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Writer's picturePasta Grammar

How to Make REAL Italian Ricotta at Home | Homemade Ricotta Cheese Recipe

Updated: Jul 22

We've searched the United States high and low for a ricotta that tastes like the real, Italian stuff. Sadly, nothing we've found has even come close. It's difficult to even describe the difference to someone who hasn't had this wonderful whey cheese in Italy. Luckily, there's a way to try real ricotta no matter where you live: make it yourself.


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How to Make REAL Italian Ricotta at Home | Homemade Ricotta Cheese Recipe

The internet is full of ricotta cheese recipes, but most of them fall quite short of the traditional Italian process. Ironically, real ricotta is very simple to make and is quite within the capabilities of most home cooks.


The trickiest part of having the perfect ricotta experience is finding raw milk. Many American states have banned its sale for human consumption. However, there are several loopholes making it available in some way virtually everywhere in the US. This website is a good place to find a local source.


One thing to be aware of is that you will achieve the highest ricotta yield from the freshest milk. If possible, try to find a local farm that can supply you with fresh dairy, ideally milked the same day.


Legal disclaimer: consume raw milk at your own risk!


Ricotta is made from whey, the remaining leftovers after making cheese. Therefore, in order to make ricotta you first have to make cheese. This recipe will guide you through the process of making Primo Sale, one of the simplest fresh cheeses. Feel free to try your hand at a different kind, what's important is that you end up with whey!


Watch the Pasta Grammar video here:




Yield will vary depending on the quality and type of milk. We ended up with about 1 lb. of ricotta.


For this recipe, you will need:

  • 1.5 gallons (5.6 L) raw cow, sheep or goat milk

  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.2 ml) liquid animal rennet (other types of rennet are available, such as tablets and vegetable rennet. Check the specific instructions of your chosen rennet to set the amount of milk you use)

  • 5 teaspoons (25 ml) non-chlorinated water (check your grocery store for purified water)

  • Salt

  • A large stock pot

  • A deep tray with a wire rack for draining

  • Whisk, wooden spoon, and long knife

  • Cheese mold baskets (we recommend an assorted set like this)

  • An instant read thermometer


First, set aside 25% of the milk for later. In this case, it comes to 6 cups (1.4 liters). Keep the milk covered at room temperature.


Pour the rest of the milk into a large pot over medium heat. Stir the milk occasionally and monitor its temperature with an instant read thermometer. You're aiming to reach an even temp of 98.6 degrees F (37 C).



While the milk heats up, stir the animal rennet into the non-chlorinated water in a small cup. When the milk hits the target temperature, add the rennet mix into the pot and stir well. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let it rest for 45 minutes.



After 45 minutes, cheese will have formed on the milk's surface. Gently insert a long knife into the cheese and slice it into a grid pattern. We recommend watching the video above to see how this should be done. Let the pot rest a further 5 minutes.




Now it's time to "break the cagliata." Do so by gently passing a whisk through the cheese until the large pieces are broken up into a rough crumble. You don't want the pieces too fine or too large, we again recommend watching the video to see what the consistency should look like. Don't stress too much, though: this cheese is quite forgiving.



Place a large cheese basket (we recommend a square one) on a wire rack within a deep pan to catch whey drippings. Use another basket, or a small fine mesh strainer, to scoop the cheese out of the pot and transfer it into the drain basket. Gently press the cheese into the basket to squeeze as much whey as possible out. When all of the cheese has been transferred and pressed, pour the drained whey back into the pot.



We'll quickly take a detour to explain how to finish the Primo Sale cheese. Let the cheese naturally drain on the wire rack for about 20 minutes. Carefully remove the cheese from the basket, flip it upside down, and place it back in the basket. Gently press it again, and let it drain for another 60-90 minutes.



Combine 4 1/4 cups (1 liter) of water with 1/2 cup (150g) of salt in a large bowl. Stir until the salt is dissolved. Remove the cheese from the basket and place in the brine. Soak it for 30 minutes, then turn it over and soak a further 30 minutes. Remove from the brine and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.




Ok, back to the ricotta...


Remember that milk you set aside at the beginning? Stir it into the pot, along with 2 tsp. of salt. Place the pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Monitor the temperature again. As the milk approaches 185 degrees F (85 C), ricotta will form and float to the top! All you have to do now is skim it off and place in a new basket to drain. Be careful, as the milk will be hot this time!



You don't need to press the ricotta, just let it naturally drain on the wire rack for 5-10 minutes. You can flip it onto a plate for serving, or keep it in the basket on a dish to catch drippings. Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.



Buon appetito!





16,905 views16 comments

16 Comments


andrea
Jul 05

Hi. I just finished making this. I used raw cow's milk, and the same rennet in the video. The cheese part turned out fine, but could not get the ricotta. After trying for quite awhile adjusting the heat, trying to keep it at about 185 for longer, I gave up and added some lemon juice. This produced what amounted to about 1/2 c. of ricotta in the end.


Any ideas of what went wrong? I used a Le Creuset cast enamel pot. Could that have been the problem?


Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!


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Johnnys.yak
Sep 26, 2023

To be 6.8 liters for 1.5 gallons, the measurement must be as Imperial gallons, not USA gallons, and 1.7 liters is Imperial 25%, for 6.8 literes not 1.4 as your instructions say, HOWEVER, 1.5 gallons in USA measurment is 5.6 liters NOT 6.8 liters, in which case 1.4 liters is 25% of 5.6, BUT YOU CANNOT use 2 different measurement devices or your amounts will end up wrong as simply just proven

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Killian Moore
Killian Moore
Jan 16
Replying to

They updated it

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davilajessicad
Jul 13, 2023

What are some recipes I can make using the leftover liquid (whey?) ? Thanks!

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andrea
Jun 22
Replying to

It's great just to drink, very healty. Use it in smoothies! :)

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valdo4149
May 11, 2023

I tried your recipe for the ricotta. While the cheese came out excellent, I could not get any ricotta. Where did I go wrong? When the temp reached about 185F there were no curds forming. And at a higher heat still no curds. I put a dab of vinegar and voila there were the curds. Sadly to say that it wasn't anything like the real ricotta I made from other recipes. It was more like mozzarella. So please explain that with no adding of raw milk (the 6 cups that was set aside) I was able to get the most delicious ricotta. It was like my old home town in Sicily was making. The other recipe did not call fo…

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valdo4149
Oct 21, 2023
Replying to

I'm glad that I am not the only one who found that this recipe does not work for the ricotta. It (the recipe) may work with goats milk. I only have access to raw cows milk, and for cows milk you need to add the vinegar for the ricotta curds to form. If anyone has a different method please post it.

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westlynnp
Aug 20, 2022

How do you use the fresh cheese that is made first?

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tabecat
Jun 11, 2023
Replying to

I would like to know this as well!

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