what can i substitute for cheese in lasagna

How to make dairy free lasagna

Prepare the lasagna noodles. You have two options for preparing your noodles. I like to soak mine in cold water right in the lasagna pan.

It takes about 2 hours, and you the noodles will be lighter in color and soft when they’re ready. One less pot to clean and super easy.

Otherwise, you can boil them according to the package directions for al dente.

Make your vegan ricotta. Combine the ingredients in a food processor bowl and blend until it becomes the texture of ricotta cheese. If you want further, more detailed instructions, read through my dairy free ricotta article. You can do this a day or two in advance if you want.

Cook the ground beef. Heat a large skillet to medium-high and brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. I like to use a meat chopper to help things along, but a wooden spoon will work just fine.

While the meat is cooking, add the minced garlic, herbs and salt. Then, when the meat is no longer pink, stir in the two jars of marinara sauce. Remove the pan from heat and set it aside.

Assemble the layers. Start with a thin layer of meat sauce then top with a layer of noodles. Top that with a thin layer of dairy free ricotta and top with a layer of meat sauce.

Repeat until you run out of ricotta, but make sure you end on a sauce layer. Then add your vegan mozzarella.

Bake your lasagna. Preheat your oven to 375˚F and bake the lasagna for 40 – 45 minutes, or until the sides are bubbling and the mozzarella appears melted. Keep in mind that dairy free cheese don’t melt like regular cheese so it won’t look the same.

Remove the lasagna from your oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. If you want, garnish with fresh parsley before serving to make it pretty.

What I love about dairy free lasagna

It’s been years since we had a proper lasagna. I had really been avoiding it because I just wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it justice. Could lasagna without ricotta be any good? Turns out, it can. You just need vegan ricotta (we make our own because I have yet to find one I love at the store).

We tried a few different versions, including a traditional béchamel lasagna, before landing on this one, but I really found myself missing the texture of ricotta. So I made a batch of my vegan ricotta and paired it with a super easy ground beef tomato sauce and topped all the layers with a combination of liquid mozzarella and vegan mozzarella shreds.

You can use whatever form of mozzarella you want on top (as long as it’s dairy free), but I found that this combination looks the best. I don’t think one is better than the other when it comes to flavor or texture though, so use what you have or can get at the store.

Easy Lasagna Recipe WITHOUT Ricotta Cheese| Must Try!

What can I substitute for ricotta in Lasagna?

To substitute ricotta in lasagna, it’s best to choose ingredients with similar textures, flavors, and colors. Most soft cheeses like cottage cheese, cream cheese, mascarpone, and goat cheese will work well. There are also some other substitutes that are a bit more daring but will get the job done.

What is the healthy substitute of cottage cheese?

Cottage cheese itself is a healthy option to include in daily diet as it is made of milk and rich in protein and calcium. If one has to substitute cottage cheese for various reasons then tofu is one such option which can be used and has good protein content too. Or mozzarella cheese or other types of low fat cheese options can be used to certain extent as a substitute.

Can you use mozzarella cheese instead of ricotta in Lasagna?

Mozzarella cheese is best used in dishes that don’t require browning or cooking because it doesn’t melt well. It tends to get stringy when cooked at too high of a temperature. If you want to use mozzarella cheese as a substitute for ricotta, try reducing the amount of liquid in your recipe. This way the lasagna won’t come out soggy!

Is ricotta cheese good for lasagna?

Ricotta cheese also works well as a substitute for sour cream, plain yogurt, or milk in dishes like salads, smoothies, sauces, dips, and baked goods! It has a creamy texture that makes it perfect for lasagna, cannolis, or filling crepes! Is lasagna better with ricotta or cottage cheese?