We love the creamy sweetness of ricotta cheese. Here are 12 of our favorite recipes with ricotta cheese that we think you'll love!
Ricotta is an Italian cheese made from either whey or milk - it's similar in texture to cottage cheese, but has smaller curds. It has a light and fresh taste that translates well to pasta, salads, desserts, and pizza.
You can make your own ricotta cheese, we love this recipe from Ina Garten.
Ricotta Cheese Recipes To Try
These spinach artichoke stuffed pasta shells are a delicious, vegetarian recipe.
Summer weekends were made for these bright and flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth Lemon Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies!
This tomato ricotta tart is full of fresh summer flavor that'll drag out the end of summer for just a little while!
These ricotta toast recipes are the best! They are a fabulous brunch or an easy lunch recipe.
French Toast Casserole featuring creamy ricotta cheese, fresh summer berries, and homemade brioche.
This simple recipe for persimmon prosciutto crostinis with homemade ricotta is a wonderful appetizer, snack, or light lunch.
Simple peach, basil and ricotta flatbreads drizzled with balsamic reduction. A gourmet summer dinner ready in fifteen minutes!
This delicata squash tart is the coziest recipe - perfect for chilly nights when you want a flavorful veggie dish.
A big pan of pillowy gnocchi surrounded by bubbling pools of mozzarella melting into creamy ricotta and tomato sauce.
This quick and luxurious Spinach Ricotta Pasta boasts a creamy and garlicky spinach sauce made easy with ricotta cheese.
These Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are some of the best pancakes you’ll ever eat! Just imagine your favorite pancake recipe, now add an Italian flair to it with creamy ricotta and fresh lemon.
These roasted grape crostinis are an easy and tasty appetizer recipe that is perfect for a dinner party!
This asparagus tart made from puff pastry and ricotta is a wonderful, tasty appetizer or lunch.
Is ricotta cheese healthy?
In comparison to some other cheeses, ricotta has a lower fat and salt content, so could be considered healthier.
Can ricotta cheese be frozen?
Ricotta cheese can be frozen, but the consistency will change. You likely will only want to use it in baked recipes and not in recipes that call for fresh ricotta.
Is ricotta cheese vegetarian?
Yes, ricotta cheese is vegetarian. Most soft cheeses do not contain rennet.
Can ricotta cheese be substituted for cottage cheese?
In a baking recipe, ricotta can be a good substitute for cottage cheese (and vice versa), however ricotta has a much creamier texture than cottage cheese.
If a recipe specifically needs the bulkiness of cottage cheese curds, it's probably best to find cottage cheese instead of substituting for ricotta.
What You'll Need to Make Your Own Ricotta
If you decided to make your own ricotta at home - this is our preferred recipe, you'll need the following:
- Large glass bowl - We like this set because it comes with a liquid measuring cup which is helpful for this recipe as well.
- Enameled Pot - We love a Le Creuset pot and this one is a perfect size.
- Mesh sieve - This sieve has a reinforced frame that will allow it to sit on the side of the bowl.
- Cheesecloth - This is a high-grade cheesecloth that can be reused to make nut milk, yogurt, and cheese.
- Kosher salt - Diamond Crystal is our favorite kosher salt brand.
- Good white wine vinegar - This aged vinegar is our favorite to use.
What are your favorite recipes with ricotta cheese?
