Sicilian Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Fresh, creamy ricotta cheese is easy to make at home from ingredients you can find in any grocery store. Use it in pastas, as a spread, or in any recipe that calls for ricotta. It's also a great breakfast treat with fresh fruit.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 219 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pint heavy cream
• 1 quart buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 gallon whole milk
• 18-inch squares cheesecloth

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Line a large colander or sieve with 4 layers of cheesecloth. Set aside.

Step 2

Heat milk, buttermilk, heavy cream, and salt in a large, heavy, nonreactive saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for the first 10 minutes. Continue heating, without stirring, until the temperature reaches 190 degrees F. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour. The mixture will be separated into white curds and clear whey.

Step 3

Using a slotted spoon, ladle approximately 1/4 of the curds into the cheesecloth-lined colander. Gather up the corners of the top cheesecloth and secure closed with a zip tie. Repeat with the rest of the curds, cheesecloth, and zip ties. Use the last zip tie to thread all of the cheeses together. Suspend the cheeses over a large wooden spoon over a large bowl, and let drain for 2 hours.

Step 4

Place the four cheeses, still in cloth, in a bowl in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, cut zip ties, and transfer cheese to an airtight container.