5 Facts About Ricotta

Know more about this soft, crumbly, and mild cheese from Italy.

                                             Click on link to see Yummy.ph's full list of ricotta recipes

1 Cheese basics
Ricotta is a fresh, soft Italian cheese. Its name in Italian means "re-cooked," in reference to the way it's manufactured. Instead of milk, ricotta is made with whey, a liquid by-product in cheese making that's usually discarded.

Whey is heated and an acid is added to let the natural proteins form and become what we know as ricotta. It's typically made from cow’s milk whey, but milk from sheep, goats, and water buffalos are used as well.

2  Texture and flavor
Soft and rindless, ricotta has a crumbly texture with a very mild flavor.

3  Italian icon
Its versatility makes it a favored ingredient in numerous Italian dishes, from spreads and salads to pasta and desserts. It is commonly used in lasagna, ravioli, pizza, and a Sicilian cake called cassata. Relatively low in fat, ricotta is even a healthy substitute for mayonnaise when making egg or tuna spread.

4  Storage
Like many fresh cheeses, ricotta is highly perishable and is best eaten within a week from opening the package.

5  Where to buy
Local cow ricotta and goat ricotta from Malagos Farmhouse Cheese (made in Davao City) are available in the Gourmet-to-Go counter of Rustan's Supermarket at Shangri-La Plaza, Power Plant, and Glorietta malls.

Try ricotta on this wonderful recipe: Ricotta Pancakes with Whipped Lemon Butter
 

Photography by Patrick Martires | Styling by Rachelle Santos | Ricotta courtesy of Malagos Farmhouse Cheese (distributed by Piecofoods, Inc.)

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