Can I make lasagna without ricotta?

Echowysp

I'm making lasagna and I forgot the ricotta.  I have mozzarella and parm cheese, plus sauces, onions, garlic and spinach.

It's snowing pretty hard right now and I don't want to go out if I don't have to. Any suggestions?  

anna7602

do you have tofu in the house? I made a veggie lasagna with tofu the other day and it stuck together so much better than with ricotta!

Echowysp

anna7602:

do you have tofu in the house? I made a veggie lasagna with tofu the other day and it stuck together so much better than with ricotta!

Nope, no tofu. I can see how that would be a good substitute.

Jaimers375

Yes, do you have any sour cream or cottage cheese?  Both can be substitutes.

kkramer99

Do you have cream cheese? (And, more of a reach...mascarpone?) Goat cheese can sub well, but will give a more pungent flavor.

 But, IMO, you can still make it w/o the ricotta - it just won't be as "creamy." Might consider making a bechemel (white) sauce to layer w/ your red sauce.

 

Echowysp

Jaimers375:

Yes, do you have any sour cream or cottage cheese?  Both can be substitutes.

I do!  Thanks!  

MamaMyers22

cottage cheese would be a good substitute.

kickenb

Yes, you can make without ricotta.  I normally make my lasagna with only shredded cheese and it turns out fine. 

Echowysp

kkramer99:

Do you have cream cheese? (And, more of a reach...mascarpone?) Goat cheese can sub well, but will give a more pungent flavor.

 But, IMO, you can still make it w/o the ricotta - it just won't be as "creamy." Might consider making a bechemel (white) sauce to layer w/ your red sauce.

 

Hmmm... I've heard of bechemel sauce.  I'll have to see how that's made.  Thanks!

FolanMama

when we were poor growing up, my mom used to use cottage cheese.

ladeebri

Ditto the cottage cheese!  My mom used to use half ricotta, half cottage cheese anyway because she thought ricotta was too overpowering for her tastes.

kkramer99

I've made this version of lasagna - it has a description for bechemel sauce. The recipe is a little mixed up - just read on to the point where they describe making the bechemel - it's pretty easy and makes the lasagna creamy and I bet you wouldn't miss the ricotta.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/classic-italian-lasagna-recipe/index.html

frenchgirltx

Actually as long as you have some butter, some flour and some milk you can make a roux and then add any kind of shredded cheese to it, and that will be what will replace the ricotta. I never use ricotta when I make my lasagna.

frenchgirltx

kkramer99:

I've made this version of lasagna - it has a description for bechemel sauce. The recipe is a little mixed up - just read on to the point where they describe making the bechemel - it's pretty easy and makes the lasagna creamy and I bet you wouldn't miss the ricotta.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/classic-italian-lasagna-recipe/index.html

Actually that's how I make mine (the one with the "roux"), and it is so yummy!