I've been meaning to share this awesome and super simple homemade ricotta cheese recipe with you for ages! So when I got the chance to partner with Got Milk? I knew exactly what I wanted to post.
Did you know that you could make your own cheese with just three ingredients? I told you it was simple! In fact, it's so easy a kid can make it! They'll need a little help around the hot stove, but it is an awesome recipe for cooking with kids. Plus, the three suggested serving preparations require no heat and limited chopping, making them perfect for young helpers.
Now to be fair, this cheese and its many uses are by no means just for kiddos, but I love the idea of getting them involved. When kids help in the kitchen, they learn valuable skills and often become more adventurous eaters. It is very important to me that my sons grow up learning how to cook, and that they grow up eating healthy foods. An important part of that healthy diet is, you guessed it, milk! Milk is full of nutrients kids need to grow into strong, healthy adults. This simple homemade cheese is just one way to get all that goodness into growing bellies. With strong bones from all that calcium and impressive culinary prowess from helping in the kitchen, their future is very bright indeed!
Homemade Ricotta Cheese
(Adapted from Ursula Ferrigno's Trattoria)
Makes about 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 8 cups (one half gallon) whole milk
- 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (from one large or two small lemons)
- 2 teaspoons salt
You'll Also Need:
- A slotted spoon
- Cheesecloth or a lint-free kitchen towel
Directions:
- Place all three ingredients in a large, heavy bottomed pot. Stir and place over high heat.
- Keep an eye on the pot, as curds start to float to the top, skim them off with your slotted spoon and place them in your cloth.
- Stir only occasionally.
- Once it comes to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and continue to skim until all the curds have been retrieved.
- Tie the ends of your cloth together so that it can hang from a wooden spoon. Place the spoon across a large bowl (to catch the whey) and place it in the refrigerator for about an hour.
- Remove the cheese from the cloth and serve however you like! (Three delicious suggestions below!)
Jude's favorite way to enjoy homemade ricotta? Straight from the spoon!
Ricotta and Herb Veggie Dip
To our fresh ricotta add finely diced (or snipped with scissors, if kids are helping) herbs, salt, pepper and a bit of olive oil. Serve with veggies for dipping!
Ricotta and Tomato Crostini
Slice a baguette and toast (optional). Top your bread with a generous layer of cheese and sliced tomato. Season with salt and drizzle with olive oil.
Strawberries with Ricotta and Honey
Slice fresh strawberries (an egg slicer works great if you have little helpers), top with a dollop of cheese, and drizzle with honey. Yum!
Here's to homemade cheese!
This post was sponsored by Got Milk? As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.
