepper and a half-cup of chopped oregano.
Tags: three teaspoons, Cheese This, combine three, each salt, especially good, peanut butter, sour cream
