Cream cheese: Cream cheese is the closest substitute to mascarpone in terms of texture and flavor. It's also widely available and relatively inexpensive. However, cream cheese is slightly tangier than mascarpone and has a higher fat content. To make it a closer match to mascarpone, you can add a little heavy cream.
Ricotta cheese: Ricotta cheese is another option for substituting mascarpone. It has a similar texture to mascarpone but a slightly grainier texture. Ricotta cheese also has a milder flavor than mascarpone, so you may want to add a little more flavoring to your recipe if you're using it as a substitute.
Sour cream: Sour cream can also be used as a substitute for mascarpone. However, sour cream is much tangier than mascarpone, so you may want to use less of it or add a little sweetener. Sour cream also has a thinner consistency than mascarpone, so you may need to thicken it with a little cornstarch or flour.
Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is a healthy alternative to mascarpone cheese. It has a similar texture to mascarpone but is lower in fat and calories. Greek yogurt also has a slightly tangy flavor, so you may want to add a little sweetener to your recipe if you're using it as a substitute.
Curd: Curd from the buffalo milk makes a great substitute for mascarpone cheese and the texture is almost similar to mascarpone.