Let me guess, just in time that you were about to make some delicious cheesecake or some tiramisu, you’ve run out of that one main ingredient that would totally ruin your recipe?
Yeah, I get that a lot because I too have a scatterbrain when it comes to gathering all my ingredients together on time.
But, there is always a solution, especially when it comes to an ingredient like Mascarpone. Today, we are talking about things you can substitute Mascarpone cheese with.
The Best Mascarpone Cheese Substitute are
- Cottage Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Créme Fraîche
- Ricotta Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Full Fat Greek Yogurt
- Vegan Mascarpone
- Coconut Cream & Lemon Juice
- Vegan Cream Cheese
- Coconut Milk And Cashew Butter
- Soft Tofu And Vegan Cream Cheese
For more information on these types of cheese, then please keep on reading the whole article.
Mascarpone Cheese Substitutes
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese has been very popular in the diet and fitness world this past decade because it is lower in calories, fat content, and much healthier than other cheeses. This cheese has a mild flavor and soft, and creamy textures.
Cottage cheese is a so-called fresh type of cheese. This means that it doesn’t need an aging process for it to be consumed, it can totally be eaten ”fresh” or right after making it.
Cottage cheese has no particular taste and it can be used in either savory dishes or desserts like tiramisu or cheesecake. This creamy cheese is made from the curds of pasteurized cow’s milk.
Cottage cheese can either be sold salted or unsalted. I advise you to always use the unsalted version unless you’re making savory recipes.
How To Make Cottage Cheese From Scratch
Ingredients:
- 1.5 liters of a whole, full-fat milk or fresh cream (I prefer milk)
- Juice of 1 lemon for some citric acid
- A pinch of salt
- Heavy cream or creme fraiche
From The Kitchen You’ll Need:
- A strainer lined with a folded cheesecloth
- A wooden spoon
- A container
Preparation:
Bring the milk and the pinch of salt to simmer. That is when the milk starts foaming and making bubbles. You don’t want your milk to boil or burn for that matter.
This is where you lower the heat to the lowest possible temperature and add 5 or 6 tablespoons of lemon to the mixture.
You’ll notice that the milk will curdle immediately, so make sure you start to stir right away for exactly 7 minutes(I know, I tried this recipe myself) using the wooden spoon.
After the cheese curd and the buttery texture have been formed, strain it in a dampened cheesecloth and let it settle down for 15 minutes. When rested, run the cottage cheese through cold water to set it.
You can eat this creamy cheese right away or store it in the refrigerator for 3 days in an airtight container.
Cream Cheese
When it comes to using cream cheese as a substitute for Mascarpone cheese this is one hack that you must know to make it as believable as possible.
To get that perfect Mascarpone creamy consistency, you have to mix it with whipped (or heavy milk cream) and butter.
The heavy cream will add some more fat content to the cream cheese, much like Mascarpone. I advise using full-fat cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese for substituting Mascarpone.
Créme Fraîche
Créme FraÎche is basically the French version of Mascarpone Cheese. So, this makes one of the perfect Mascarpone substitutes with a buttery flavor that you can find in the market.
But, there are a couple of differences between these cheeses. Crème fraîche is slightly more watery and fattier so its texture isn’t as rich as the Mascarpone. Mascarpone is also sweeter and doesn’t have that acidic tang to it.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is a soft cheese with a grainy and crumbly texture and a tangier flavor that is very similar to cottage cheese. Traditionally, this cheese is made from cow’s milk but there are also many variations of it that can be made out of other types of milk.
Ricotta cheese is a whey type of cheese made with a little bit of curd just so it can contain a solid form and a solid texture.
You can use this cheese in dishes like pasta, bruschetta, all the way to desserts like cheesecake and tiramisu.
[Related Article: 4 Best Substitutes For Gouda Cheese You Never Know Existed!!]
Sour Cream
Another alternative to Mascarpone cheese is sour cream. It has a very similar texture to mascarpone, but there are some differences, it is less fatty and it is not as creamy.
It also has a little bit of a tangy punch, so I would recommend using it as a substitute for Mascarpone in mainly savory dishes like cream soups, accompaniment to soups, dressings, any type of creamy meal, and dips, but not desserts.
Full Fat Greek Yogurt
Greek Yogurt Another great alternative to mascarpone cheese is full fat and you probably already have it in your home. Plus, it is so much cheaper than Mascarpone.
While of course, Mascarpone is so much better for any cheesecake recipe, it can come with a pretty hefty price. Greek yogurt has a slightly tangier flavor and it’s not as creamy as the Mascarpone.
But, on the plus side, Greek yogurt is very versatile and you can mix it in either sweet or savory dishes, making it the perfect choice.
Vegan Mascarpone
This is a plant-based, animal-friendly ingredient for all of you out there who don’t consume animal products. Vegan Mascarpone cheese tastes exactly like regular Mascarpone and it’s made out of coconut or plant-based milk, cream, almonds, and acidic ingredients like lemon and white vinegar.
Coconut Cream And Lemon Juice
Any cream with acid mixed within can get you a Mascarpone-like texture. And on the plus side, is super easy to make. Just put the coconut cream and the combination of acid(in this case lemon, but you can also mix in a little bit of white vinegar for a softer texture) in a blender, and voila, you got yourself a Mascarpone cheese with basic ingredients.
Vegan Cream Cheese
Vegan cream cheese is another plant-based substitute for all of the vegans and vegetarians out there. You can find this type of cheese in some of the bigger groceries stores in the vegan section.
To make this cheese taste and feel a little bit more like the real deal, simply just add some fresh lemon juice and coconut or any plant-based milk and combine them together in a blender. Add some honey or sugar if you plan to use it in sweet dishes.
Coconut Milk And Cashew Butter
For this recipe, all you have to do is simply combine your coconut milk and cashew butter in a blender and blend it until you get a nice, creamy, Mascarpone-like consistency. Really, that is all. You can use this imitation cheese in recipes that are sweet because of the cashew butter.
[Related Article: 4 Best Substitutes For Edam Cheese For Any Occasion]Soft Tofu And Vegan Cream Cheese
A blend of vegan cream cheese and some soft tofu can be a very healthy, low fat, substitute for your Mascarpone in either savory or sweet recipes. Indeed, it is not one of your usual alternative choices but it can make your life easier if you’ve run out of Mascarpone.
