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

Breakfast was my favorite meal, particularly the lemon ricotta pancakes fresh off the griddle. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026

Once a seasonal delicacy, Jimmy’s sources squash blossoms ($25) year-round, stuffs them with ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano and lightly batters and fries them. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The Chocolate Chip Cannoli Dessert Dip has a cream cheese and ricotta base with vanilla and chocolate chips. — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

New cookbook releases and celebrity recipes that use cottage cheese as a ricotta or cream cheese substitute rather than a topping. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 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