The best burrata substitutes to use in your homemade Italian salads, pizzas, or crostini dishes. From ricotta to mozzarella, these are the best alternatives to use today.
Burrata is a fresh, creamy cheese from a pouch of stretched mozzarella filled with cream-soaked stracciatella. It originated in Puglia, Italy, and has become one of Italy’s most beloved cheeses. Burrata is eaten in several different ways. The outer skin can be ripped into pieces and added to pasta or salads, while the creamy inside can be drizzled with olive oil and served as a dipping sauce for grilled bread or roasted vegetables.
Burrata is not always readily available, especially in grocery stores in the United States. If you have a recipe that calls for burrata, not having the cheese may cause a difference in the taste and texture of the dish.
If burrata is not available at your local grocery store, there are other options you can use. Burrata substitutes are at local grocery stores to rescue your dish.
The best substitutes for burrata cheese are:
- Feta cheese
- Mozzarella
- Queso fresco
- Ricotta
- Cream cheese
- Cashew cheese
- Almond cheese
- Tofu
All of these substitutes have the same creamy texture that burrata has. They will bring the same overall flavor and texture to your dish. Some are dairy-based while some are plant-based. Keep reading to find the best option for you and your family for a burrata substitute.
Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is a soft cheese made from sheep’s milk or a combination of sheep’s and goat’s milk. It gets cured in salty brine. The longer it cures in the brine, the sharper and saltier the flavor and the firmer the cheese.
Feta cheese is a good substitute for burrata when you are after the tanginess of burrata cheese. Both feta cheese and burrata have a distinct tangy flavor that gives a punch to dishes.
If you are after the texture of burrata cheese, feta cheese is not a good substitute. Feta cheese is one solid block of cheese, while burrata has a hard outer shell and a soft, creamy interior. Feta cheese has a consistent and even texture that easily crumbles. Burrata has a smooth exterior that rips instead of crumbles and has a creamy interior.
Feta cheese and burrata have a tangy flavor, but feta cheese is much zestier and salty than burrata. Burrata has a slight tang and a more milky taste. Feta cheese has a more distinct tangy aroma than burrata.
If you are using feta cheese to replace burrata, use about half the amount of feta to match the tanginess of burrata in your recipe.
Mozzarella
Traditionally, mozzarella cheese uses the milk of a buffalo. Today it is often made with cow’s milk. It is a mild, refreshing, and supple cheese. Its texture is dense and springy, usually eaten fresh.
Mozzarella is one of the closest cheeses to burrata. The outer shell of the burrata is mozzarella cheese. The difference between mozzarella and burrata is the creamy core inside the mozzarella skin of burrata cheese. The mild, creamy flavor is similar in both cooked and raw recipes.
You do not want to use mozzarella as a burrata substitute if the creamy interior is what you are after in your recipe. Mozzarella is not a good burrata substitute if making a dipping sauce with a creamy interior.
Mozzarella and burrata have similar flavor profiles. They are both fresh, mild kinds of cheese. They are similar in color and aroma.
Use the same amount of mozzarella in a recipe as you would burrata.
Queso Fresco
Queso fresco is a Mexican cheese that translates to “fresh cheese” in English. It is a mild, soft, tangy white cheese. Queso fresco is a crumbly cheese often used to top Mexican dishes like tacos and enchiladas. It is less salty and milder than cotija cheese, which is another Mexican cheese. It uses raw cow’s milk or a combination of cow and goat milk.
Queso fresco is a good burrata substitute when trying to get the creamy and delicate quality from burrata. When melted, queso fresco replicates this delicate quality and doesn’t become lumpy or stringy.
If your recipe uses fresh burrata and won’t require heating it, using queso fresco as a substitute will not result in the same texture and taste. Raw queso fresco has a more pronounced flavor than burrata because it’s aged for six months. Use smaller amounts of queso fresco in a dish than you would burrata because of this pronounced flavor.
Ricotta
Ricotta cheese is a light, spongy, creamy, fresh cheese made from cow, sheep, goat, or water buffalo milk. Most ricotta cheeses found in grocery stores today are derived from cow’s milk. Ricotta cheese uses the small number of curds left behind in the whey during the cheese-making process.
Due to its soft texture, ricotta is a good burrata substitute for recipes that focus on the interior of the burrata. It is a very soft, creamy cheese that can be used as a spread or a dip. Ricotta cheese should not be used as a substitute for burrata if the cheese is to be cooked. It will not react the same to heat as burrata cheese does.
The flavor of ricotta cheese and burrata is similar. They are both fresh, mild kinds of cheese. They have the same color and aroma. Use the same amount of ricotta cheese as you would burrata cheese in your recipe.
Cream Cheese
Developed in the United States, cream cheese has grown in popularity around the world. It is a soft, smooth, mild cheese that many people use as a smear or dip. It is comparable to mascarpone cheese. When the whey and curds are separated in the cheese-making process, the whey is drained out and then the manufacturer heats the curds. Then, they add stabilizers, resulting in smooth cream cheese.
Cream cheese is best used as a substitute for burrata when the burrata is raw and the interior is used. The creamy texture of cream cheese is comparable to the creamy core of burrata cheese. It is a good substitute for dips made with burrata cheese.
Cream cheese shouldn’t be used if you need the structure of the outer pocket of the burrata. The flavor profiles are similar. Cream cheese and burrata have similar colors and aromas. Use the same amount of cream cheese as you would burrata in your recipe.
Cashew Cheese
Cashew cheese is a non-dairy cheese spread that is made with softened cashews. Cashews are soaked until soft, drained, and then blended until smooth. Cashew cheese is often prepared at home by mixing the smooth cashews, nutritional yeast, and salt.
Cashew cheese is a good substitute for burrata cheese because it stays malleable like burrata. As cashew cheese ages, it acquires the sharpness that burrata is known for. The texture and taste make cashew cheese a good substitute for burrata.
Because it is not made from dairy, you don’t get the same milky, creamy flavor from cashew cheese as you would burrata. Cashew cheese has a darker color and different aroma than burrata cheese.
How much cashew cheese to use as a substitute for burrata depends on its age. Use less cashew cheese in the recipe if it has aged a while since the tang can become overwhelming.
Almond Cheese
Almond cheese is a cheese substitute made from almond milk or almond grounds. Commercial almond cheese resembles cheddar cheese, while homemade almond cheese is softer and less processed.
Almond cheese can be a fantastic substitute for burrata because it is less sweet and has a more neutral flavor. This flavor makes it versatile. When spiced correctly, it can be a perfect substitute for burrata because of its texture.
Almond cheese should not be used as a substitute for burrata if the creamy, milky flavor is what you’re looking for. Almond cheese has a nuttier flavor and different color than burrata. Use the same amount of almond cheese as you would burrata in a recipe.
Tofu
Soy milk is coagulated and pressed into blocks to form tofu. It is commonly used as a meat substitute but can also be used as a cheese substitute.
This soft, neutral-flavored product makes a viable substitute for burrata because it can be versatile. Tofu will take on any seasoning thrown at it and can mimic burrata well.
If your recipe is simple and makes burrata the star, tofu may not be the best option because it relies on other ingredients to mimic what it is trying to substitute.
Burrata is much more creamy and flavorful than tofu. Use the same amount of tofu in your recipe as you would burrata, but flavor it well with nutritional yeast, sea salt, and vegan parmesan cheese. Tofu is an ideal burrata substitute if you are trying to stay away from dairy products.
