Ricotta Cheese - Spend With Pennies

Made with just four ingredients, milk, heavy cream, salt, and a splash of vinegar, this easy recipe is creamy, slightly tangy, and ultra-fresh.

Flavor: Ricotta cheese is a soft curd cheese with a mild flavor and creamy texture. It’s slightly sweet with a subtle tang.
Skill Level: This recipe is foolproof, making it great for beginners.
Technique: Prepare this cheese with a curdling method that uses acid and heat. There is no special equipment required.
Serving Suggestions: It pairs well with bold flavors like tomato marinara, basil pesto, or roasted garlic. It’s also great with fruit and a drizzle of honey over crostini.

ingredients to make Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta vs. Cottage Cheese

While they can be used interchangeably in many recipes, cottage cheese is cheese curds, so the texture is more chunky, while ricotta is smoother. I find ricotta cheese to be a bit sweeter in flavor and richer.

Ingredient Tips for Ricotta Cheese

Milk: The base of this homemade ricotta recipe is milk. I use cow milk, but it can also be made with goat, sheep, or buffalo milk. Do not use ultra-pasteurized milk (UHT).
Heavy cream: This gives ricotta its rich, creamy flavor.
Vinegar: Vinegar is the acidic ingredient that creates the curds. If you don’t have vinegar, use lemon juice.
Salt: Salt is added for flavor.

How to Make Homemade Ricotta Cheese

It’s so easy to make fresh ricotta cheese!

Boil milk, cream, and salt in a large pot (full recipe below).
Remove from the heat, stir in vinegar, and let it rest until it forms curds.
Strain the curds in a colander and enjoy your homemade cheese.

The liquid strained from the cheese is called whey. Leftover whey is great to add to baked goods like bread, pizza dough, or even mixed with pancake mix in place of water. Place the colander over a bowl to catch the whey.

Storage

Store ricotta cheese in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It may need to be drained or stirred before use.

Favorite Ways to Use Ricotta

Whether it’s a sweet or savory dish, this homemade ricotta is always a star!

Did you love this Ricotta Cheese recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

a bowl of homemade ricotta cheese next to crostini

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Homemade Ricotta Cheese (4 ingredients)

Homemade ricotta cheese is easy to make with ingredients you likely have on hand—no special tools required. It’s perfect for homemade pasta dishes and more!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Drain Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat milk, cream, and salt over medium heat while stirring. Cook just until the mixture comes to a boil.
Remove from the heat, add the vinegar, and stir to combine.
Let the mixture rest undisturbed for 30 minutes to allow curds to form.
Line a fine mesh strainer or colander with 2 layers of damp cheesecloth. Gently spoon the ricotta curds into the strainer.
Allow to drain for 30-45 minutes.

Homemade ricotta cheese will last up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

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Adapted from: “No Whey.” Canadian Living, Sept. 2018, 9.