What are good substitutes for cream cheese?
8 rows · Feb 12, 2022 · Steamed and pureed cauliflower florets become an unexpectedly healthy alternative to cream ...
What is a good vegan substitute for cream cheese?
Nov 15, 2021 · Greek yogurt Greek yogurt is a great alternative to cream cheese. It also gives your favorite dishes a healthy twist because it’s rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 ( 3 ). Use an equal amount of Greek yogurt in place of cream …
Which is healthier, goat cheese or cream cheese?
If you need an alternative to cream cheese, you can use: OR - 8 oz lower fat cottage cheese plus 1/4 cup margarine. OR - Equal amounts of lower fat (Neufchatel) cream cheese. OR - Equal parts of ricotta cheese plus plain, full-fat yogurt. See more alternatives for specific uses below. One may also ask, what is the lowest calorie cream cheese?
What are the best cheeses for health?
The Miyokos Dairy-Free Cream Cheese is made from cashew nuts which have been blended with other ingredients to create a great-tasting cheese substitute. The result is arguably even better than traditional cream cheese. Sour Cream Sour cream has a tangy, fresh flavor and can be used sparingly to give great results.
1. Cottage Cheese
If you are looking for a cream cheese substitute to lose weight, cottage cheese is the right option for you. This ingredient is beneficial for weight loss, and it contains healthy fats and proteins. It is also a good source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and phosphorous, all important.
2. Hummus
Hummus does not have the same flavor as cream cheese, but it is perfect for spreading muffins or warm bagels. While cream cheese has lots of calories and fats that can increase your weight, hummus helps in lowering triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
3. Neufchatel
Neufchatel is another great cream cheese substitute. It is a soft cheese that is also made from cow’s milk. This unripened cheese has a delicate taste when still young.
4. Kefir with Organic Chia Seeds
Another healthy and delicious cream cheese substitute is the combination of kefir and organic chia seeds. Kefir is one of the foods rich in probiotics, and it is packed with medicinal properties.
5. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt can provide you a flavor and texture that is similar to cream cheese. During the production of this yogurt, excess water, minerals, and lactose, are drain out.
6. Part-Skim Ricotta
Another cream cheese substitute that can provide you soft texture in many recipes is part-skim ricotta. This cheese is commonly used for pizza topping, stuffed shells, lasagna, and different Italian desserts.
7. Petit Suisse
Petit-Suisse is a smooth, unsalted, unripened, and creamy cheese. Its texture is similar to thick yogurt. Made from cow’s milk, it contains 40% fat and is drained in a centrifuge. It is usually used for dessert, with honey or jam, or peppered with herbs. This cheese is also used as meat stuffing and prevents the meat from drying.
1. Mascarpone Cheese
A common swap for cream cheese is mascarpone cheese, and for good reason—it’s somehow even richer and creamier, and might have you asking why you haven’t long been slathering mascarpone on everything in sight. It’s commonly used in Italian desserts like tiramisu, but it’ll also feel at home spread on toasted bread or in a sweet frosting.
2. Plain Greek Yogurt
If it’s the tang you’re after, look no further than yogurt. Greek yogurt is best, and whole milk is even better. Still, you’ll probably want to strain it using cheesecloth to reach that ultra-thick, spreadable consistency—effectively turning the yogurt into hung curd cheese.
3. Ricotta Cheese
Regular ricotta cheese lacks the decadence and thickness of cream cheese, but with a little finesse you’ve got a decent substitute on your hands. Opt for whole milk ricotta and, if it’s a bit watery, strain it until it has reached a sturdy thickness. Dump it in a food processor with a little lemon juice and whip until creamy.
4. Neufchåtel Cheese
The simplest and best all-around stand-in for cream cheese is Neufchåtel cheese. The French, often heart-shaped soft cheese has a light bloom on its rind, similar to brie. In the U.S. it can often be found in its mass market form—bricks packaged in paper boxes—next to the regular cream cheese.
6. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese may not look much like cream cheese, but with a little love it can be turned into something cream cheese-adjacent and pretty delicious. Go for whole milk cheese, add a little fresh lemon for flavor, and purée until smooth and think.
8. Tofu
While you’re never going to get quite the same flavor, you can get close to the texture using puréed silken tofu. Add salt and lemon as needed for the necessary tang. Tofu frequently stands in for cream cheese in vegan cheesecake recipes, and that’s because it can lend much needed structure and creaminess without the need for dairy or eggs.
9. Goat Cheese
If you don’t want to lose the tanginess of cream cheese—in fact, you want to lean into it—try swapping for fresh goat cheese or chèvre. A little crumblier than cream cheese, you may want to add a little cream. Let the cheese come to room temperature and mix in just enough cream to reach the right texture.
Cottage Cheese on Toast
A spoonful of 1-percent cottage cheese has a tangy flavor and makes a suitable stand-in for cream cheese. Blending it will smooth out the curds if you find them unappetizing. A 2-tablespoon serving has just 20 calories and 0.3 gram of fat with nearly 4 grams of appetite-satisfying protein.
Tortillas with Avocado
If the breadiness of bagels is what you enjoy, a tortilla makes a fine stand-in; a small corn tortilla has just 52 calories and 0.6 gram of fat. Adding smashed avocado gives the creaminess of cream cheese for 22 calories and 2 grams of heart-healthful fats per tablespoon.
Pita with Yogurt
A quality pita is fluffy, flavorful and slightly larger than a bagel, which can make it more satisfying. One small, whole-wheat pita has just 74 calories and 0.75 gram of fat with 2 grams of dietary fiber. Plain, fat-free yogurt adds tanginess for 18 calories, 0.2 gram of fat and 2 grams of protein per 2-tablespoon serving.
Whipped Tofu on Crackers
Soft tofu whips to a fluffy consistency in a blender or food processor. It has a mild taste and only 15 calories and 0.75 grams of fat in an ounce. The whipped texture is similar to whipped cream cheese and perfect for spreading on crackers.
Flavors
You can blend any cream cheese substitute with berries, cinnamon, cocoa powder, honey and other healthful ingredients to mimic flavored varieties of cream cheese. For example, pureed avocado with banana and cocoa powder tastes similar to dark chocolate. Drained yogurt stirred with smashed blueberries has a tangy sweetness.
