Homemade Ricotta Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 c. whole milk
- 1 ¼ c. heavy cream
- 5 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ½ t. kosher salt
- ¼ t. fresh cracked black pepper
Preparation
Combine milk, cream, and 1 teaspoon salt in a heavy bottomed pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat making sure to stir frequently so you don’t burn the milk.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. Let simmer, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to curdle, about 3 to 5 minutes
Remove from heat and let stand undisturbed for about 5 minutes. Line a strainer with 3 layers of cheesecloth and set it in the sink. Carefully scoop the large chunks or curds into the strainer, and then gently pour the liquid into the strainer.
Set strainer with cheese curds in a bowl and move to refrigerator; let drain for 1 ½ hours. Transfer cheese to a clean, large bowl. Gently fold in 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper to finish seasoning the cheese.
Learn More About cheese
Smile! June 4th is National Cheese Day!
Cheese is made by heating milk (cow, goat, and/or sheep), adding mold for some cheeses, ripening with cultures, curdling with enzymes (rennin) or acidic ingredient (lemon juice, vinegar), and separating the curds from the whey.
Cheeses made in America fit these basic categories:
- Fresh or slightly cured: mascarpone, ricotta, chévre, feta, cream cheese, cottage cheese
- Soft-ripened: brie, Camembert, triple crèmes
- Semi-soft: blue cheese, Colby, fontina, Havarti, Monterey Jack
- Firm/Hard: Gouda, cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere, Parmesan, raw milk cheeses (must be aged more than 60 days)
Making cheese at home is magical and delicious. A fresh cheese such as ricotta is a good place to start. Just like other make-it-at-home activities—canning, preserving, brewing—cleanliness is the first step. Be sure to sterilize your work surfaces and all of your equipment before you begin. Then with a few ingredients and within a few minutes, your first curds appear.
Peggy Crum MA, RDFeatured Recipes
Rhubarb & Strawberry Crisp
Combine tart rhubarb with sweet strawberries, add a streusel topping, and bake until bubbly. Dessert doesn’t get easier—or more classic—than this. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You’re sure to get rave reviews!
Farro Salad with Grilled Vegetables
Chewy farro grains are delicious in this autumn-y salad. Recipe yields enough for dinner for 2 to 4 with some left for a couple of lunches. To do this, make the base with dressing, farro, and grilled veggies. Add fresh veggies to the base as you go.
Pecan and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Roasting amps up the flavor in everything including pecans. Chef Kurt's attention to detail takes a traditional chocolate chip cookie to another level of yum!
Onion Soup
Onions, the simplest of pantry staples, mingle with butter, broth, and herbs to become luxuriously smooth and delicious. Add "homemade" croutons and a blend of cheeses to make a complete and satisfying meal.
