Ricotta vs. Cottage Cheese

 I Was watching The Pioneer Woman cooking show and she was making lasagne, but instead of using ricotta she used cottage cheese!!   That just threw me for a loop, why would anyone do that?  I think it would make the dish watery.  Your thoughts??

While ricotta is traditional when making lasagna, cottage cheese is a perfectly acceptable substitute, especially if you use the creamed, small curd type. There are many small towns and rural areas where it might be hard to find ricotta, but cottage cheese is available. And if you grew up with the use of cottage cheese, that's the taste and consistency that you remember and associate with lasagna.

When I was a kid, back in the forties, ricotta was not readily available.  My mother made lasagne with cottage cheese and it was quite good.  I don't recall it being watery, and it was a big hit at family gatherings.

Well I never thought about that way but it makes sense, thanks TC and Chris...

I've had it that way.  Not bad at all.  Might even be better for you.

First of all, if Joe Rogo finds out we are all toast. In Italy they make Lasagna with a Bechamel sauce, they feel the Ricotta cheese is to heavy. I think Cottage cheese was used as a substitute because of lack of availability. I have used Cottage cheese in our cafes over the years because of cost, I had to serve a Lasagna special for around $5 a plate, most people didn't say anything, they were to busy trying to find the meat in the sauce. The Cottage cheese has more liquid than Ricotta, but, after you put in some eggs, and parm cheese you can tighten it up as needed..........If Joe Rogo asks any questions, my name is Chewingthefat.........

Yep, I always put in a couple of eggs, parmesan cheese, and a handful of chopped parsley in my cheese filling for lasagna. I had a sister-in-law that put thin slices of pepperoni on top of her meat sauce when making lasagna. She's the same one that put chunks of pineapple in her baked beans.....? It was different, but pretty good.

That is too funny about jorogo pnwchef, by the way we are both from around Pittsburgh Pa.

pnwchef


First of all, if Joe Rogo finds out we are all toast. In Italy they make Lasagna with a Bechamel sauce, they feel the Ricotta cheese is to heavy. I think Cottage cheese was used as a substitute because of lack of availability. I have used Cottage cheese in our cafes over the years because of cost, I had to serve a Lasagna special for around $5 a plate, most people didn't say anything, they were to busy trying to find the meat in the sauce. The Cottage cheese has more liquid than Ricotta, but, after you put in some eggs, and parm cheese you can tighten it up as needed..........If Joe Rogo asks any questions, my name is Chewingthefat.........

I copied and forwarded this to Joe, he's getting some of crew together as I write, making reservations for the West Coast, Northwest Coast!

You can get a dry cottage cheese if moisture is a concern.

chewingthefat

pnwchef


First of all, if Joe Rogo finds out we are all toast. In Italy they make Lasagna with a Bechamel sauce, they feel the Ricotta cheese is to heavy. I think Cottage cheese was used as a substitute because of lack of availability. I have used Cottage cheese in our cafes over the years because of cost, I had to serve a Lasagna special for around $5 a plate, most people didn't say anything, they were to busy trying to find the meat in the sauce. The Cottage cheese has more liquid than Ricotta, but, after you put in some eggs, and parm cheese you can tighten it up as needed..........If Joe Rogo asks any questions, my name is Chewingthefat.........

I copied and forwarded this to Joe, he's getting some of crew together as I write, making reservations for the West Coast, Northwest Coast!

Chewy, starting today my wife will start my car in the morning.
 
blue heaven..........Then you understand why I have to change my name and go under cover.

pnwchef..........Fortunately, by the time Joe makes it all the way across the country to confront you, he will have stopped at so many RF places, that he'll only be asking for some seltzer and Alka-Seltzer.  But treat him to your lasgna the first day!  After that, he may have recovered enough.but then you could always placate him with one of your other fine recipes

 This was made using cottage cheese........
 

I love ricotta...and can barely tolerate cottage cheese, its a simple decision for me. On the other hand I love Lasagna but I don't cook it very often as I see it as a less than healthy meal when done right and once I get started I can't stop eating it. In fact its been over three years since I made it or ordered it in a restaurant....I miss it...mmmmm...

I like lasagna made with real cheese.    My wife used the rico stuff, I hated it.     She fussed that lasagna was made with the rico, until I showed her some old recipes that used mozzarella cheese!
 
Lasagna with ricotta is the weight watchers recipe. 

Rico is a whole other story.

pnwchef your lasagne looks mighty fine....

My Mom always used cottage cheese. She is a good cook, but nobody is asking for the recipe. My wife makes a great one with ricotta. Mine is the best, and I use ricotta, but not too much. I like a drier lasagna that does not fall apart when served, and then add more sauce over the top. I use more Mozzorella than ricotta.

kland01s


You can get a dry cottage cheese if moisture is a concern.

You can get rid of the moisture by beating in some parmesean when adding the eggs.

I grew up eating and making it that way.

I thought only southerners used cottage cheese...

Grew up using cottage cheese. Now use either one. I really cannot tell the difference, Once combined and ccooked.

We goat some goats this yr, I plan on breeding them this month, should have a few Kids the first of Aug. I plan on making fresh Ricotta and Mozzarella cheese, I'm wondering how the Lasagna will taste with the Goat flavor. I have them in a good quality pasture, so I'm hoping for the best. The cheese will be from our Goats, the gnd beef is from our cows, the Italian sausage will be from our pigs. The Roma tomatoes and Basil & garlic are from our garden.  I think we just about have the whole Lasagna coming from the farm...............pnwc

pnwchef, I want to come eat your food! I love the care and effort you put in with your own raised foods. I would love a place like that! This is the closest I have.
 
http://www.heritageprairiefarm.com/

Bakers cheese is the alternative..not as good, but dry........

I've always used a mixture of small curd cottage cheese and ricotta. I like the taste and texture. And, like pnwchef says, it's easy to tighten it up if you need to.

pioneerwomans cheese bread sure looked good.

In the 1940's my Mom traded English lessons for Italian recipes with a neighbor. As a German/Irish descendant I grew up eating, made from scratch, spaghetti sauce and many other Italian favorites. My Mom's neighbor suggested the use of cottage cheese with the added eggs for lasagna. I grew up eating it that way but now I use ricotta or even sometimes make a traditional béchamel sauce.

pnwchef


We goat some goats this yr, I plan on breeding them this month, should have a few Kids the first of Aug. I plan on making fresh Ricotta and Mozzarella cheese, I'm wondering how the Lasagna will taste with the Goat flavor. I have them in a good quality pasture, so I'm hoping for the best. The cheese will be from our Goats, the gnd beef is from our cows, the Italian sausage will be from our pigs. The Roma tomatoes and Basil & garlic are from our garden.  I think we just about have the whole Lasagna coming from the farm...............pnwc

I've never had goat ricotta, but I have had water buffalo mozzarella, which was superior. Well made goat cheese has no "goaty" flavor, and with your obvious experience, your cheese will be well made. I raise sheep, but don't milk them. I have had Spanish sheep cheese called Manchego, and French Rocufort (sp?). We have several goat cheese farms here in Mass, and when I see their products in the store, I often buy them. You are in for a treat!!

tmiles

pnwchef


We goat some goats this yr, I plan on breeding them this month, should have a few Kids the first of Aug. I plan on making fresh Ricotta and Mozzarella cheese, I'm wondering how the Lasagna will taste with the Goat flavor. I have them in a good quality pasture, so I'm hoping for the best. The cheese will be from our Goats, the gnd beef is from our cows, the Italian sausage will be from our pigs. The Roma tomatoes and Basil & garlic are from our garden.  I think we just about have the whole Lasagna coming from the farm...............pnwc

I've never had goat ricotta, but I have had water buffalo mozzarella, which was superior. Well made goat cheese has no "goaty" flavor, and with your obvious experience, your cheese will be well made. I raise sheep, but don't milk them. I have had Spanish sheep cheese called Manchego, and French Rocufort (sp?). We have several goat cheese farms here in Mass, and when I see their products in the store, I often buy them. You are in for a treat!!

tmiles: I agree on the taste of the goat cheese. My wife and I use to go to Mexico, one of our favorite restaurants has a Chicken stuffed with Goat cheese and herbs. On some occasions the cheese tasted like the ally next to the restaurant. There was a good reason for that, after I saw the goats grazing in the back yard.
 

Maplebrook Fine Cheese | PO Box 966 | Bennington, VT 05201 | (802) 440-9950 | (802) 440-9956 fax | office@maplebrookvt.com

I don't think this place is all that far from you, is it ????????? they look like they have some nice looking cheese.............The best Buffalo Mozzarella I ever had was in Rome, it is made between Rome and Naples..........I figure two goats are easier than having a herd of Water Buffalo shipped over from Italy..............I'm looking forward to the process of having everything from the dish grown or raised on our land. I don't like the way food is processed now a days, so I guess it up to me to shut up and do it. ...........this process will take awhile, the goats will not kid for 5 months.............this next weeks project will be making Italian Sausage from the butt and Shoulder pork we have in the freezer, we shall see..............