What can I substitute for farmer's cheese or dry cottage cheese?

[hymncat]

I can't easily find either where I am (though there seem to be umpteen sorts of Central American fresh cheeses). What can I substitute for such things as blintzes and paskha? I've been rinsing cotttage cheese in order to get the right texture, but that gets to be both a nuisance and costly...

[Zeldog]

I expect many of the Central American fresh cheeses you've come across are exactly farmer's cheese. Queso fresca is the usual name. The characteristics (salt content, curd size, moisture content) vary among countries and manufacturers so you might need to sample a few before you find one you really like. If there is an Indian grocer near you, paneer is also what we call farmer's cheese.

I had some Ukrainian friends in grad school and they wanted to make a stuffed bread dish (sort of a crusty blini) and could not find the cheese they needed. They described how the cheese was made, I bought them some queso fresca, they tasted it and said that was exactly what they were looking for.

[hymncat]

That's kind of what I thought - now to try to choose one! I have a couple of Latina coworkers, so maybe they can steer me to a couple of sorts to start with.

[Zeldog]

When comparing brands, check the salt content. My Ukrainian friends tried several and liked the least salty brand best (although a sample of 2 Ukrainians is hardly definitive). If the store has large wheels of queso fresca from which they cut as much as you need, be sure to try that, as it's probably locally made and truly fresca.

[magiesmom]

Drain the cottage cheese in cheesecloth, it will then be dry cottage cheese. ricotta is too creamy, unless you do the same.

[escondido123]

You are so right., I figured the "rinsing" had to be a typo because I couldn't figure out how that would work. ;)

[calliope_nh]

A coffee filter also works.

[escondido123]

How about ricotta?