I never thought vegan ricotta cheese could taste so good – until now. Friends, let’s make 5-ingredient vegan cheese!
The base for this seriously easy 1-blender, 10-minute ricotta is blanched slivered almonds. Because they’ve already been soaked and the skins removed, the almonds don’t need to be soaked before blending! Time = saved. In fact, I tried soaking them and didn’t like the end product nearly as much.
Because ricotta doesn’t typically have an intense cheesy flavor, the only additions it needs are nutritional yeast for a little cheesiness, lemon juice for tang, salt for saltiness, and a dash of garlic powder for depth of flavor.
Once blended, the “ricotta” is ready to go! Or you can set it in a cheesecloth and set it in the refrigerator to chill and harden a bit more. But if you’re in a hurry, the finished product is ready like that (in just 10 minutes)!
I hope you all LOVE this almond ricotta! It’s:
Creamy
Tangy
Cheesy
Satisfying
Versatile
Easy to make
& SO delicious
Add this ricotta to things like my Zucchini Lasagna, My Favorite Vegan Pizza, or Stuffed Shells! It would also make a delicious addition to things like my Lentil Bolognese Sauce to make the sauce creamier and cheesier. YUM.
For more vegan “cheese,” check out our Easy Garlic & Herb Vegan Cheese, Spicy Pimento Cheese Ball, 5-Minute Macadamia Nut Cheese, Easy Vegan Mozzarella Cheese,” and 30-Minute Cashew Alfredo!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Whipped Almond Ricotta (5 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups slivered blanched almonds*
- 2-3 tsp nutritional yeast (plus more to taste)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 - 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 dash garlic powder
- 3/4 - 1 cup water
- 2-3 Tbsp fresh basil, oregano, or parsley (optional)
Instructions
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Add all ricotta ingredients (starting with the lesser amount of water (3/4 cup/180 ml and salt (1/2 tsp) as original recipe is written) to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed (~2 minutes). You are looking for a well-puréed mixture with only very small bits of almonds intact. Add a bit more water a little at a time if the mixture is having a hard time blending until smooth.
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Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt for overall flavor, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, and lemon juice for acidity. For even more flavor, you can add in some fresh basil, oregano, or parsley (optional).
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At this point, the “cheese” is ready to enjoy, especially in dishes like Lasagna, Pizza, or Stuffed Shells. However, it can also be wrapped in cheesecloth, formed into a ball, and placed into a fine mesh strainer set over a mixing bowl up to 3 days. This will allow the “cheese” to firm up a bit. However, this is optional. You can also transfer straight from blender to a storage container and refrigerate.
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Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 5-7 days.
Notes
*I haven't tested this recipe with any other nuts besides Macadamia (recipe here!), and can't recommend others at this time.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
*Recipe adapted from Hot For Food.
*Recipe makes ~2 cups ricotta.
Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 8 quarter-cup servings)
- Calories: 162
- Fat: 13.6g
- Saturated fat: 1.1g
- Sodium: 178mg
- Carbohydrates: 6.5g
- Fiber: 3.7g
- Sugar: 1.2g
- Protein: 6.3g
Will Cashews work as well I have those but not the almonds?
Hi Melody, cashews might work! Let us know if you try it!
My husband is fond of cheese but he prefers this recipe to dairy ricotta! I agree! The flavor, appearance and texture is perfection.
Whoop! We’re so glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing!
Could almond milk be substituted for the almonds and water?
Hi Cindy, unfortunately, that won’t work because it would be too liquidy. A couple other readers have used almond flour though. If you press “ctrl+f” on a PC or “command+f” on a mac, a find bar should pop up that allows you to search for “almond flour” to see what they did and how it went. Hope that helps!
This recipe is easy and delicious; accurate to its description. I used this in a puff pastry tart recipe and my non vegan guests liked it BETTER than the real ricotta version. Excellent substitute that is better than the “real” thing.
Could you use this as filing for ravioli??
We think that would be great! Let us know if you try it!
I don’t have lemon, can I use apple cider vinegar only? Thank you
We haven’t tried that, but it might work. Let us know if you give it a try!
I’d like to make this ricotta to use in a Limoncello Ricotta cake recipe. One…do you think it would work for cake and two…I assume I should leave out the garlic? The cake recipe also calls for 3 eggs so I’m trying to decide if I want to use FYH eggs or do flax eggs! Decisions, decisions! Thanks in advance.
Definitely leave out the garlic. I’m not sure how it would work, but maybe? I might also suggest this recipe instead, but modify the flavors. The macadamia nuts get softer than the almonds. As for the eggs, not sure! You could try a combo of aquafaba, applesauce, and flax? When in doubt, mix.
I make this often to use on pizza and it’s SO delicious. I always cut the recipe in half but still have leftovers. Tonight I used it to make into a pasta sauce, adding a bit more sauteed garlic + unsweetened almond milk to thin it out. Sauce + spinach + zoodles! Commenting in case anyone else was looking for another way to use it up!
This taste so good! I like it better than regular ricotta. I used it in the Zucchini Lasagna recipe and it even looked like ricotta when I cut into it. Thank you for giving me cheese!
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Karen! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Made it exactly as written for lasagna and it was absolutely unbelievable, better than ricotta. I also used Daiya shredded mozz to make it veggie with roasted eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts and and it was seriously the best ever. Even better, not feeling bad after eating seconds. I am honestly so grateful for this recipe and plan to use a lot. Thank you!
Can I swap almond flour for slivered almonds if I adjust the measurement?
Hi Danielle, we haven’t tried that, but a few readers have. If you press “ctrl+f” on a PC or “command+f” on a mac, a find bar should pop up that allows you to search for “almond flour” to see what they did and how it went. Hope that helps!
I’ve made this twice for my 2 vegan daughters at Thanksgiving and again today at Christmas dinner. It’s amazing! They love it and it’s even tastier than real ricotta to me and I’m just an occasional vegetarian/vegan, not diehard like my daughters. This stuff could convince me that I really can live without cheese! Thank you for this delicious cheese alternative recipe! ?
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Donna! Thanks for sharing!
Can you freeze this?
Hi Sharon, We don’t think this would freeze well, but if you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes!
This was the booooomb digitty <3
Whoop! Thanks for sharing!
I made this to use in lasagna roll-ups. It was fantastic and easy. Even my vegan-skeptical, 93 year-old MIL loved it. This will be a staple in my repertoire. Thanks!
Whoop! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it, Katherine! Thanks for sharing!
Would this work as a base if I were trying to make cannolis? Those usually use ricotta but I question whether it would be necessary to add the yeast/garlic powder.
I think that would work? But we haven’t tried it! Let us know if you do.
I made cannoli dip with this as a basis and it was fantastic! I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk instead of water, same amount of almonds, lemon juice & salt. Maple syrup & vanilla extract to taste. Mixed in plant based cream cheese alternative. Mini chips & crushed pistachios to garnish.
Sounds lovely! Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
Great recipe I added some fresh garden parsley and a tsp of homemade garden pesto and added a little extra of the listed ingredients plus some homemade vegan walnut parmesan cheese soooo yummy I am making lasagna roll ups tommorrow with the ricotta and spinach and my homemade tomato sauce with added Daiya melty mozzarella shreds
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Lorie! That lasagna sounds lovely!
The ricotta worked out perfect for the lasagna roll ups my daughter said it was delish . I learned not to put to much filling or it spill s out the sides as you roll but I pressed it back in haha messy but yummy plus thry get covered in sauce so no matter.
Thanks for sharing, Lorie!
I used almond flour instead of the slivered almonds; I just whisked all the ingredients in a bowl, I didn’t use a blender at all. It turned out fantastic! I did have to add a little more water. So easy!
Great idea, Carla! Thanks so much for sharing!
This is f*ck*ng amazing. I LOVE ricotta and was mournfully looking at the fresh options are the store while picking up the ingredients for this. I am in disbelief at how freaking good it is. THANK you so much for sharing. I never leave recipe reviews buthad to for this one.
Anyone on the fence? Try it. It’s really that good.
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Allie. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
My husband is lactose intolerant so I have been trying to find a way to make lasagna. I made this and it came out great! My daughter who loves lasagna but hates almonds even gobbled it up!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Stephanie!
Amazing!!!! I added fresh basil & used it in baked ziti. No one knew it was vegan!! This is a go too!!
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Lindsey!
This ricotta was so simple and delicious. I was hesitant with the almonds for it to come out tasting like actual ricotta but oh man, I will always make this for my lasagna fix! Made lasagna rolls with this in particular and they turned out delicious. Will be using the leftover to try the stuffed shells. My boyfriend who is a cheese fiend could not even tell the difference…
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Emily! xo
I made this with no substitutions. Used the Vitamix but want to try in the food processor as its hard to get every last bit from the blender. I did add the herbs and used on a fungi pizza with arugula and paper thin potato with homemade vegan mozzarella. Delicious. This ricotta is the best I’ve found. Easy easy and much more economical than store bought. Thank you!
I’m cooking for someone with a double-wammy allergy, lactose and garlic.
I know that there’s no real substitute for garlic, but is there anything else that might come close?
We think you could omit in this recipe and it would still be good! Especially if using in an Italian dish (such as lasagna). Let us know how it goes!
You could add half a small shallot since they are mild tasting and thè mixture will bè blended anyways. The ricotta is amazing
Tried to make my own tofu-ricotta experiment yesterday and it went south really fast. Super glad I surrendered to my mishap and found this recipe. ANOTHER GRAND SUCESS! Thank you for your amazing recipes- taste great and I nail it every time!
Hi Kristyna, we’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for sharing! xo
This is at least as good as dairy ricotta! I made it the first time exactly as recipe called for. The second time I soaked the almonds for approx 7 hours and drained them before I mixed it up. Used the low end of liquid. It came out smooth and creamy. Can leftover be frozen?
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Laura. We are so glad you enjoyed it! We don’t think this would freeze well, but if you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
I just saw the comment below where this was done – thanks!
When I made this recipe I only had balanced almond flour. I am happy to report that this is the best recipe for Vegan ricotta I have ever tried and SOO easy to make. I had to increase the amount of blanched almond flour to 2 1/2 cups because 2 cups with 3/4 cup water made it too watery but I probably could of got around it by starting with 1/2 cup of water. Also I decided to add about 1 tsp of a dried Italian herb blend. It was delicious alone and worked amazing in my gluten free, dairy free lasagna. ?
So great! Thanks for sharing your experience, Katie!
Oops! Forgot the five stars ✨ I’d give it 6 if I could!??
So glad to hear it, Donna! Thanks for sharing! xo
This vegan ricotta is AMAZING! My daughter is vegan and I made her veggie lasagna with this. She loved it! I haven’t made the switch to vegan because I just can’t live without my cheese. But this just might convince me! My other daughter loved it as well. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
I have a question. Since this is blended, can I replace the blanched almonds with blanched almond flower? Thanks
Hmm, not sure! It should work? Let us know how it goes!
this was delicious! my wife and i are vegetarians and i’m lactose intolerant so stuffed shells have been pretty inaccessible to me for awhile, but NO MORE! the almond ricotta was super simple to make, and the flavor and texture were exactly as they should be for a stuffed shell. thanks so much!
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Teresa!
Wow I am so impressed! I made this to stuff shells for some vegan friends coming over for dinner and it was delicious. My non-vegan friend said if I hadn’t said anything he wouldn’t know the difference and I have to agree!
I mixed cooked, drained spinach and vegan ‘mozzarella’ into this before stuffing my shells.
I’ll definitely be trying this in some lasagna or manicotti next.
Whoop! So glad to hear it, Naveen! Thanks for sharing! xo
Can you give any recommendations on a substitute for nutritional yeast? (I don’t have it because of the MSG neurotoxin in it that no one knows or talks about). Thanks!
Hi Danika, we can’t think of a good sub for nutritional yeast – it’s important for that “cheesy” flavor. But you can try omitting it and see how it goes- we think it will still be tasty!
Dana, hoping you can help me rectify my error. After I added water to the slivered almonds (they did not say blanched), I soaked them overnight in the refrigerator and then realized I did not follow your directions to add Boiling Water! Should I drain and add boiling water now or have I ruined the whole soaking process.
Thank you in advance for any help!!
Hi Cyd, they should still be okay! Just drain the water and proceed. Hope that helps!
This is absolutely delicious!
I stuck to the recipe as written and definitely used the fresh basil ~ I mean, so easy and so good.
I am going to spread it on bruschetta and then top it off with a mix of roasted vegetables!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Jani! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
I’ve made this recipe more times than I could count. I love it. It’s so simple, so delicious, and best of all, versatile. I like using half lemon juice and half apple cider vinegar, to decrease lemon flavor while maintaining tanginess. Today instead of salt and herbs I used Simply Organic’s Sweet Basil Pesto Seasoning Mix (I’m not affiliated with them; they’re just delicious, and sold at my local vegan grocery store). So in under 5 minutes I have a delicious pesto ricotta. It’s a great way to add variety to my rice, lentils, and kale, without shelling out a bunch of money for vegan cheese at the farmer’s market. Don’t get me wrong; I love supporting local businesses. But when money’s tight, it’s great to have this kind of recipe, so I can treat myself on the cheap.
So glad you enjoy this recipe, Tina! Thanks so much for sharing!
This is a terrific, easy recipe! I’m eating it now for lunch on garlic toast with tomato and cucumber. Adding fresh oregano took it to the next level. Would be great in any pasta or pizza dish. Delish!!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Dana. Your modifications sound lovely and we are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
The best and easiest vegan ricotta recipe. I’ve tried various ones involving tofu and cashews and this is a whole different level. I made 3/4 of the recipe just because Aldi’s slivered almonds come in a 1.5c package.
Whoop! xoxo
My go to ricotta recipe!!! I use it in my mushroom and tofurkey stuffed shells recipe and it’s delicious. Even my skeptical bf devoured them!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Nathaly. We are so glad you enjoy this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Can you use this for a cheesecake recipe to bake in oven?
Hi Nonna, we haven’t tried that and aren’t sure if it would work. If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes. We would suggest leaving out the savory flavors (nutritional yeast, garlic powder, herbs). Or you may enjoy our Baked Cheesecake recipe. Hope that helps!
I usually shy away from any cheese substitutes because I love cheese. However, I made lasagna using this ricotta recipe for someone with dairy allergies and it was amazing. I would even go so far to say that I will be making it again for myself as it is creamy and delicious and so much better for me! Thank you so much for this recipe. Note on the ingredients: I increased to 5 Tbsp of Nutritional Yeast to get the cheesy flavor.
So easy and so good! I’m going to use it with pasta, peas, and shallots per a NYT recipe for pasta with ricotta & peas
Excellent. I used it in my vegetable lasagna recipe. Delicious and the most simple almond ricotta I have seen.
So glad to hear it, Renee! Thanks for sharing! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
The comments on this recipe prompted me to make this. I agree with everyone, this is really good. I made a calzone with plenty of this “ricotta”. It is SPOT ON. It scratched my cheese itch much better than my normal go-to substitute, tofu.
Caveat: I only had sliced almonds on hand so I ended up soaking them in some vegetable broth for an hour.
Very happy to come across this site. Thank you; this is one of those forever recipes that I’ll be making for life.
Soo simple and yet soo DELICIOUS! I was surprised on how good of a tofu ricotta substitute it was. This really hit the spot for what I was looking for! Threw it on some pizza and it was magic. Thanks for sharing!
I adore this recipe. I make this all the time. It’s absolutely lovely on pizza, in salads (in place of boursin or goat cheese), wherever. Notes: once, I accidentally used toasted almonds instead of raw, and that dramatically shifted the flavor: less cheesy, more nutty and bitter. Also, make sure to use fresh lemon; I once used an older lemon with a fairly hard rind, and it didn’t impart remotely enough flavor.
Do you need to soak the almonds over night?
See comments above!
Can I sub almonds for cashews if I can’t find blanched slivered ones?
Hi Chad! We haven’t tested this recipe with any other nuts besides Macadamia, and can’t recommend others at this time.
I made this using almonds! Fantastic! My fiancé is Sicilian and we were craving lasagna, I found this recipe and it was the yummiest thing ever! Just as good as the real thing. I love getting recipes from this site. I often times have to mix things up because my fiancé can’t have gluten. But I’ve loved everything I’ve made from this site!
Yay! We’re so glad to hear that, Ali!
This is a great recipe. I made it because I’m craving vegan lasagna and I don’t have any storebought components so I’m making it totally from scratch — but I don’t want to spend a lot of time, lol. This whipped up in my really old, low quality blender very effectively in no time! As for modifications, I added a bit more nuti yeast, and I wanted more tang but instead of adding more lemon juice I added apple cider vinegar. It’s really delicious. I’m in danger of eating it out of the tub with a spoon. Fingers crossed that some makes it to the lasagna!
Anyway I’ve pinned this recipe because I’m sure I’ll make it again and again.
Thanks, I have this kind of blender too. I wondered if it would work.
I made this to go along with the gluten free vegan pizza crust (which was perfect). The whipped ricotta texture was on point. The flavor was mild which I liked because I really just wanted that fluffy creamy whipped texture and it seriously delivered. I put huge globs on my pizza and was just what I was looking for. My husbands pizza craving has been tamed!! Will make again and again. THANK YOU
I am going to make pizza today with a black garlic and smoked date sauce and this ricotta. I’ ll top it with red onions and calibrian chilis, which come from Italy. Your husband may love this combination.
I made this last night and used it in a vegan lasagna. I have never made vegan ricotta before, so I was skeptical about how edible it would be. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this was. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I added lemon zest to the finished ricotta, and I did add the Italian seasoning as suggested. I was unclear about whether or not the almonds needed to be soaked or not, so I did not soak them. How long should they be soaked?
Do we need to soak almonds if they are raw whole almonds but doesn’t say “blanched” on the packaging?
Yes!
Hi! Has anyone tried freezing it in small batches? Would love to hear your opinion.
hey! Did you ever try this? Just made some and am wondering the same thing
Also I loved this in a veggie lasagna! I am not vegan but try to not have lots of dairy and ricotta cheese has always grossed me out so this seemed like the perfect solution. Tasted just like regular ole lasagna to me and my boyfriend couldn’t detect it at all.
I want to use this recipe to make a ricotta filling for a vegan tart. I’m unsure whether I should bake the tart with the ricotta filling or not. Would you say this ricotta holds up well to baking/should be cooked or is it better just out of the blender?
I have made several Vegan ricotta cheese recipes. This is a very easy and very tasty one to use in a vegan Lasagna. I made a sweet potato lasagna and veganized it by using this in place of dairy ricotta and a Flax egg instead of a chicken egg, it was wonderful and even tastier a day later. Highly recommend this recipe.
Yum! Thanks fro sharing, Sue!
This was really yummy. Has a hint of sweetness to it. I found myself eating it with a spoon! Then I made stuffed shells with red sauce. Will make again. Thanks for the tasty and easy recipe!
Great! We are glad to hear that, Allison!
I made this for a vegan baked ziti and it was AWESOME!! I used a little bit less lemon juice than the recipe calls for and it was just perfect. I’ve tried so many tofu ricotta recipes that never truly hit the spot and I am happy I found this. Thank you for another delicious recipe! You feed my family at least several times a week with all the recipes of yours we love :-)
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Rachel!
I used this recipe for an office lunch I made for a vegan coworker (zucchini lasagna rolls) and it went over really well! I’ll definitely be making this again at home.
Yay!
I tried this last week in a grain-free dairy-free lasagna: no pasta, no dairy cheese I was skeptical about it but have to say it melted into the lasagna just like dairy ricotta, and it tasted great. It’s recipes like this that make my new diet work. Thanks!
Hi! I’m assuming yes, but once this is made can I cook it? Planning to make a “white” pizza and just wanted to be sure I should put it in the oven. Thanks!
Yes, that will work nicely! Let us know how it turns out! :D
I made this in the food processor with almond meal (flour) and omitted the water. The lemon juice turned it into a soft paste. No draining needed. Delicious!!!
Smart! Thanks for sharing, Ida!
I used almond flour in a blender. I needed some water to get it to blend. But, it turned out great!
I use this regularly to replay the tofu-based ricotta in my vegan lasagna recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Hi – I use a high powered vitamix but can’t get rid of the fine pieces – they’re tiny like sand but you can still tell the ricotta is not completely smooth like normal ricotta. How do you get around that?
Can I use blanched almond flour? Got lots of that in the pantry…
Sorry Sue, that will not work the same! We recommend using slivered blanched almonds for best results :)
I made this! Delish! However, it required about 1.5-2 cups of water. I added the basil and I did 3 t of nutritional yeast – I’d prob do 2 t next time and I did juice of a whole lemon and a nice amount of basil. It’s definitely a personal taste buds kind of recipe :) so I’d just start with the minimum measurements and adjust to your liking. Also I made it in a vitamix. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Thanks for the tip, Pamela! We are glad you enjoyed it!
What an absolutely fabulous recipe,everyone is saying and it is true! Better than the cashew one I tried before but that could easily be my inexperience! I did add some left over almond milk that needed using up to loosen it a little more. Served it with one of my never-ending (bordering on marrow) courgettes – zucchini for all the Americans here- from the garden char-griddled with sliced green beans, seasoned with chilli, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt & pepper. Definitely a keeper recipe. xx
We are glad you enjoyed this recipe, Tiffany! Thanks for the review!
This was so good on pizza! Will be making again and again. Can’t wait to try it in the Joshua McFadden kale and mushroom white lasagna we had been thoroughly enjoying before deciding to go vegan.
Thanks for another wonderful recipe ????
Glad you enjoyed it!
I assume I could just use blanched almond flour and maybe save some time blending… do you think that would work?
No, I don’t think that would work!
I luv this recipe. I made a pasta bake with whole wheat penne pasta and tofu Bolognese sauce then layered it with this ricotta recipe and it was great, the family loved it. Thanks for giving me so many great recipes for my family!
I bought “dry roasted” almond slices by mistake, any chance these would still work? I also have raw Brazil nuts, could those work?
Hi Harriet! Unfortunately for this recipe to work, you’ll need slivered blanched almonds. We haven’t tested this recipe with any other nuts besides Macadamia, and can’t recommend others at this time.
I am so excited about this recipe! I added a 1 heaping tbs of nutritional yeast ( more would have been fine) and basil. Probably did extra garlic salt. Also, at the end It seemed like it need a touch of something – like it needed a little fat to get me to that true cheese texture/flavor so I added some olive oil. Perfect! I put this over spaghetti marinara and I will use the rest on a pizza tomorrow! Thank you so much for a quick, easy, and ‘cheesy’ recipe!
You did it again! You never cease to amaze me! I’ve always made tofu ricotta. This was even better and easier. I doubled the recipe, ran a little short of almonds, so I used raw cashews for the rest. I couldn’t stop tasting it. It is so delicious! With all the fresh spinach my husband grew, were going to have a great lasagna. Thank you very much!
This is sooo easy to make and absolutely delicious. I use fresh garlic instead of powder, but I don’t think it does any harm.
I put this on my pizza, in sandwiches and use it as a dip. Since making this I’ve stopped buying processed vegan cheese. Folks I’ve fed it to at work are bordering on becoming vegan as a result of tasting your recipe :)
Hi, thanks for posting this easy Ricotta Cheese recipe. I haven’t tried your recipe yet, but I have been using raw cashew nuts (soaked for at least 8 hours or overnight) and it turned out delicious.
I don’t have blanched slivered almonds on hand, can blanch raw almonds and use that instead or do they need to be dry and slivered first? Thanks so much! I’m new to vegan, it’s more for health reasons so I’m finding my way and loving all the great recipes!
Blanched raw almonds should work! Let us know how it goes!
hello
a couple of people brought it up but I did not see an answer. Can you freeze the ricotta?
Hi! While we haven’t tried, we can’t say for sure! If you give it a try though, report back!
I made this yesterday (Easter) for a lasagna and it came out amazingly perfect. Couldn’t find blanched slivered almonds, only slivered– but still came out perfect. I added fresh basil and wow– I was amazed. Served it to a lot of meat eaters, vegetarians, and those of us with dairy allergies, it was loved by all. THANK YOU for this super simple, easiest thing to make EVER, amazing recipe. Another winner from Minimalist Baker!! xoxo
l just made this and it is DELICIOUS!!! Didn’t have any nutritional yeast although next time I’ll try to have some on hand. Also l used sliced almonds with the peel and it doesn’t seem to detract from the flavor and the texture is just like dairy ricotta and honestly might even taste better! lm super excited and thankful for this recipe! The texture is marvelous! Made lasagna for Easter tomorrow I’m guessing guests will like the non-dairy version as much as the one with “real” ricotta.
I made this for a Vegan Lasagna, and it was SO yummy! I had some left over, and I sat here dipping wheat crackers in it…it was that good. I was thinking of rolling it into a ball, and running it thru some almond or pecan pieces to make a “cheese ball”. Do you think it would work? Seriously, EVERY.SINGLE.DISH I make from Minimalist Baker is amazing!! Thank you!
I think that would work, but you may also be interested in one of our cheeseball recipes :D We’ve got a Spicy Vegan Pimento Cheese Ball and an Easy Garlic & Herb Vegan Cheese
I did not expected to be so delicious. I used this Almond ricotta in eggplant lasagna rolls. It was the bomb!!
I made this and it is AMAZING. First, I tried it immediately on a Neapolitan style pizza & it was pretty good, but it obviously held a lot better after refrigerating it. (I also may have used too much nutritional yeast and lemon juice, so I’d really recommend people to taste as they go and don’t just start with the maximum amount like I did, because everyone’s taste differs ) I chilled it overnight while I decided what to do with it… then I decided to make a baked ziti with the rest (which was an obvious staple at all of my Italian family get-togethers when I was younger) and it was IDENTICAL to the real thing. Identical. THANK YOU!
MAde this for our women raring afternoon today! So yummy! Added a bit more money meyer lemon juice (off of our tree), and some fresh chopped parsley. Yum!
This is unreal! I have made this recipe many times for stuffed shells and it has wowed both me and every single person I’ve made it for. This almond ricotta in shells with marinara is in my top 5 go-to vegan meals to impress non-vegans. Thank you!
I was a little nervous because I never made anything like a cheese on my own before – so as backup I bought some Kite Hill ricotta made from “artisan almond milk”. This one was so much better!! I used it in a lasagna which was excellent, after tomatoes the ricotta is one of the most important flavors. The blanched almonds were easy to grind up completely with an immersion blender, something else I was nervous about since I don’t have a real food processor. Next time I’m going to make a bigger batch.
Great consistency. Perfect amount of lemon juice. Made it for some lasagna
Love your recipes! Can you substitute brewers yeast for nutritional yeast here?
I wouldn’t recommend it!
Delicious. A bit bland, but so is ricotta :) I did add more water, some extra nutritional yeast and salt. I used it on a pizza and it was amazing. This is truly fantastic and so easy to make.
I have to add a second comment in a row. As I said above, this was fantastic on pizza. Last night I used it in stuffed shells, and served roasted brussels sprouts on the side. It was so fantastic. Truly one of the best meals I’ve ever made. This almond ricotta is far, far better than any tofu ricotta I’ve ever made. It is so simple, and so delicious. (Unfortunately it’s also quite a bit more expensive than tofu, so that’s a consideration.) I will absolutely continue making this as often as possible, and everybody who reads this should immediately go make some, too.
This was SO GOOD!!! Dolloped it on pizza and am using it for lasagna tonight! Easily one of the better DIY vegan cheese alternatives I’ve ever tried.
Hi Dana,
Have you tried cooking this on top of homemade pizza at high heat? Making sourdough pizza from my starter and am wondering if I should add it on the last few minutes of bake time? Thank you!
Hi Jenn! We haven’t tried it, but if you do let us know how it goes!
Wondering what this would be like usuing almonds with the skin? Does it really change the end result (taste and texture) that much?
Hi Jess! It does change the end result, we suggest using almonds without the skin on!
I’m really into vegan cheese right now. Made my first lasagna with cashew cheese a couple of weeks ago and my husband and I really enjoyed it. So good! Next time I will try the lasagna with your almond ricotta.
Thanks for sharing.
Hey Dana!!
Just wondering if I could try this with almond meal instead of the slivered almonds? Just thought it might have a smoother texture xx
Hi Hannah! We wouldn’t recommend it!
I made this with lasagna the other night and it came out amazing! It was my first time making vegan lasagna and this made it so good! Thank you!
sandsadrift.com
so so good and so easy! paired this with a beet salad and it was perfectly creamy, such a nice balance. will likely replace my cashew cheese obsession
We eat whole30 and paleo recipes. I just made this recipe for the second time and instead of just having it on crackers, I used it in a Inspiralized baked recipe called “deconstructed” zucchini manicotti. Baked well and tasted great in place of regular ricotta. Once again, I’m impressed.
I usually don’t leave comments but this recipe is AH-mazing!!!!! I used it in jumbo stuffed shells and covered them with a red pepper lentil bolognese sauce and cashew parmesan. SO GOOD.
Also….all your recipes rock. I’ve yet to try one I didn’t like. Thank you!
Okay, I will admit that I’ve NEVER liked ricotta. But, I have been intrigued by vegan recipes all about ricotta, ranging from tofu to cashews to even pine nuts! This ricotta looks amazing, of course. You’re the queen of easy creativity! <3
I was skeptical but this is really tasty! Thanks!
If I transfer The ricotta into a cheese cLoth and over a strainer/bowl do I put immediately in the fridge to firm up or do I leave it out? Love this recipe FYI except I don’t use nutritional yeast to make it more of a plain ricotta. Thanks for recipes!
Hi Erin! You can place it into the fridge!
Thank you! Will it form up the same if it goes straight into a container then fridge?
Divine! 5 stars for sure. We’re big fans of the macadamia version and this almond version does not disappoint. My son’s has several food intolerances and especially loved this ricotta mixed with his favorite marinara and pasta. He said it was “awesome” to eat something so creamy again. Thank for making these wonderful recipes.
Made this and it’s amazing thank you!
There is a roasted butternut squash dip that was made with whipped ricotta I have been dying to make dairy-free! Do you think this would hold up to something like that? :) Fingers crossed for a “yes!”
Hi Maria! That should work, let us know how it turns out!
Hello! I love your recipes !! How do you blanch your almonds? Or do you buy them that way? Thanks !
Just checking, does this Whipped Almond Ricotta freeze well? I like to make more than one lasagna and freeze one. This way I can just reheat when I am pressed for time.
Did you ever figure out f you can freeze it? Just popped a lasagna with this ricotta into the freezer so we’ll see!!!
I do not use nutritional yeast; is there something else I could use?
Hi Nechama! Hmm, I can’t think of a good sub for nutritional yeast – it’s essential for that “cheesy” flavor. But you can try omitting it and see how it goes!
I sometimes use mellow White miso- gives it a nice flavor without yeast.
I have almond flour, wondering if I could use it instead of almonds.
YUMMMMM need to try this. I just love your blog! Thanks for sharing :)
Nikki
I can’t wait to try this recipe. I have one question though. Italian fresh ricotta is actually a bit sweet and we use it in many sweet recipes as well as savory. Every recipe for vegan ricotta I’ve found relies heavily on savory (nutritional yeast, garlic etc) ingredients. I know I can just leave these out but I’m wondering if you’ve ever made a sweet version.
Commenters earlier in the thread have already suggested a sweeter version recipe and Dana replied she will add it to her list to experiment. For the meantime, she did make a suggestion in the comments above to omit the nutritional yeast and savory spices and replace it with a bit of maple syrup to make a sweet version.
Would you recommend this ricotta or the tofu version of ricotta you have also posted? Was going to do the tofu one from the spaghetti squash lasagna bake and just saw that you uploaded a new version with nuts instead. So which ones better? (: thanks for being amazing
**Can I make this with a Phillips brand blender?
Hi, Dana. I’mean truly grateful to have found your blog. I have pre-diabetes and must keep my sugar levels down by avoiding milk, fruits, grains, and starchy and root vegetables. Not much left for me to eat but veggies plus meats, poultry, fish, and eggs. So I can’t really go vegan–although I need to cook for my vegan daughters, ha. This is a recipe we can both enjoy (I get tired of having to cook for myself separately, but my sugar levels have gone way down, so I reluctantly want to stick with the plan recommended by my doctor). I will eagerly look forward to more of your recipes. Please consider me a fan. Xoxo
I can’t help myself from commenting about your post- do yourself a very big favour and check out Dr Neal Barnard for info on diabetes. He has heaps of lectures on you-tube and he is part of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. His website is also worth a look.
Thanks, Shelly. I will definitely have a look. Most appreciated. And for anyone else interested, please check out Dr. Richard Bernstein as well. http://www.diabetes-book.com/no-no-foods/ Hundreds of reviews of his books on Amazon testify that his plan works to maintain normal blood sugar levels. But it’s a quite restrictive plan, needing commitment.
Dr. Barnard and also Dr. Furhman have nutritional advice that reverses diabetes, not just control the numbers while on medications. Barnard’s is vegan and Furhman’s is 95% vegan or completely vegan if you prefer. The answer is not cutting out fruit. It is cutting out overconsumption of animals and animal products as well as processed foods.
I’m glad Shelly posted that! I was going to recommend the same thing – also watch “What the Health” on Netflix for some incredible information and a specific story about a man with terrible diabetes who went plant based and the transformation is stunning. Also talks about how the ADA, AHA and the ACS are all sponsored by Big Meat, Big Pharma and the Government. You’ll be shocked and hopefully given some hope. Most MDs actually have no training or classes in med school re: nutrition and the truth is, being sick is a business. One in 3 Americans will be diabetic in the next 20 years. Anyway, it’s a great documentary. And as someone who watched her mother die at age 55 from diabetic complications (dialysis, loss of leg, encroaching blindness etc etc etc and 100 polls/day – INSANE) it enrages me. Best of luck to you.
I was diagnosed with the same problem and I took chromium picolinate and my sugar was fine. You never know
Made this and found it to be excellent!
Had it on crackers with olive oil drizzle and chives. Will now be my go to vegan cheese!
Thx for the great recipe!
Whoop! Thanks Ann.
I just wanted to say thank you. I am a 70 something vegan since February. So I am having to learn food prep, etc. all over again. Thanks for all the help.
Lovely – thanks Maggie! xo
Hi Maggie. Do you live near an Aldis? I bought my blender for $70.00 there and it works great! I have made sauces with nuts and they came out completely smooth. I don’t know if its made by vitamix but it looks like one.
Yes Angela, I do. Thank you.
You know, not all of us can afford a “high speed blender”. Can this recipe be made with a plain old Oster, without blowing out the motor?
Why the tone? If this blog isn’t for you read a different one.
Seriously, no tone intended – love this site! Just blown away by prices of high speed blenders, cannot afford now, and cannot risk blowing out the motor of the one I do have. As a life-long vegetarian attempting to go completely vegan, my love of cheese is a major stumbling block. I’m anxious for ANY “cheese-like” recipes that will fill the void. I love the idea of so few ingredients, too. I just apparently don’t have the right equipment for a lot of them. The cashew spreads I’ve read about need the high-powered motors, too. *sigh*
Amazon sells a certified refurbished Blendtec for under $200. I have one and love it! Since adapting a plant based diet, I’ve saved a ton on my grocery bill (milk, eggs and cheese are expensive!!), so you might be able to get one quicker than you think if you redirect your cheese budget to a blender savings account. :)
Any Aldi in your area? They sell a high speed blender “Ambiano Professional Blender” for $69.99, and I swear it is as good as Vitamix. Comes with a 5 year warranty. I’ve had mine for 2 years–use it every day– and it was an incredible investment.
Check out the BlendTec website. They offer reconditioned blenders for a fabulous discount, and they have the same guarantee as a new one. You will burn out the motor on any “regular” blender. Believe me, getting a high-speed blender is well worth the money, and it will change your life for the better!
Thanks for the tip. I have been saving money – was looking at a Vitamix refurbished on amazon, but will now check the Blend-Tec site as well. Was just hoping to be able to make some of these wonderful-sounding recipes in the interim. Ah, well. Something to look forward to!
I switched from a Vitamix to a ninja. I got mine from jcpenneys for 50 on sell. I use it everyday. It’s not the giant one, but big enough and easy to clean. Black Friday may have some.
Check out a Nutri Bullet. It’s not so expensive and it’s amazing! I use it to to make smoothies, nut butters, desserts and so much more.
Hey there – I think your regular blender would work just fine. As long as the almonds are not whole; blanched and slivered are a little softer. Just watch to be sure the chopper isn’t spinning around not chopping anything! If 6ou are feeling uneasy about it, give them a little chop on a cutting board before blending. Eating Vegan dies require a bit if prep anyway, and it it SO worth it in the end! I want to try this recipe and make ricotta/butternut squash filled ravioli. Yummmm! I LOVE this site!!
Sorry for the typos. . ?
I have a ninja blender and it works just fine … I’ve made almond milk, almond ricotta and almond butter in it… just soak the nuts first if you are worried about it… good luck with your blender hunt !!!
oops just seen the date.. you probably have one by now! LOL
Gloria do you use a Blendtec twister jar to make nut cheese? We recently got a Blendtec and I’m trying to get the hang of it. So far, the soup setting seems the best for that purpose, but it takes a lot of time.
I would consider an Oster high speed! Just really, any high quality blender should do. Good luck!
I use my food processer and/or nutribullet to make vegan cheeses. They work really well. The food processor works better for nuts than my blender does. I make nut cheeses every week for the past 3-4 yrs. I’m trying the almond tonight for veggie lasagne and will be using my food processor that cost me about $17 with tax, and it’s a good one. Good blenders are a few hundred where I am and not as good imo. My food proc makes everythg super smooth and creamy if I let it run for a bit, sometimes my blender will still even have chunks.
Hi, I’d love to make it but I don’t have nutrional yeast and I find it’s quite expensive to buy. Is there a substitute I could use?
Hmm, I can’t think of a good sub for nutritional yeast – it’s essential for that “cheesy” flavor. But you can try omitting it and see how it goes!
Marmite often works as a substitute, in my opinion.
Try a bulk food place. A couple of cups will go a on way!
We buy it at a winco in the bulk item section. It’s the best price where we live.
I’m from New Zealand so I’m not sure which place here is the best to find it cheap. I only know one place and it costs $13.50!
Maybe try online like amazon.
If there’s a Bin Inn near you they definitely have it in bulk!
Thanks! There’s one fairly close so I could go and have a look. Do you how much it would cost?
It is really not that expensive… 5.00 for a 4.5 oz container and it goes pretty far as you only need couple tablespoons in recipes …
Super inexpensive at trader joes
You can buy a small amount in the bulk section of Whole Foods.
Have you found a difference between using a blender and a food processor? My blender is just a normal kitchen aid blender (vs vitamix etc) so I don’t think I would describe it as high speed. But I want to make this for pizza tonight and have a food processor!
You can make it in a food processor it just won’t be as creamy.
I just made it in the food processor but added more water (maybe half a cup) and it worked beautifully. Very fluffy like the almond ricotta I have had on pizza at True Food. As an Italian American who is very picky about ricotta, I am so excited for the recipe. Thank you Dana!
So timely, I was going to make a vegan eggplant Parmesan next week! I just bought raw slivered almonds at Trader Joe’s, is that the same as the blanched almonds in the recipe?
As long as they don’t have the skin on the outside. It should work either way, but blanched slivered are best!
No skin! The package says raw slivered almonds.
That should work! Blanched I think provide a creamier texture since they’ve been soaked a little. But it should work! Let me know how it goes.
Can you use it in a vegetarian lasagna?
Absolutely!
Would love to see this in a cannoli recipe, but will use it for my next lasagna for sure!!
Good idea! Will add to my list.
Did you ever make a cannoli or sweet ricotta recipe? I’ve been trying to find one but they’re all tofu based
Yum! Definitely trying this on toast with some blueberries.
Yum! Do you also have a sweet version for desserts?
Hi Joan! I don’t yet, but I’ll add that to my list! In the meantime, I’d just suggest omitting the nutritional yeast and garlic powder, decreasing the salt, and adding a little maple syrup. Good luck!
This looks very good! How long does it keep in the fridge?
7-10 days, depending on the freshness of your ingredients.