Usually, when I think of Neufchatel cheese substitutes, cream cheese comes to me as a first choice. However, in terms of flavor and texture, many other kinds of cheese also work well in certain situations.
Neufchatel alternatives can save the day when the grocery store or your pantry runs out of Neufchatel cheese. You can look at this list for the best options that work in place of this French cheese and how to use them properly!
Neufchatel Cheese – A Popular French Cheese
Neufchatel is a staple in French cuisine. It’s a soft, white, mold-ripened cheese with many shapes, but the heart shape is the most well-known. Neufchatel’s homeland is Normandy, which has lush pastures, rich milk, and humid weather ideal for making creamy cheese like Neufchatel.
The history of Neufchatel is long. It is one of France’s oldest cheeses, first made in the 6th century (1050-1543) in the Kingdom of the Franks. Legend says that this heart shape of cheese is the love of French farm girls for English soldiers during the Hundred Years’ War.
Neufchatel has been sold widely over the world since the 17th century. In 1949, Neufchatel was granted the AOC label to protect its quality and origin.
Usually, cheesemakers use raw cow’s milk to make Neufchatel. The cheese takes 6-8 weeks to age and has a mushroomy, salty, and sharp taste with a supple texture. When the cheese ripens, it has a dry and edible rind like Camembert and Brie.
Currently, there are two versions of Neufchatel cheese: the French version (the original) and the American version. While the French use raw milk, American Neufchatel is made from pasteurized cow’s milk with lower fat and calorie content.
Besides, French and American Neufchatel differ in texture. The French version has a firm and crumbly texture, while American Neufchatel is a smooth, separable texture.
Last but not least, Neufchatel is an excellent source of nutrition and vitamins that benefit your health. With low-fat content and a high proportion of calcium and protein, Neufchatel is good for your bones and teeth. (1)
Excellent Neufchatel Cheese Substitutes To Consider
Finding an original Neufchatel might be quite tricky in regular supermarkets. Therefore, if your dishes call for Neufchatel cheese, consider replacing it with any of these alternatives.
The table below will give you ten Neufchatel cheese substitutes with their flavors and textures, along with the corresponding ratio to use them.
1. Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is the top candidate to replace Neufchatel cheese in many dishes. In 1872, William A. Lawrence created cream cheese from the Neufchatel cheese by using pasteurized cow’s milk and cream in the recipe.
As a result, this cheese has a higher fat and water content than the original Neufchatel. With 33% milk fat and 55% moisture content, this richer cheese was sold widely under the name cream cheese in 1879.
Both cream cheese and Neufchatel, especially the American version, have a similar texture, which is soft, white, and spreadable. However, American Neufchatel has a bit more granularity than cream cheese.
Unlike Neufchatel, with a natural grainy texture, cream cheese has the desired consistency by adding stabilizers and is firmed with lactic acid. Without these additives, cream cheese will have a crumbly texture.
In terms of flavor, the American Neufchatel and cream cheese share the same tangy and milky taste. In some contexts, Neufchatel develops a slight note of mushroomy. Thanks to these similarities, you can replace Neufchatel cheese with cream cheese with a 1:1 ratio.
Are you curious about the making process of cream cheese? Here is your answer.
2. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a curdled milk product popular in the United States. Usually, cheesemakers use skimmed milk to make the cheese. Although cottage cheese is made by draining curd, some whey is kept to ensure the curd loosens.
The name of this cheese comes from its humble origins in a farmer’s or cottager’s kitchen. When farmers make butter at home, there is a large amount of excess milk. cottage cheese was made out of this milk, so it wouldn’t go to waste.
After a few hours of draining, the final product is like fresh white cheese. With a soft and spreadable texture, cottage cheese can effortlessly blend into a slice of bread, like Neufchatel cheese.
Cottage cheese has a mild and neutral flavor. The taste of the cheese can change due to its fat content. The cheese tastes tarter with a fat content of around 2%. However, it could be creamier if the fat is up to 4-6%.
You can use cottage cheese to substitute for Neufchatel cheese in frostings, desserts, dips, and baked goods at a ratio of 1:1. However, cottage cheese has higher sodium than Neufchatel, so when substituting, you must consider adjusting the salt in the recipes.
3. Cashew Cheese
Cashew cheese, as its name implies, is made from softened cashew nuts. It is a non-dairy, vegetarian-friendly cheese with a better nutritional profile. You can get a lot of vitamins, calcium, protein, and fiber from this cheese. (2)
Like other cheeses, the flavor of cashew cheese varies depending on the ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. By adding these ingredients, cashew cheese develops a similar flavor to Neufchatel, resembling ground mushrooms or nutritional yeast.
Generally, cashew cheese tastes nutty and salty and is also spreadable. Therefore, cashew is ideal if you want similar nutty flavors like Neufchatel cheese. Regarding substitution, one part of cashew cheese can replace one part of Neufchatel.
It is simple to make cashew cheese at home. All you need to do is soak cashews in water for soft, then drain and blend them until smooth. You can use nutritional yeast for fermenting, creating a cheesy flavor and yellow color.
4. Ricotta
Ricotta is an Italian cheese made with whey and tiny curds left over from other cheeses. It typically has a white color and crumbly texture. To make ricotta, you can use many milk sources, such as sheep, cow, goat, or Italian water buffalo milk.
Ricotta is comparable to Neufchatel cheese in terms of texture and appearance. Both are soft cheese. Ricotta is incredibly thick and smooth with somewhat grainy, the same as its French brother.
When picking ricotta to replace Neufchatel, you should choose the standard version for the similar graininess and slightly sweet taste.
However, the matured version (ricotta salata) is not an acceptable substitution for Neufchatel cheese. This cheese has a firmer texture and saltier flavor. You can substitute ricotta with Neufchatel in pancakes, cheesecakes, or pasta dishes with a ratio of 1:1.
5. Mascarpone
Mascarpone is another Italian substitute if you run out of Neufchatel cheese. This cheese was produced in the late 16th or early 17th century. Its name comes after the word “Mascarpa”, which is a different milk product made from stracchino’s whey.
It is a fresh, soft cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk. Usually, the cheese has ivory-colored and exceptionally smooth. Since the cheese is produced through the acid-setting of milk, Mascarpone is spreadable with a fluffy and moist texture.
Mascarpone is an essential ingredient in making Tiramisu since it has a milky and slightly sweet flavor. Besides, the cheese can be used in savory dishes as it enhances the flavor and cheesy taste of the food with its butterfat content.
Mascarpone is an excellent alternative to Neufchatel for texture and flavor. Although the cheese can be softer and less grainy than Neufchatel, their subtle flavor notes are the same. You can use them interchangeably at a ratio of 1:1.
Making Mascarpone from scratch is easier than you might think.
6. Sour Cream
For a long time, sour cream has been a popular ingredient in Eastern and Central Europe cuisine. As its name implies, sour cream is slightly tart and thick. This distinctive flavor is made by adding lactic acid-producing bacteria into the production.
Nowadays, sour cream is a staple in most kitchens since it can keep up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Having sour cream available is always helpful if you want to make quick dips, thicken sauces, or create creamy frostings.
Regardless of the flavor difference, you can use sour cream as a substitute for Neufchatel cheese in savory dishes as they have comparable creaminess. You can substitute sour cream for Neufchatel at a ratio of 1:1.
7. Goat Cheese
Goat cheese, or Chèvre, is made from goat’s milk. It is one of the oldest cheeses dating back 10,000 to 11,000 years. For this reason, there are many variations of goat cheese worldwide.
Compared to regular cow’s milk cheese, goat cheese is softer and has more fat content. Usually, goat cheese is white, turning yellow if the cheese ages. Compared to Neufchatel, goat cheese flavor is tangier and milkier. This cheese variety is also known for its “goaty” taste.
You can substitute goat cheese for Neufchatel cheese in some dishes, such as salads, sandwiches, and soups. Since goat cheese contains more fat than Neufchatel, you should only replace 1 cup of Neufchatel with ¾ cup of goat cheese.
8. Hung Curd
Hung curd is an Indian yogurt whose why is strained, like Greek yogurt. It is popular in Indian food such as Raitas, Kabads, and Sweets. Usually, this yogurt is made by hanging the curd in a muslin cloth for the water to drain, leaving a smooth and thick creamy texture.
Simply, hung curd tastes as sour as most yogurt with a smooth texture. If you want a less fat substitute for Neufchatel, you can consider hung curd similar in texture. You can replace one cup of hung curd with a cup of Neufchatel in dips, baked goods, and savory recipes.
9. Quark
Quark is another dairy product, usually made from sour milk. After curdling and straining, the cheese will have a firm and creamy texture, looking similar to cottage cheese. This cheese originated from Germany and other Eastern European countries.
Technically, Quark is soft cheese but similar to thick yogurt. Generally, Quark has a mild taste and slightly sour flavor. However, it is an advantage of Quark since it can go well with various dishes.
Quark is suitable in place for Neufchatel cheese in salads, cheesecakes, and baked goods. You can use one Quark portion to replace one Neufchatel cheese.
10. Gervais Cheese
Like Neufchatel, Gervais is a French cheese with a soft and creamy texture and is perfect for spreading. Therefore, they can fill in the place of each other.
However, the taste of Gervais is milder than Neufchatel, with a slightly tangy taste. For this reason, consider adding extra salt to the cheese when using Gervais instead of Neufchatel. You should replace one cup of Neufchatel with a cup of Gervais.
Let’s learn how you can make Gervais cheese at home.
11. Nutritional Yeast
Unlike other substitutes, nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast, working as a spice and seasoning. You can find it in many forms, such as flakes, granules, or powder. Usually, the yeast has a yellow color and is popular among vegetarians.
Nutritional yeast is a good alternative for Neufchatel since it has a strong nutty, and cheesy flavor. You can use this product instead of Neufchatel cheese in mac and cheese, potato bake, and other baked dishes with a ratio of 1:1.
Besides, nutritional yeast is also famous for its nutritional value. It has a high protein content and a wide range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and low cholesterol to protect from cellular damage.
12. Farmer’s Cheese
As the name suggests, this cheese variety is made by farmers using their milk production. In fact, farmer’s cheese is a variation of cottage cheese. It is fresh and white with a firmer texture and more acids than cottage cheese.
The milk sources of this cheese vary. You can make this cheese at home with cow, sheep, or goat’s milk. Known as daily cheese, farmer’s cheese has a mild and tangy taste. Sometimes, the cheese will be mixed with herbs and seasonings to increase the flavor.
Since the cheese is pressed and has a grainy texture, it is suitable to replace Neufchatel cheese to spread in bread and sandwiches.
FAQs
Knowing what can substitute Neufchatel is helpful when you’re in a pinch. However, when using these alternatives, questions might occur. So, check out these frequently asked questions to know more about this topic!
Having Neufchatel Cheese Substitutes In Your Kitchen Is A Good Idea
I tried each of these substitutes once, and each brought me a satisfying result. Thus, don’t be sad if you can not find Neufchatel cheese for your dishes. Picking something else similar is also a good idea.
I hope you have learned some helpful information. If you have experimented with any of these substitutes, don’t forget to share them with me in the comment section. Besides, I’ll be glad if you share this article widely.
References
- Fooddata Central Search Results FoodData Central.
- Craig, W.J., Mangels, A.R. and Brothers, C.J. (2022) Nutritional profiles of non-dairy plant-based cheese alternatives, Nutrients. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
