Joannas Easy Homemade Ricotta Recipes

Steps:

• Line a large sieve with 2 layers of cheesecloth or paper towels and set it over a large bowl.
• Bring the milk, cream and 1 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a large nonreactive pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add the lemon juice and vinegar and cook, stirring, until the mixture curdles, about 1 minute.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared sieve and let drain, discarding the liquid (whey) from the bowl as necessary, at least 5 minutes or up to 30 minutes for thicker cheese. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Crostini Photograph by Kang Kim
• How-To Photographs by Ben Goldstein/Studio D.

Steps:

• Line a colander with a few layers of cheesecloth and put it into the sink.
• Pour milk and buttermilk into large pot. Cook over high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Curds will begin to rise up and clump on the surface. Once the mixture is steaming, stop stirring. Curds and whey will separate. Whey will look like cloudy water underneath a mass of white curds (this will happen at about 140 degrees F). When separated, turn off the heat and ladle the curds into the cheesecloth. When all curds are in the cloth and the dripping has slowed, gently bring up the edges of cloth and twist it to bring the curds together. Give a squeeze to let the water continue to drain. Tie it with string and hang it over the sink or a pan to drain for about 15 minutes or so. Let it drain 15 minutes more.
• Discard the whey. Untie the cheesecloth and pack the ricotta into airtight containers. Refrigerate and use within 1 week, or eat immediately. Serve with crusty garlic bread, olive oil and chunky salt, herbs or something else good.

Steps:

• Combine milk, heavy cream, and salt (if using) in a nonreactive heavy bottomed saucepan. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
• Add lemon juice and continue to boil, stirring constantly until curds separate, about 1 minute. It may be necessary to adjust the heat to prevent cream from overflowing.
• Pour into a very fine-mesh stainless steel strainer. Place strainer over a bowl that is deep enough for the strainer to sit over and not touch the liquid. Allow cheese to drain for 1 hour in the refrigerator. Discard liquid and transfer ricotta to a covered container. Refrigerate until ready to use, or up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Mix the milk and the juice together in a saucepan.
• Heat the milk slowly stirring continuously and curd will form as the temperature increases.
• Keep heating and stirring until just short of boiling.
• Do not allow to boil.
• Line a sieve with a double layer of clean cheesecloth and pour the milk mixture through the sieve.
• The milk mixture will separate leaving ricotta cheese in the muslin and whey in the container underneath.
• Put the ricotta in the refrigerator and use within the next 48 hours.

Steps:

• Line a mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a deep bowl or pot.
• Combine milk, cream, and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally in a "figure eight" motion, until it reaches a temperature of 195 degrees F (90 degrees C). If you don't have a thermometer, this will be right before it starts to simmer. You'll see steam rising from the surface, and tiny bubbles forming around the edges of the pan.
• Turn off the heat, pour in the vinegar, and stir slowly in a "figure eight" motion for 3 or 4 seconds.
• Let the mixture sit, untouched, for 6 minutes.
• Carefully ladle into the cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer so that the dripping whey drains into the pot or bowl. Let the ricotta drain into the pot for between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on how soft or firm you want your cheese. The longer it drains, the firmer the texture will be once chilled.
• Grab the ends of the cheesecloth and lift the drained ricotta out of the strainer and place in a bowl. Let cool on the counter to room temperature, then wrap and chill thoroughly.
• Remove cheesecloth and serve. Ricotta usually needs an additional pinch of salt when serving.