Vegan Tofu Ricotta

This is truly the best Vegan Tofu Ricotta recipe you will ever try! It's full of flavor, made with 8 easy ingredients, & actually resembles the texture of a real ricotta cheese while being completely dairy-free!

scoop of green spinach tofu ricotta getting spooned out of a larger bowl

When I tell you I am OBSESSED with this spinach tofu ricotta, I mean it! While I still eat real cheese occasionally, I am always looking for vegan cheese substitutes that ACTUALLY taste good and mimic the taste and texture of real cheese. Well, this dairy-free ricotta cheese recipe does just that!

Ingredients

Did I mention this homemade ricotta is nut-free, oil-free, & gluten-free too? Here is a quick recap of the ingredients needed for this recipe (full quantities in recipe card):

Firm Tofu (must be firm for the right texture)
Fresh Spinach (optional)
Fresh Parsley ( can also sub with fresh basil for a tofu basil ricotta)
Nutritional Yeast (gives a cheesy flavor)
Lemon juice
Salt
Garlic powder
Italian seasoning

overhead shot of labeled ingredients for tofu ricotta including spinach, firm tofu, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, lemon juice, and parsley

How to make tofu ricotta

The first step is to press the tofu. While some moisture is good, I like to press my tofu for about 5 minutes to get out excess water.

After that, just add everything to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. It really is that easy!

ingredients in blender including spinach, tofu, nutritional yeast, spices, and lemon juice — Tofu ricotta ingredients in blender before blending

FAQ & Expert Tips

Can you substitute tofu for ricotta cheese?

Yes! I actually find this substitute works great as a 1:1 replacement in many savory dishes calling for ricotta cheese like lasagna, cannelloni, pizza, or stuffed shells. It also can be a great salad topping as raw tofu is totally fine to eat without extra cooking time.

Can I use this tofu ricotta in desserts?

This specific recipe is really meant for savory food. However, if you want to adapt to a dessert recipe I'd recommend just blending together the tofu and lemon juice from this recipe. Then, mix in powdered sugar until the dairy-free ricotta reaches your desired sweetness. Doing this makes it a great substitute for vegan cannolis!

How do I store leftover tofu ricotta?

Leftover tofu ricotta can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Can I freeze tofu ricotta?

I really do recommend storing in the fridge and eating within 5 days, but it can be stored in the freezer in a closed container up to 1 month. Just keep in mind, when it defrosts it will have a slightly different texture and may not be as creamy and smooth.

Is there a good substitute for nutritional yeast?

Honestly, not really. Nutritional Yeast gives this recipe a cheesy flavor and it's a really unique ingredient flavor-wise. If you can't find it you can just omit it from the recipe.

a bowl of spinach tofu ricotta with parsley on top

Recipe Suggestions

Here are a few of my absolute favorite recipes to use this vegan ricotta in:

Vegan Puttanesca Lasagna
Vegan Stuffed Shells
Vegan Lentil Baked Ziti (coming soon!)
Vegan Garlic Herb Pizza Dough. Make this homemade dough and use this dairy free ricotta in place of cheese!
Southwest Tofu Scramble (great if you want cheese mixed in!)
And...I honestly love it as a base for avocado toast. So yummy!

I hope you all enjoy this Vegan Tofu Ricotta! Definitely let me know if you have any more recipe requests on ways to use this delicious vegan cheese. Enjoy!

-TSG