Learn to make this versatile ricotta cheese, capable for use in dishes that are sweet and savory.
Soft, white, and delicious, it is often used in lasagna and stuffed-pasta dishes such as manicotti, but it can also be sweetened for desserts. Ricotta comes from southern Italy, where it was traditionally made from the whey left over after cheese making. The leftover whey was “recooked” to produce a delicious ricotta, which explains the name.
Makes approximately 1-1/2 pounds
Ingredients
Equiptment
- 5- to 6-quart pot
- Measuring spoons and cup
- Dairy thermometer
- Slotted spoon
- Colander
- Butter muslin
- Bowl for draining
- 1/2-gallon glass storage container
Directions
1. Pour the citric acid solution and milk into the pot at the same time to mix them. (Or pour the citric acid in first and add the milk second.)
2. Heat the milk over medium heat to 185 degrees Fahrenheit (85 degrees Celsius). Stir the top gently if you see a skin forming. At 185 degrees Fahrenheit watch for small curds as the milk starts separating.
3. Continue heating the milk until it reaches 195 degrees Fahrenheit (90.5 degrees Celsius) or until you see a clear separation of curds and whey. When it’s ready, the whey will turn clear with a yellowish hue and lose its milky color. Remove the pot from the heat, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
4. Line a colander with butter muslin and set over a bowl. Use the slotted spoon to transfer the curds gently into the colander. Drain for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature. For a fresh, light ricotta, drain only until the whey stops dripping. For a thicker ricotta, drain for several hours.
5. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Cheese maker’s notes:
This recipe uses citric acid to coagulate whole milk, which gives a much higher yield than low-fat or skim. The finished ricotta can be enjoyed right away, or you can salt and age it to make ricotta salata.
Make fun, floaty ricotta-stuffed pepper-salami boats
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From Say Cheese A Kid’s Guide to Cheese Makingby Ricki Carroll and Sarah Carroll (Storey Publishing, 2018) Copyright Ricki Carroll and Sarah Carroll, photography copyright by John Polak. All rights reserved. Used by permission of the Storey Publishing.
