There’s something I’ve been wanting to say: I am now over 50 posts into a food blog and have avoided using the word “yummy.” It is on my list of most hated words for adults to use. Now that I got that out of the way, I’m excited to share this ricotta technique with you.
Making fresh ricotta is so easy that it makes me wonder why EVERYONE isn’t making their own ricotta. So far, I’ve enjoyed it on fresh ciabatta with honey and on homemade pizza with eggplant. Other ways I plan on trying (recipes to follow throughout the season):
- with mint and spring vegetables on pasta,
- in pancakes,
- in lasagna,
- by the spoonful…
If you have an interesting way to prepare ricotta, please forward your recipe!
I learned this technique at Peter Berley’s cooking weekend in February, and the picture below is from his beautiful kitchen on the North Fork.
The milk and cream are from Ronnybrook Farm’s stand at the Grand Army Plaza farmer’s market on Saturday morning. It was exciting to see the market in full bloom. My lack of posts recently is a direct result of being less than inspired the past few weeks by what’s available in Brooklyn in March/early April. As Barbara Kingsolver puts it, we’re just “waiting for asparagus.” I guess I’ll just eat a whole lot of cheese until then.
Ingredients:
1/2 gallon whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
1. Bring milk and cream to a boil, stirring often to prevent scorching. Once it boils, it will get really big–so use a large pot.
2. Once boiling, add lemon and salt, and reduce heat to a simmer. Curds will form within 2-3 minutes (it’s magic, really).
3. Once the curds form, remove from heat and ladle the curds into the cheesecloth to strain. You should put the cheesecloth over a colander which is over a bowl. I learned that what’s dripping out is whey, and you can use it for watering the plants.
4. Allow the ricotta to strain for a while. Then, chill in the fridge.
Really, that’s all.
fresh from brooklyn 
mommy dearest
that looks …..ummm…..errrrr…….hmmmmm… yummy?????
mommy dearest
i have not tasted it yet, but it was so much fun to make (fun being simple and magical, like the first time you shake cream into butter!). If it tastes good, then it gets the last star!
freshfrombrooklyn
Reblogged this on fresh from brooklyn and commented:
Im posting this again for two reasons. 1: Peter Berley was on WNYC last night explaining this ricotta recipe. 2: The use of the word yummy is reaching epidemic levels these days. Enough is enough. Other words you can say: tasty, delectable, delightful, appetizing, mouthwatering, delicious, scrumptious….you get the point.Yummy is a kids word and it makes me cringe to hear adults use it.