homemade ricotta cheese
My mother makes her own farmers cheese. Hers is a simple process, but a lengthy one that takes about a day, with milk and buttermilk slowly simmering together on the lowest heat imaginable until they slowly curdle and form amazing, delicate, tangy cottage cheese. It is a farmers cheese I cannot get enough of when I go home, and if it traveled well, I’d be bringing lots back to New York with me. Unfortunately, I cannot give my cheese experiments twenty-four hours – I have to leave the apartment building for work, gym, errands, and something about an unattended pot makes me anxious.
But ricotta cheese – that’s another story. It takes very little time to make and most of it is hands-off time – letting the milk boil, draining the curds. Simple and quick! And I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to actually make it. So simple, it’s nothing more than a few simple ingredients. When combined, they do something transformative and magical and create delicious, creamy ricotta.
These are the kinds of things in the kitchen that really put a smile on my face. I generally like to putter around in there and find contentment in chopping things and baking and braising. But things like baking bread or making ricotta cheese, or butter, these are things that make me feel closer to the elements. They’re truly simple pleasures: basic, fundamental and true.
Which brings to another basic, fundamental and true thing: love. As I type this, a tiny furry creature is curled up to my right, blissfully asleep. Periodically, he sighs, rolls over and falls back asleep. World – meet Pushkin McLovin’ – a new addition to the Sassy Radish household. He’s mighty pleased meeting you and he’s super playful and very soft and I’m terribly, terribly smitten with him. I’m not sure at what point I fell in love with him, but here I am, a little unsure of what’s next, but very excited to have him. It feels very simple and basic and wonderful.
Back to ricotta – I can’t stress how easy it is to make and how delicious. I’m pretty sure that once you try this at home you may never buy the store version ever again because it is a pale, pale comparison to its homemade cousin. It also has a million uses, from stuffing manicotti, to cannoli filling to something I’ll talk about in my next post. Because I like to keep you guessing.
Which I think is what Pushkin will do as well – keep me guessing for awhile. What kind of cat will he be? Lively or mellow? Affectionate or aloof? Only time will tell, but I can tell you this much – this not knowing, is actually quite nice.
Homemade Fresh Ricotta
Adapted from Gourmet
April 2006
Ingredients:
2 qt whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
You will need a cheesecloth for this.
Preparation:
1. Line a large sieve with a layer of heavy-duty (fine-mesh) cheesecloth and place it over a large bowl.
2. Slowly bring milk, cream, and 1/2 tsp salt to a rolling boil in a 6-qt heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add lemon juice. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly, until mixture curdles, about 2 minutes.
3. Pour into lined sieve and let drain 1 hour. After discarding the liquid, chill the ricotta, covered; it will keep in the refrigerator 2 days.
Makes about 2 cups
my grandparents have always made fresh “tvorog” on their own. It was so good.
This is very similar to the Indian cheese I’ve made once (but there was no cream).
I discovered the ease and joy of making fresh ricotta a few months ago. Can’t believe it took me so long to try, but I’m a total convert now. It’s a great appetizer smeared on crusty bread with a drizzle of honey—in fact even the kids love it. And I bet Mr. Pushkin wouldn’t mind a tiny taste either.
Oh – my – God. Look at that thing. That is the sweetest face ever. I was all excited about your ricotta, but you know, you just really distracted me and I can’t even think straight now. Memories of Doctor Goof’s kitten-hood are all flooding back now. I am such a sap.
I will need to keep coming back here every few hours to look at McLovin’, (crack me up, is that from the movie?)
Michaela – yeah, he’s Pushkin McLovin’ named for the Russian poet and the Superbad character.
I love his black feet and ears! So precious :)
The kitten? Too cute for words. I had no idea that making ricotta was so simple! I’m definitely going to try this out soon.
I remember one time a chef I had forgot to order ricotta. Thing was, it was in the sig calzone. LOL. I saved the day with the fresh ricotta. I still remember how the chef was leaning over my shoulder threatening me with my life if I messed up the cream. Ironic.
Great job on the post! I love the cat as well. Checking out business, I presume. LOL
This post contains two things I adore: homemade ricotta and cats, more specifically kittens. Pushkin is so adorably cute! Also, love the name. And, as for homemade ricotta, well, my oh my was it a discovery the first time I made it at home.
Homemade ricotta doesn’t look all that impossible to make! You’ve simplified it with your directions and photos.
Now Pushkin McLovin….he is adorable! That face! I could cuddle him for hours. (if he’d allow it!)
Looks beautiful! I’m dying for that farmer’s cheese recipe as well…
Laura, do you want me to get my mom’s recipe?
Oh, thank you, thank you, for reminding me to make ricotta. We found a wonderful dairy farm out in PA this weekend and I have a whole load of fresh milk.
And, ahh, cuteness abounds! Pushkin is beyond adorable! Take looks of pictures, they grow up too quickly.
lots of pictures, not looks, though I imagine you’ll take lots of looks, too.
Robin, unfortunately, the last 48 hrs have been tough in that I’m apparently allergic to Pushkin and have had to give him back to the foster home, but good news is they already have someone for him. I am very sad, obviously… i grew attached instantly and not seeing his little face this morning just killed me.
Oh no!!! I can’t believe you had to give little Pushkin up!!! I was so looking forward to seeing him grow up and wind himself around your heart like they always do!
Thanks, Leslie. I was really very sad. Still am. This was very hard. I’m very sad.
Oh, no, sorry to hear about Pushkin. I have the same issue. I love cats too but am also allergic to them. :( I realized that when visiting a friend of mine who has a cat.
I, too, would like the farmers cheese recipe. My grandma used to make it but my memory of the process is blurred. She would boil the milk (we got non-pasteurized milk) and let it sit but I can’t remember for how long.
Will definitely try making this delicious ricotta cheese. And would you please post your mom’s recipe for farmers cheese. Thank you so much! Love your blog!!!
Thanks all for your lovely words! To those who want my mom’s farmer’s cheese recipe, will post in December. I want to go home, take pictures while she does it and then will write about it. :)
I’m looking forward to trying both the ricotta and farmer’s cheese recipe. Can’t wait to see that one post.
Wow I never thought to make homemade cheese but I love your step by step and I’m going to have to try to make this ricotta sometime soon! Great post!
I need to try making my own, looks so easy! We make our own yogurt and I wish I would of done it years ago, I am sure this will be the same!
[...] Sassy Radish makes homemade ricotta cheese. This is one of those things I always mean to make, yet never [...]
Oh my goodness! Is that a ragdoll kitty?? So beautiful! Thanks for the post!
I’ve see this before, but now I am motivated! awesome :) I bet its tastes refreshing, and it must be so satisfying!!!
[...] a necessary step because store bought ricotta just won’t cut it, and you see in the previous recipe just how easy it is to make ricotta at home. Moreover, I read somewhere, in relation to this recipe [...]
I’m just getting caught up but oh my Pushkin! Look at that sweet face!
[...] though, I’m excited about Saddy Radish’s homemade ricotta recipe. I’m going to make it next week to have with some homemade pizza. It seems I can finally be [...]
I love making homemade ricotta – it is so easy and almost a no-brainer after the first time making it.
I have to say, I so love your blog! There are so many fantastic food blogs out there, but yours is at the top of my list. I think I enjoy your writing even more than your recipes and your photos, if that’s even possible :)
Allison – wow, thanks, I’m totally blushing and it’s only 6am!! :) I am equally as smitten with your blog and writing!!
[...] Homemade Ricotta – I really like this walkthrough on homemade ricotta but also check out the most adorable fluffy cat in the whole wide world (except Tipsy). Pushkin is the cutest. (@ Sassy Radish) [...]
[...] Homemade ricotta cheese at SassyRadish. [...]
You’re photos are great. I recently made homemade ricotta and used it as a base for a simple bruschetta – if anyone’s interested, take a look on my blog.