Various American soft cheeses are recommended as alternatives - cottage, farmer's, pot cheese - but my sense is this was a make-shift replacement when ricotta was less available in mainstream groceries.
Trouble is, most of those suggested replacements have a very different nuttrient profile (more protein, less fat) than ricotta.
You might get closest by combining one of the soft cheeses mentioned with cream cheese.
I haven't tried this, but in the comments, one person said the following: "I had only half cup fresh part skimmed ricotta from my blue apron dinner. I added half cup low fat yogurt because that was I had. Used Granny Smith Apple. 1.5 regular size lemon zest. It came out so good! Makes me wonder if I can make it with yogurt instead of ricotta cheese which I don't have regularly in my refrigerator."
/251ea3fb-bebc-4b20-bc02-c3a1e935504f--2016-0309_italian-lemon-ricotta-cake-for-easter_james-ransom_041.jpg)
3 Comments
Trouble is, most of those suggested replacements have a very different nuttrient profile (more protein, less fat) than ricotta.
You might get closest by combining one of the soft cheeses mentioned with cream cheese.