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

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

Transfer the ricotta mixture to a piping bag or a small plastic, zipper bag with one corner cut off, or simply use a small spoon to dollop the ricotta onto these bites. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Unlike ricotta, which can turn chalky, small-curd, whole-milk cottage cheese stays moist through the long bake. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026

These tasty little bundles are filled with herbed ricotta and topped with marinara. — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 14 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