Vegan Cashew Ricotta Cheese Recipe (2024)

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Best tasting vegan cashew ricotta cheese recipe made with raw cashews, lemon and garlic. Extra thick and creamy, luscious, only 5 ingredients and perfect for lasagna, pizza, stuffed shells or to spoon over a thick piece of bruschetta!

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Cashew Ricotta

Looking for a dairy-free substitute for Italian ricotta cheese? You are in the perfect place friends!

Soft, creamy and silky, this luscious homemade vegan ricotta cheese is the real deal.

At this point in my like I’m totally convinced that cashews are pure gold, absolutely magical and there’s nothing they can’t do. They are my heroes!

So delicious, use it on everything:

Fan favorite Spinach Lasagna
Vegan Stuffed Shells, Manicotti + Ravioli
Pasta Bake with Sausage Walnut Meat
Ultimate Vegan White Pizza
Mix with Tomato Sauce for a new creamy pink sauce
As Antipasto on a Vegan Cheese Platter drizzled with Chive Pesto
In a Sandwich
On Bruschetta topped with olives + roasted tomatoes
Drizzle with a balsamic reduction
as a dip drizzled with olive oil, fresh herbs + lemon zest <—seriously delish!

It’s Quick + Easy to Make

Soy, Gluten & Dairy Free Cheese

How to Make Vegan Ricotta

If you don’t have a Vitamix or another such powerful blender, make sure to start with a quick soak of the cashews (20 minutes) in hot boiling water.
Transfer the cashews with the lemon, water, garlic and all the spices to the blender (or food processor) and puree until extra creamy and fluffy. Season to taste with sea salt and use it anywhere you’d like to use ricotta cheese. Store in the refrigerator up to 5 days or freeze in freezer proof containers for 3 months.
For sweet desserts you’ll omit the garlic and savory spices of course and sweeten to taste with maple syrup or powdered sugar.

Vegan Cheese Inspiration

Creamy Alfredo Sauce
Butternut Mac and Cheese
Vegan Mozzarella
Walnut Parmesan

5 from 2 votes

Vegan Cashew Ricotta Cheese

The best tasting vegan cashew ricotta cheese recipe made with raw cashews, lemon and garlic. Extra creamy and luscious, only 5 ingredients and perfect for lasagna or to spoon over a thick piece of bruschetta!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:5 minutes mins

Soaking:20 minutes mins

Total Time:5 minutes mins

Ingredients

2 cups raw cashews
3/4 cups filtered water
1 lemon -juiced
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp sea salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cover the cashews with hot water and soak for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse and transfer them to a powerful blender or food processor. (If using a Vitamix or another extra powerful blender you can skip the soaking )
Blend the cashews together with the water, lemon juice, garlic and sea salt until smooth and creamy.
Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours until chilled and thick or serve right away. You can spoon over bruschetta or use in lasagna and for other pasta dishes. Keeps well in the fridge for about five days.

WFPB + Plantricious

Notes

For a Dessert Style Ricotta to be used in cannoli and other sweets, just omit the garlic, onion and sea salt; sweeten to taste with maple syrup or powder sugar instead. I used it to make these little Pumpkin Cheesecakes over the holidays and they were a major hit with everyone.
To make Cashew Cream for savory uses, follow the same recipe and stretch it out a bit with more lemon juice or water until desired consistency and tanginess is achieved.
If planning to serve this on a cheese Board I suggest lining a sieve with cheese cloth, transfer the ricotta, tie the pouch and place to drain over a bowl in the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight. This will yield a dryer but still super creamy vegan ricotta can serve sprinkled with fresh basil, thyme, chives, some lemon zest + a drizzle of good evoo. It's lovely spooned over crostini or crackers.
On Storage - Cashew ricotta can be stored in the refrigerator up to 5 days or frozen in freezer proof lidded containers up to 4 months.

Nutrition

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Cashew Ricotta, plant based, vegan cheese, wfpb

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 244kcal

Author: Florentina