Homemade Fresh Ricotta Cheese

April 16, 2009 at 2:56 pm | Posted in cooking, Food, Italian food, photography, Recipes | 7 Comments
Tags: cheese making, cooking, Food, fresh ricotta, homemade cheese, homemade ricotta cheese, Italian cooking, ricotta cheese

I’ve made this recipe several times, and I’ve never been disappointed.

Again, this recipe is from my favorite italian cookbook, “Cooking with Grace”.

Homemade Fresh Ricotta

Ricotta Fresca

1 gallon whole pasteurized milk, preferrably organic

1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

1. Rinse the inside of the pot you intend to use with cold water (this helps prevent the milk from scorching). Place 1 gallon milk in large, heavy non-reactive pot on medium heat. Add salt and stir briefly. Allow milk to heat up slowly, stirring occasionally. Soon you will notice steam start to form above the surface and tiny bubbles appearing on the milk. You want it to reach 180-185 degrees, near scalding temperature, just before it comes to a boil. Check the temperature with your thermometer.
2. When it reaches the correct temperature, take the pot off the burner, add the vinegar and stir gently for only one minute. You will notice curds forming immediately. Cover with a dry clean dish towel and allow the mixture to sit undisturbed for a couple of hours. You can also begin preparing your ricotta in the morning before going to work and let it sit until you come home.
3. When the ricotta has rested for 2 hours or more, take a piece of cheesecloth, dampen it and place it inside a colander. With a slotted spoon, ladle out the ricotta into the prepared colander. Place the colander with ricotta inside of a larger pan so it can drain freely. Let it drain for two hours or so depending on how creamy or dry you want your cheese to be.
4. Lift the cheesecloth up by the four corners and twist gently. If the liquid runs clear, squeeze a little more. If the liquid runs milky, there is no more need to squeeze. Place in a tight sealed container. Refrigerate. It will keep for up to 7 days. Ricotta does not freeze well.

NOTES: Grace advises against the use of low fat or part skim milk in making the ricotta. The flavor comes from the cream in the whole milk. For desserts, add 1 pint heavy whipping cream along with the milk. It is richer, creamier, and a bit more decadent.

However, I have used this recipe without adding the heavy cream, and it is perfect for the Italian doughnuts–Sfingi.

I’ve made Lasagnettes, Lasagna, and Sfingi (Ricotta Puffs) using this homemade ricotta, and there is nothing like it!

I’ll be making mozzarella and then using the whey to make ricotta.  I’ll post my experience and let you know how it goes.  I’m telling you, all I need now is a milk cow and and goat!

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