Ingredients
- 1⁄2 gallon whole milk
- 3⁄4 tsp citric acid powder
- 1⁄4 cup cool water
- 1⁄4 cup heavy cream
- 1⁄2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
Recipe Source:
I Heart Cheese by Mihaela Metaxa-Albu ($19.99, Page Street Publishing Co., 2020) Photo credit: YumCreative.com
Directions
- In a large pot over medium-low heat, add the milk and heat until the temperature reaches 195°F, or until almost boiling. Using a wooden spoon, stir frequently to prevent the milk from scorching on the bottom of the pot.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, add the citric acid and cool water. Stir until fully dissolved.
- Add the citric acid mixture to the milk. Using a wooden spoon, stir using a gentle up-and-down motion, for about 30 seconds. Almost immediately, you will see white solid parts (curds) forming. Turn off the heat and allow it to set for 45 to 60 minutes without stirring.
- Meanwhile, line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth, covering all sides, leaving at least an extra 5-inch section of cheesecloth hanging over. Set the strainer on top of a large bowl for draining.
- Once the translucent liquid (whey) has settled to the bottom of the pot, use a slotted spoon to skim the curds out and into the prepared strainer.
- Allow the cheese to drain for at least 30 minutes, or longer if you want a drier cheese.
- Next, pull up the cheesecloth from the sides and gently twist them together to put pressure on the cheese to release more whey. The more you drain, the crumblier the cheese will get.
- In a bowl, add the cheese and the heavy cream. Season with sea salt and stir to combine.
- Transfer the cheese to a clean jar and refrigerate until ready to use. The cheese will stay fresh for about 5 days in the refrigerator.
Notes
Ricotta has a super creamy texture and mild, milky flavor, making it a fantastic cheese for using in savory and sweet applications.
Homemade ricotta is even richer than the store-bought stuff and has a cleaner flavor, as it lacks preservatives.
This recipe demonstrates just how easy and inexpensive it is to make ricotta at home and with just a few ingredients. Once you try this recipe for homemade whole milk ricotta, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought!
