Sicilian Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Description

This is a recipe for my Sicilian grandmother’s creamy homemade ricotta cheese. Great as a spread on fresh bread or add as a topping to fresh Pasta.

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon whole milk
  • 1 quart buttermilk
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 18-inch squares cheesecloth

Instructions

  1. Line a large colander or sieve with 4 layers of cheesecloth. Set aside.
  2. Heat milk
  3. buttermilk
  4. heavy cream
  5. and salt in a large
  6. heavy
  7. nonreactive saucepan over medium-low heat
  8. stirring occasionally for the first 10 minutes. Continue heating
  9. without stirring
  10. until the temperature reaches 190 degrees F. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour. The mixture will be separated into white curds and clear whey.
  11. Using a slotted spoon
  12. ladle approximately 1/4 of the curds into the cheesecloth-lined colander. Gather up the corners of the top cheesecloth and secure closed with a zip tie. Repeat with the rest of the curds
  13. cheesecloth
  14. and zip ties. Use the last zip tie to thread all of the cheeses together. Suspend the cheeses over a large wooden spoon over a large bowl
  15. and let drain for 2 hours.
  16. Place the four cheeses
  17. still in cloth
  18. in a bowl in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning
  19. cut zip ties
  20. and transfer cheese to an airtight container.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 35 mins

Total Time: 55 mins

Servings: 20

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