If your brain only thinks “pasta” when you hear the words “ricotta cheese,” you’re right, but you’re also oh-so wrong. This dreamy cloud of creamy fluffiness can be devoured in a million-and-one sweet or savory ways. Best of all – our Homemade Ricotta Cheese can be ready in about 30 minutes.
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Cheese-making may be the single most important skill any human has ever learned. (I said what I said.) I sincerely hope that the first human who created cheese knew, in their heart of hearts, in that moment, that they had done humankind an indelible service for all eternity.
It is only right, therefore, that we celebrate this legacy of human achievement, not just by consuming all the cheese we possibly can (and I am truly, genuinely sorry for you if you physically cannot eat cheese), but that we continue making it and passing down that knowledge.
Now, no one expects you to run right out and handcraft gorgonzola. (That takes more time, practice, and active cultures than I have, certainly.) But, if you have some pretty basic tools and ingredients, you could literally make ricotta cheese in-between your next two Zoom meetings. You could probably make it 2-3 times during your favorite podcast. Hell, you could ask a semi-responsible child to make it for you while your at-home manicure dries.
Though it’s luscious enough to eat with a spoon, fresh, homemade ricotta cheese is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to cooking and enhances pastas, pizzas, cakes, cookies, and even omelets. It’s so good, so fast, and so easy, there are zero reasons for you to not to whip up a batch and honor your ancestors right now.
What is Ricotta Cheese?
Despite the fact that the recipe below takes you straight to production, this super-soft, spongy, smooth-yet-grainy, creamy cloud of spreadable whey cheese is actually, traditionally made from the, uh… by-products of making other cheese. (Frame that anyway you need to in your head. Whatever you’re thinking, yes, it’s that.) I mean, the name “ricotta” literally translates to “recooked” in Italian.
Anyway, when these Italians of yore learned they could make cheese from the milk of just about any damn quadruped they could get their hands on (cow, goat, sheep, water buffalo, etc.), they took the leftovers from that process and very wisely decided to try to make more cheese out of it. Waste not, want not.
Look, I’m sure it’s all actually very scientific, but I am not a practicing scientist. Some people who are apparently wrote a probably-informative, possibly-thrilling book called the Fundamentals of Dairy Science which I assume can answer all your questions, if you’re so inclined or really want to get into cheesemaking.
Regardless, there’s no plot twist here – the only important thing you need to remember is that ricotta is delicious.
Why Make Your Own Ricotta Cheese?
Aside from the aforementioned fact of ricotta being delicious, it is also extremely versatile across regional cuisines and recipes, both as an ingredient and on its own. It also happens to be one of the easiest and most cost-effective cheeses to make with practically-perfect results every time. I mean, everyone’s jumped on this bandwagon – try Tunisian rigouta, Spanish requesón, Indian paneer, and urda from the Balkans.
To make homemade ricotta, all you need are a few simple kitchen tools:
- Heavy bottomed pot
- Instant read thermometer
- Wood spoon and/or Rubber Spatula
- Cheesecloth
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Mixing bowl
And the list of ingredients? Even shorter:
- Whole milk (not ultra-pasteurized)
- Kosher or sea salt
- Distilled white vinegar
How to Make Ricotta Cheese
Homemade ricotta is super creamy, perfectly tangy, and ridiculously easy to make at home. Best of all, it’s ready in as little as 30 minutes. You’ll never go back to store-bought ricotta after you’ve learned how to make it at home!
Making your own ricotta cheese is fairly straightforward:
- Heat the milk to 175-180°F.
- Add salt to season and acid to form curds.
- Hold the curds to develop flavor.
- Strain and serve.
Follow along below for a thorough step-by-step tutorial!
- Line a fine mesh sieve with cheesecloth, then position over a mixing bowl.
- Affix a thermometer to a 2-quart soup pot, then pour in the milk.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scalding, until the temperature reads 175-180°F. Turn off the burner, but leave the pot on the stove.
4. Add kosher salt and white vinegar to the warm milk.
5. Stir gently until curds form.
6. Hold it! Literally. Let the curds sit in the whey for at least 10 minutes, preferably 20. This is the holding stage, and it’s when the ricotta really develops its flavor. NOTE: keep the thermometer in the ricotta mixture throughout the holding stage. If the heat dips below 170°F, turn the burner on a very low flame and gently heat to maintain a temperature in the 170-180°F range.
7. Scoop the biggest curds from the whey using a wide slotted spoon and transfer to the cheesecloth to drain. Then pour the remaining mixture through the cheese cloth.
8. Let the whey drain naturally from the curds for 5-30 minutes. A shorter drain will yield wetter ricotta, a longer drain will yield drier ricotta. If you find that the ricotta is too dry, you can stir in a bit of whey.
Must Know Info for Making Ricotta Cheese
- Do NOT use ultra-pasteurized milk. Ultra-pasteurized milk has been heated to very high temperatures to improve shelf life. That ultra-high heat denatures the protein that allows the curds to form.
- Use high-quality whole milk for best flavor.
- Stir the milk occasionally while heating to prevent scalding.
- Use a reliable, calibrated thermometer and heat the milk to the right temperature (175-180°F).
- Fresh lemon juice can be substituted for white vinegar, but it must be fresh.
- Strain to desired consistency – as little as 5 minutes for creamy ricotta, as much as 15 minutes (or longer) for firmer ricotta.
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese?
Technically, yes, you can freeze ricotta. You could freeze mud too if you wanted to. But don’t. The texture will change, 100% guaranteed. Whatever you’re telling yourself about frozen lasagne, I am willing to bet you have neither the chemical, nor flash-freezing capabilities of the good folks at Stouffer’s.
However, if you insist, the general rule is only freeze it only if you’re planning on using it in cooked dishes. I’d say don’t freeze a dish once it’s already in it, but you could freeze it as a component, allow it to thaw, and then strain it again. (This should be fine because you want to cook with drier ricotta anyway.) If you do decide to freeze an entire pasta bake (or any other dish with ricotta) make certain it is wrapped airtight and pray to your freezer gods.
But let’s be real – the beauty of ricotta is it is so, so, SO easy to make fresh, there simply is no need to freeze it.
Ricotta Cheese Recipes
Homemade ricotta cheese can be used anywhere you’d use store bought. Drier ricotta cheese is great for baking – lasagne, white pizza, stuffed pastas, and even frittatas! Add a dollop of ricotta cheese to pasta with sunday sauce or in a bowl of tortellini soup.
Have a sweet tooth? Ricotta adds a creamy tang to loads of desserts – cakes, cheesecakes, cannoli, even pancakes!
Wetter ricotta cheese is fantastic on its own, slathered over toast or served warm with fresh berries and honey.
Did you try this recipe for homemade ricotta cheese? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
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How to Make Ricotta Cheese
Print Recipe Rate this RecipeRecommended Equipment
- Cheesecloth
- Fine-mesh Strainer
- Heavy Bottomed Pot
Ingredients
- 4 c. organic whole milk, non-ultra pasteurized
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
- 2 tbsp distilled white vinegar
Instructions
- Place several layers of cheesecloth over a fine-mesh strainer, then nest the strainer over a mixing bowl.
- Pour the milk into a 2-quart pot over medium high heat and affix a thermometer to the side of the pot. Heat the milk, stirring occasionally to prevent scalding, until the temperature reaches 175-180°F, 7-8 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, but leave the pot on the warm burner. Add the salt and white vinegar to the milk. Stir gently until curds form and completely separate from the whey, 1-2 minutes.
- Allow the curds to sit in the warm whey (this is called "holding" the curds) for 10-20 minutes. Keep an eye on the temperature – if it dips below 170°F, turn the burner to a low flame and gently reheat the milk to maintain a temperature in the range of 170°-180°F.
- Use a wide slotted spoon to scoop the largest curds from the whey and transfer to the cheesecloth. Then gently pour the remaining mixture through the cheesecloth.
- Allow the ricotta to drain naturally for 5-30 minutes, depending on your preference for consistency (see notes).
- Scrape the ricotta from the cheesecloth into a bowl, taste for seasoning, and sprinkle in extra salt as desired. If the ricotta is too thick, stir in additional whey, a teaspoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
- Serve warm immediately, or transfer to a lidded container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Makes about one cup.
Notes
- Do not use ultra-pasteurized milk, as it will not curdle.
- Wetter ricotta is great for serving on its own with a bit of honey and berries as dessert.
- A medium consistency is great for spreading on toast or flatbread
- A drier consistency is suitable for traditional, store-bought ricotta uses, like lasagne.
[…] of cheese. Behold this ridiculously easy, 15-minute homemade ricotta cheese. I made my own ricotta for this recipe and you can (should??) too! It’s simpler than you […]