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

Add on focaccia with ricotta and honey ($10) or tiramisu ($25). —Samantha Nelson, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

The menu includes petite bites of chicken cannoli with ricotta, Japanese tamago sando, pastrami Reuben salad, and more. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026

This delightful little cheesecake has a light and creamy ricotta filling and a salty-sweet crust made. —Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026

For the second course, guests will be served spring herbed ravioli that includes ricotta cheese, morels and parmesan emulsion. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 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