The Best 11 Ricotta Salata Substitutes

One of the best ways to substitute for ricotta salata is to use feta cheese. Hailing from Greece, feta cheese is an accessible cheese made from sheep’s milk or goat’s milk. 

The two cheeses have similar textures, so it is a good substitute in almost any recipe. To get the best results, use a feta cheese that has been aged between 3 months to a year. 

Feta has a mild flavor, but it is much saltier than ricotta salata. When using this ricotta salata substitute, use half the amount of cheese the recipe calls for. Or, use less salt than is required.

One way to replace ricotta salata in a recipe is by using another type of ricotta called Ricotta Infornata. This cheese is actually baked, so it does not have the exact same taste as salata. 

But, it’s still a good substitute for ricotta in recipes for cold dishes like salads or sandwiches. To get the best flavor, keep the ricotta infornata’s brown rind on. It adds a nice smoky flavor to the dish.

Young Pecorino Romano cheese is a wonderful substitute for ricotta salata. The popular cheese is made from sheep’s milk, just like salata is. 

However, it is aged for a longer time creating a stronger tangy flavor like parmigiano reggiano. The ricotta salata substitute is best used in hot meals like pasta, pizza, or casseroles. 

Pecorino Romano melts though, so be aware of how that may change the texture of the dish. It is best to use a young Pecorino, but if you can only find one that has aged more than eight months, then cut down how much cheese you’re using.

Mizithra is a cheese from Greece that is made with goat or sheep’s milk. It is more common to find the fresh cheese in grocery stores, but it’s best to buy the salt-dried version. The salt-dried Mizithra has a flavor and a crumbly texture closer to ricotta salata making it a great substitute. 

To use mizithra, crumble it over hot dishes or salads. It will add a nice saltiness and unique taste.

Mexican cheese is a great ricotta cheese substitute. Though both Cotija and queso fresco are made from cow’s milk, they are quite similar to ricotta salata. They are both found easily in grocery stores, but it is best to buy the fresh cheese over aged ones. 

Both cotija and queso fresco add a creamy texture to dishes and have a nice, mild flavor similar to ricotta cheese. Use either to add creaminess to baked dishes or on top of an omelet!

Cottage cheese is one of the best low-fat ricotta cheese replacements. Not only is it delicious, but cottage cheese is pretty similar to ricotta salata in flavor. Texture-wise, it’s a bit more watery, but there is an awesome trick to fix this.

Before you replace ricotta salata with cottage cheese, there are two things you should do. The first is to buy a small-curd cottage cheese. The second is to put the cheese through a sieve to remove leftover whey. This will “dry out” the cottage cheese a bit and make it a better substitute. 

It works especially well as a replacement in pasta dishes like stuffed shells, lasagna, or pastries.

I know tofu isn’t a cheese, but it is actually one of the ways to substitute ricotta cheese in a recipe! It’s also vegan-friendly! Made from soy milk, tofu is a great way to make a dish using ricotta salata vegan-friendly and lactose intolerant-friendly. 

There are many types of tofu, but silken tofu is what you want to use in this case. It can be quite liquidy, so make sure to press out the excess water before using. Tofu also doesn’t have the salty flavor of ricotta salata. So, it is best to add in some salt and nutritional yeast to give it a cheesier taste. 

Tofu works great as a substitute  in Italian dishes like ravioli, or where some creaminess is needed.

Another fantastic vegan-friendly way to replace ricotta cheese is to use cashew cheese. It has a similar texture to ricotta salata, so it’s nice and crumbly. This makes it easy to use in plenty of ricotta recipes like dips, manicotti, pasta, or a baked dish. 

If you cannot find cashew cheese, make your own ricotta recipe at home with this recipe. Simply soak cashews in water, then blend them with lemon juice and salt. Add in some extra spices if desired.

No one will ever guess that they’re enjoying cashew cheese! It tastes like regular ricotta!

Similar to regular ricotta cheese, goat cheese is also a fantastic replacement for ricotta salata! Made from goat’s milk, this cheese is crumbly in texture and has a subtle saltiness. 

To use goat’s cheese as a replacement, it may be better to use a slightly more aged cheese over fresh goat cheese. As it ages, it becomes firmer and stronger in taste. This aging process will make it closer in taste and texture to ricotta salata cheese. 

Since goat cheese has a tangy and salty taste, it works best in savory dishes as opposed to sweet treats.

When feta is made, the leftover whey is repurposed into Manouri cheese. It has a soft, crumbly texture that is close to ricotta salata. Manouri has a mild flavor with a slight tang that can be likened to greek yogurt, cream cheese, or mascarpone. 

Thanks to its mild taste, the greek cheese can be used in a variety of dishes like pizza, on toast, lasagna, or with fruits. Manouri is a delicious cheese, so give it a try!

You may be surprised to find mozzarella cheese on this list, but it can be a good ricotta cheese substitute in a pinch! It has a milky flavor and smooth texture that adds a lot of creamy notes to any dish. 

To use mozzarella cheese instead of ricotta cheese, it is best to buy a low-moisture mozzarella. Ricotta cheese has a much lower fat content and less liquid than mozzarella. Using low-moisture mozzarella will give you a closer texture and liquid content to ricotta cheese. 

Grate the cheese from Italy on top of some pizza, crackers, or on a cheeseboard. It’s a versatile cheese that will work as a replacement on many savory dishes.