For every foodie out there, cheese is the ultimate ingredient. Imaging the cheese threads tipping from the pizza slice and cutting through it with lasagna, that’s delicious, right? That being said, there are various types of cheese out there, and mascarpone cheese is one of them. For people who need to find mascarpone cheese substitutes, we have everything in this article!
Mascarpone Cheese Substitute
Mascarpone cheese is a fresh cheese and originates from Italy. Mascarpone cheese is the result of coagulating the cream with tartaric acid or citric acid. Mascarpone cheese has creamy and rich cheese, which is readily used in savory dishes and desserts all the same. We wouldn’t mind saying that thinking about Mascarpone cheese reminds us of tiramisu which is made with espresso, ladyfingers, cocoa powder, and even mascarpone cheese.
Usually, mascarpone cheese available in supermarkets is made in the U.S. However, the Italian variants are imported and are only available in specialty stores. So, if you wanted the mascarpone cheese but couldn’t find it, we have the mascarpone cheese substitutes in the section below!
1. Cream Cheese
In case you are following the recipe that demands mascarpone cheese but don’t have it, cream cheese should work fine (not best). This is because cream cheese has a silky and smooth consistency which makes a suitable swap. However, it demands a bit of tweaking because pure cream cheese won’t make a good option.
For this purpose, you need to mix around twelve-ounces of cream cheese (cream cheese must be at room temperature) and mix it with ¼ sour cream and ¼ whipping cream (heavy). This will result in a smooth texture and will cut out the tanginess.
2. Whipped Cheese
When it comes down to the mascarpone cheese substitute, you can opt for the whipped cheese. This is because the whipped cheese has a similar flavor but with lesser fat and calorie count. Some people might feel like that cheese has thick consistency as compared to the natural texture of mascarpone. For this purpose, you could beat the whipped cheese to make the texture a bit light and creamy.
The whipped cheese makes a fine substitute for mascarpone cheese if you are following the casserole or savory sauce recipes. However, whipped cheese doesn’t make a good substitute for mascarpone cheese in classic dishes, such as tiramisu.
3. Low-Fat Sour Cream
The low-fat sour cream is the perfect substitution of mascarpone cheese when you are cooking the saucy recipes or casserole. When it comes down to the sweet recipes, the users need to use low-fat sour cream that needs to be mixed with mascarpone cheese. This is only because the dish’s sweetness will be compromised if you completely replace mascarpone cheese.
On the other hand, the consistency and texture of the low-fat sour cream pretty similar to mascarpone cheese. However, the nutritional values are different. To illustrate, the low-fat sour cream has around 6mg/per tablespoon cholesterol, while mascarpone cheese has 20mg cholesterol for one speed. Also, the saturated fat is less, and calcium levels will be higher.
4. Greek Yogurt
For everyone who needs the readily available and accessible substitute for mascarpone cheese, Greek yogurt is the right choice. The best thing about Greek yogurt is that it’s an inexpensive option and has higher nutritional value. Greek yogurt has a creamy and smooth consistency and delivers a neutral flavor.
There is dense nutrition as it has 200mg calcium and 23g protein in a one-cup serving. However, to ensure a higher richness level, the Greek yogurt has to be mixed with mascarpone cheese.
5. Cottage Cheese
To begin with, this is about low-fat cottage cheese. It can be substituted for mascarpone cheese in case you can give up on the cheese texture. This is because cottage cheese has a mild flavor and is moist, but the consistency is drastically different. Cottage cheese is a fine choice where you need the flavor of mascarpone cheese rather than using it as the basic ingredient.
The cottage cheese delivers the flavor and moisture, but the calorie is less-dense. Even more, the fat content is less and has higher protein content higher than mascarpone cheese.
6. Ricotta
Ricotta is one of the promising mascarpone cheese substitutes, which is actually Italian whey cheese. It is made from cow, sheep, and goat milk whey that’s left behind during the production of cheese. Ricotta is made by protein coagulation. Ricotta has a creamy appearance and white color, with a slightly sweet taste.
The fat content is changed according to the brand. As far as the texture is concerned, ricotta has a similar consistency. Also, it tends to be perishable.
7. Softened Cheese
The softened cheese is actually the lighter and beaten-up cream cheese. For this purpose, you can use a combination of softened cheese and whipping cream. Similarly, the measurement of both ingredients matters. In this case, you need to mix ¼ cup of whipping cream and eight-ounces of softened cheese.
8. Butter & Cream
Believe it or not, the combination of butter and cream can make a good substitute for mascarpone cheese. Also, in particular, you need cream cheese as well as cream for this purpose. That being said, take ¼ cup of cream, eight-ounces of full-fat cream cheese, and ¼ cup of softened butter. You must beat them until it becomes smooth and has gains consistency.
9. Make Your Own Mascarpone Cheese
In this section, we are sharing sixteen-ounces of mascarpone cheese; you need heavy cream. In the first place, you must add two cups of heavy cream to the saucepan and warm it over at low heat. Once the temperature of heavy cream reaches 185-degrees Fahrenheit, add one tablespoon of lemon juice. Also, keep in mind that the temperature has 185-degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
Also, you can use the double layer of cheesecloth for straining the mixture. That being said, the mascarpone cheese is ready. Now, make sure that you add it to an airtight jar. Also, it can be used for up to three days. So, did you find a suitable substitute?
