Many people all across the globe consider burrata to be their favorite kind of cheese. The surface is crispy and chewy, while the interior is silky and creamy.
If you slice off a little bit of this cheese, you’ll want to eat it all the time. Made in Italy from buffalo milk, this cheese is wonderful on its own or in a variety of salads.
However, if you don’t have any burrata cheese on hand, you may use feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, or even queso fresco cheese. If you’re looking for alternatives to burrata cheese and ways to include them in your meals, keep reading!
What’s Burrata Cheese?
Burrata is a kind of Italian cheese that is created by combining mozzarella with butter (sometimes buffalo milk). It has a complete cheese outside, but a very silky inside because to the inclusion of stracciatella and butter.
The Murgia area of southern Italy is famous for its burrata. Butter, rennet, and cow’s milk are the main ingredients.
Cheeses like Burrata and Mozzarella are made by letting heated milk curdle with rennet. When making fresh mozzarella, the curds are submerged in hot protein or barely boiled water before being massaged, stretched, and molded to create the cheese’s characteristic elastic threads (pasta filata).
Substitutes for Burrata Cheese
It seems like a horrible idea to replace burrata cheese when you experience the excellent sensory combination it provides. The truth is that there are several pure cheese-based substitutes that are perfectly suitable replacements for burrata cheese.
If you find yourself in a bind the next time you need burrata cheese or just want a change of pace, consider one of the following options.
Mozzarella
If you can’t get burrata, mozzarella is a great alternative. Both kinds of cheese have a common base of cow’s milk and a close similarity in taste. But in general, mozzarella is more malleable than burrata.
You may melt or utilize this cheese at room temperature. When it comes to mozzarella, everything goes. It tastes greatly cooked, fried, or even just straight out of the fridge. In any case, the provision might be part of the regulations. In order to successfully replace mozzarella for burrata, it must be fresh mozzarella. The flavor and texture of burrata can’t be replicated using store-bought bagged mozzarella.
The consistency of the cheese is where burrata really stands out from its mozzarella cousin. Mozzarella has a more solid, almost bouncy consistency. In contrast to mozzarella, burrata’s soft inside prevents it from springing back to its original shape after being pressed. Since this is the case, mozzarella is the best choice when you need a firm cheese, such as when making Caprese or topping a pizza.
Cream Cheese
Most people think of cream cheese as only a condiment to put on bread or bagels.
However, this cheese’s extensive history and adaptability make it suitable for a wide range of culinary applications.
European immigrants brought cream cheese to the United States from the area that is now Germany in the early 1800s.
Soon after its introduction, cream cheese became a popular food in the United States; by the middle of the nineteenth century, more than fifty cream cheese companies could be found in various cities and towns.
These days, the thick, creamy texture and taste of cream cheese is achieved by introducing bacteria to milk and cream during the manufacturing process.
Cream cheese is versatile enough to be utilized in both savory and sweet applications, from quiches and dips to cheesecake and icing.
Queso Fresco
Cow’s milk is fermented and aged to create queso fresco. Unlike some other meltable, this one doesn’t get stringy when melted. Queso fresco cheese is often used as a finishing touch on a variety of foods.
There is no set rule, although letting queso fresco mature for up to six months tends to bring out its full flavor.
Therefore, you may need mild or aged queso fresco cheese depending on the recipe.
Feta Cheese
Although feta cheese isn’t a great replacement for burrata, it will do in a pinch.
Goat’s milk feta cheese has a comparable tanginess to that of burrata but no other cheese. So, if you’re looking for anything with a sour flavor, feta cheese is a good option.
Almond Cheese
In place of traditional cheese, almond cheese uses either almond milk or almond grinds. While store-bought almond cheese looks and tastes a lot like cheddar, a homemade version is more creamier and less processed.
For those who prefer a less sweet and more neutral taste, almond cheese is a great alternative to burrata. That taste gives it a lot of flexibility. Since it has a similar texture to burrata, it may be a great alternative if the right spices are added.
If the rich, milky taste of burrata is what you want, almond cheese is not a suitable alternative. The taste and appearance of almond cheese are distinct from those of burrata. Almond cheese may be substituted for burrata in any recipe that calls for it.
Cashew Cheese
Although cashew cheese lacks the creamy texture of traditional cheese, it is another excellent replacement because of its spreadability.
Keep in mind that when cashew cheese matures, it takes on a more robust, acidic flavor, further differentiating it from the burrata.
For this reason, it’s best to make it yourself so you may have it right away while the taste is still mild and the texture is still smooth.
Cashew cheese is fantastic because it can be customized by adding flavors like garlic powder, pepper, and lemon juice. Because of this, it has a unique taste character. Despite the fact that it’s not at all like burrata.
Ricotta Cheese
If you don’t have any burrata on hand, ricotta cheese is another good substitute.
It’s best used in dishes with strong flavors, like lasagna or ravioli, but you can use it with anything. You may use ricotta in sweets since it goes nicely with sugar.
Ricotta cheese is best used in cheesecake, but it also works well in cannolis.
Brie Cheese
The versatility and flavor of brie make it a versatile and tasty cheese.
Although it lacks the burrata’s signature creamy taste and texture, it is a good stand-in in a few dishes.
You can get the popular cheese brie in every supermarket, and like burrata, it is manufactured from cow’s milk.
Although certain brie varieties are milder in taste, the overall flavor of brie is bolder and more pungent than that of burrata. Like burrata, it is a soft cheese that comes in a rind and may be sliced and utilized.
Brie, like burrata, is as at home in a salad as it is on a plate for dipping or snacking with crackers, either cold or at room temperature.
Like burrata, it is a favorite pizza topping and may also be used in hot dishes. Indeed, when cooked, brie cheese melts into a silky, gooey quality that is irresistible.
Tofu (Vegan Option)
Tofu, a plant-based protein, may stand in for burrata when you need a vegan alternative that is flavorless and spreadable, but you’re not too concerned with the spreadability or softness of the latter.
Even if you eat tofu regularly and are lactose-intolerant or vegan, the thought of using it in place of burrata cheese may have never occurred to you.
Tofu may be used in lieu of burrata in dishes where it is meant to be dipped or mixed with other components, such as spaghetti and platters. It’s a good alternative since it doesn’t overpower other tastes and nevertheless absorbs their subtle nuances.
Tofu is a fantastic meal-complementing option since it can be used in lieu of meat or cheese, and it also makes a great substitution for dairy products like burrata.
Conclusion
The taste and texture of burrata cheese cannot be matched by any other cheese. However, there are several alternatives to cheese that may be used to provide a similar flavor, and some of these alternatives are even vegetarian.
If you ever find yourself without your normal supply of burrata, try one of the alternatives we’ve suggested. The decision will make you pleased in the end. Realize that your chances of discovering your choice improve the more open you are to trying different things.