Fromage cheese or Fromage Blanc is a French cheese widely popular in all European countries. But in case you don’t have some Fromage Blanc, there are some delicious Fromage Blanc substitutes available.
They will eventually amp up the flavor of any dish and will replicate the original taste as well.
Some of the famous Fromage Blanc substitutes that are quite conventional are Queso Fresco, goat’s cheese, ricotta, cream cheese, mascarpone, sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft tofu, and quark.
Many would exclusively fill in for Fromage Blanc in all recipes or as standalone cheese appetizers.
The taste of Fromage Blanc is so mesmerizing that it is added to many recipes like sandwiches and pasta. It is also often served on cheese boards and is exclusively used as a side dish for many main items.
The availability of this cheese comes across as slightly scarce and mostly seasonal. So substitutes for this cheese are a desired pursuit for many across these regions.
You have to be wary of how processed or molded these substitutes are. Sometimes, to recreate the originality of the Fromage Blanc, they would have added preservatives and additive agents; they should be duly avoided in order to keep your health in check.
Let us jump right into the details of all the substitutes and how effectively they will fit into the dish.
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14 Fromage Blanc Substitutes
Fromage Blanc is a very delicious cheese, and you must find an exclusive and exact replacement to come close to the dish’s flavor. Let us dig into each of these substitutes and let us see how they can be alternated.
1. Queso Fresco
This cheese is an apt replacement for fromage Blanc cheese. It is a pure white and crumbly cheese prepared by curdling and pressing the cow milk. It is also mixed with goat’s milk and pressed until it comes to the consistency.
If you want the queso fresco cheese to taste similar to fromage Blanc cheese, it should not be pressed. It is only curdled and mixed with goat’s milk, but not pressed.
The queso fresco is not as smooth as Fromage Blanc; it is slightly coarse, rough, and crumbly. It can be used as a topping and garnishing agent in many Mexican dishes like quesadillas or tacos.
It may not be very suitable to be placed on cheese boards or eaten as a standalone fromage cheese. The flavor would match, but the texture would differ quite visibly.
A half block of queso Frisco would be proportional to a single block of Fromage Blanc cheese in recipes. Both kinds of cheese can be shredded and added to the recipes for your convenience.
2. Goat’s Cheese
This is also a close substitute to Fromage Blanc and can be replaced in all recipes. It would be good in sandwiches, soups, or even in the stuffings of tacos. It would match the flavor profile and come close to the texture of Fromage Blanc.
Goats’ cheese will be creamier than fromage Blanc and hence would make the dish richer. It can be used in moderation in all dishes which use Fromage Blanc as it would be thicker than the latter.
A cube of goat’s cheese would be tantamount to a block of Fromage Blanc to give a similar taste in recipes.
3. Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is a softer version of Fromage Blanc and can be used as a stuffing agent in many recipes that Fromage Blanc uses.
Fromage Blanc is quite commonly used as a stuffing in enchiladas, burritos, ravioli, or crepes. In all the above recipes, ricotta cheese could be used.
This cheese would be softer and mix well with any main item. It would melt in the mouth and be more easily digestible than fromage cheese. It is also less expensive and abundantly available, making this substitute perfect for substantial food items.
A block of ricotta cheese would be proportional to a block of Fromage Blanc, provided the former would be softer and smoother like a paste.
4. Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is very similar to fromage cheese because of its spreadable feature. It can be easily used as a filling, a stuffing in sandwiches, or cheesecakes as a garnishing agent.
The creamy nature of cream cheese would make it the perfect replacement for Fromage Blanc, given its richness. A slight tangy flavor comes with the cream cheese, absent in Fromage Blanc.
The fat content is double or even triple stronger than the fromage cheese. Hence using this cheese in moderation for any recipe would be the right approach.
A cup of cream cheese would equal a block of sliced Fromage Blanc cheese. It can be used in that proportion to add flavor and texture to some extent.
5. Mascarpone
This soft and silky cheese is a close replica of fromage cheese in texture and consistency. The flavor is creamy and could go very well with all dessert items because of the richness and fat content.
This cheese is also made from skim milk and is processed with extra cream to increase the flavor. This cheese will also be apt for all French cuisine recipes and dessert items.
This will also replace the fromage cheese in cheese boards as the difference between the both is exquisitely minimal.
They work in the same proportion in all recipes, and one can’t even spot any flavor and appearance differences.
6. Sour Cream Or Yogurt
Sour cream, as the name implies, is a tangier version of Fromage Blanc. You must be wary about how you use the sour cream to replace Fromage Blanc, as the salt in the cream will be too tangible.
Hence, you must find culinary applications suitable to sour cream to replace Fromage Blanc.
If you have to substitute it with sour cream, then adding some sweetener in the sour cream could possibly replicate the same flavor irrespective of what recipes you prepare. It is also important to note that the sour cream is not diluted or watery to spoil the dish.
You have to choose a strong yet rich sour cream that could appropriately replace the fromage cheese. Sour cream can still be used instead of Fromage as mix-up ingredients in recipes like pies, cakes or stews, and gravies.
A cup of sour cream could be proportional to half a cup of Fromage Blanc for the sheer richness and tanginess that sour cream has.
7. Cotija Cheese
Cotija cheese is a fermented Mexican cheese made from cow’s milk which is allowed to age for 6 months. It becomes salty and tangy as it ages and quite firm in due course.
A premature version of cotija cheese could actually be a reasonable replacement for fromage cheese.
An early cotija cheese would be mild and crumbly but not as soft as fromage. The flavor would match and would suit well in all Mexican dishes where Fromage cheese is used.
It could also work well in fusional items and fit in well as stuffing’s in sandwiches or tacos. The ratio of their quantities won’t differ much as both are equally creamier and richer.
8. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is very similar to ricotta cheese, which is a good replacement for Fromage Blanc cheese. The texture would vary strongly, and hence this substitute should be used carefully.
Cottage cheese can be very gritty and chewy in texture and hence cannot be replaced for recipes that have a smooth texture. It can be used with dried fruit or topped with cereals, muesli, and besides honey.
It looks more like curd and is extremely nutritious by all means. A block of cottage cheese can be shredded and used in the recipes mentioned above as a replacement for a block of Fromage Blanc.
9. Soft Tofu
Soft tofu must be blended and mixed with lemon juice if it needs to replace Fromage Blanc. This would be a perfect substitute when prepared this way.
Although tofu is generally considered a favorable dairy ingredient, it still has that soy flavor in dominance. So you have to be wary of that. This soft tofu can be used as a mix-up ingredient in all baking dishes where the flavor is not that tangible.
1 cup of blended soft tofu can work similarly to 1 cup of Fromage Blanc cheese.
10. Quark
Quark is a European cheese that works very similarly to Fromage Blanc. It is used in multiple recipes like muesli, fruits, sliced on sandwiches, whipped and stuffed in bread, or even mixed on salads and savory dishes.
Baked cheesecake is another popular item that uses quark as an ingredient.
Fromage Blanc is supposedly similar to that Quark and has similar culinary applications. The taste might differ slightly, but the texture seems to be the same.
It is considered an excellent replacement for fromage Blanc without any major differences. It is also more abundant than Fromage Blanc and can be substituted freely.
11. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a thicker curd form and can easily replace Fromage Blanc in all recipes. This can be a slightly perfect replacement as the texture and dairy taste will compensate.
Greek yogurt works as the best alternative for fromage cheese in all dessert items, provided you add some sweetener like honey or maple syrup. This will sweeten up the dish and hence make it more savory.
It will also be good for smoothies since it will mix up well as a crushed paste in the recipe. It will also be slightly thicker than fromage Blanc. Hence, half a cup of Greek yogurt can easily replace a cup of grated Fromage Blanc.
12. Curd Cheese
Curd cheese is nothing but the top layers of boiled milk that have hardened up and contain a good amount of fat. They invariably have a sweet taste that complements any dish from which Fromage Blanc is used.
It can also be blended into a smooth cream and looks very soft when used in recipes. It will be the same texture as Fromage Blanc, but the flavor might differ slightly. It can be used in sandwiches, salads, or dessert items where the sweetness will be complemented.
A cup of curd cheese can replace a cup of Fromage Blanc.
13. Creme Fraiche
This is another French cheese that is often mistaken as Fromage Blanc. This looks and tastes similar to that of Fromage Blanc and does have a higher fat content than the latter. The fat content is removed when it comes to Fromage Blanc.
Creme fraiche can be used in cooked dishes, while Fromage Blanc is more suitable as a topping agent. The difference in taste will be slightly tangible if you notice carefully.
The ratio and the quantity can be very similar to each other without any issues.
14. Hung Curd
This would be a far-fetched replacement of Fromage Blanc but would be very appropriate in terms of usage. It can still be used in cooked dishes or as mixed ingredients in smoothies or sauces.
Hung curd would still have a thicker texture and be more watery in appearance. It can be fermented and processed a little bit to replicate the texture of the Fromage Blanc.
A cup of hung curd could be proportional to half a block of shredded Fromage Blanc to give the flavor and bring the quantity.
A Short Recap Of The Best Fromage Blanc Cheese Substitutes
Best Spreadable Fromage Blanc substitutes:
- Goat’s cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Mascarpone
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
- Curd Cheese
- Creme Fraiche
- Hung Curd
Best Non-spreadable Fromage Blanc Substitutes:
- Queso Fresco
- Cotija Cheese
- Ricotta Cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Soft tofu
- Quark
Best Fromage Blanc Substitutes In Terms Of Taste:
- Queso Fresco
- Goat’s cheese
- Mascarpone
- Cotija Cheese
- Greek Yogurt
- Creme Fraiche
Best Fromage Blanc Substitutes In Terms Of Texture:
- Ricotta cheese
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Soft tofu
- Cottage cheese
- Quark
- Curd Cheese
Fromage Blanc Substitutes To Be Least Considered:
- Hung Curd
How To Use Fromage Blanc Substitutes In A Recipe
14 Best Fromage Blanc Substitutes You Can Try!
Ingredients
- Queso Fresco
- Goat's Cheese
- Ricotta Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Mascarpone
- Sour Cream
- Yogurt
- Cottage Cheese
- Soft Tofu
- Quark
- Greek Yogurt
- Curd Cheese
- Crème Fraiche
- Hung Curd
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Conclusion
Fromage Blanc actually adds a distinct and typical flavor to all the recipes. However, it is not indispensable and hence can be substituted. Although it may not be the exact replica, it would still emulate the flavor and texture when used in the right recipes.
There is also a possibility that other substitutes could taste better than fromage Blanc in some items. You may have to manage the sweetness proportion by adding or reducing it.
This article would be a nice guide to acquaint you with the details of all the possible substitutes that will replace Fromage Blanc. The appropriate recipes and the proportions to bring the exact quantity or quality are also explained in the article for your awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best substitutes for Fromage Blanc?
Some of the famous Fromage Blanc substitutes that are quite conventional are Queso Fresco, goat’s cheese, ricotta, cream cheese, mascarpone, sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft tofu, and quark.
How is goat’s cheese the best substitute for Fromage Blanc?
Goats’ cheese will be creamier than fromage Blanc and hence would make the dish richer. It can be used in moderation in all dishes which use Fromage Blanc as it would be thicker than the latter.
How is Quark a better replacement for Fromage Blanc?
Quark is a European cheese that works very similarly to Fromage Blanc. It is used in multiple recipes like muesli, fruits, sliced on sandwiches, whipped and stuffed in bread, or even mixed on salads and savory dishes. Baked cheesecake is another popular item that uses quark as an ingredient.
What is Crème Fraiche, and how does Fromage Blanc replace it?
This is another French cheese that is often mistaken as Fromage Blanc. This looks and tastes similar to that of Fromage Blanc and does have a higher fat content than the latter. The fat content is removed when it comes to Fromage Blanc.
What is curd cheese, and how can it be replaced for Fromage Blanc?
Curd cheese is the top layer of boiled milk that has hardened up and contains a good amount of fat. They invariably have a sweet taste that complements any dish from which Fromage Blanc is used.
