ricotta

noun

ri·​cot·​ta ri-ˈkä-tə 

-ˈkȯ-

: a white unripened whey cheese of Italy that resembles cottage cheese

also : a similar cheese made in the U.S. from whole or skim milk

Examples of ricotta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Artichokes star in five pastas for spring, including in radiatore with chicken and lemon-flavored ricotta. —Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 11 Feb. 2026

And their fluffy and flavorful lemon ricotta pancakes have a cult-like following. —Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Feb. 2026

Her father’s contribution was always a ricotta pie from a local Italian bakery. —Terry Ward 22 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026

Two popular pizzas on the menu at Camille’s are Spicy Roni (for pepperoni), with fresh mozzarella, sauce, pepperoni, hot peppers and onion and the one named after Grant, Billy’s Bianco with garlic cream sauce, goat cheese, ricotta, red onion and truffle honey. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from feminine of past participle of ricuocere to cook again, from Latin recoquere, from re- + coquere to cook — more at cook

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ricotta

• biota
• iota
• lakota
• nonquota
• chota
• cota
• quota

Kids Definition

ricotta

noun

ri·​cot·​ta ri-ˈkät-ə 

: a soft, white Italian cheese