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

There’s a classic wedge salad and lasagna with ricotta, fontina, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. —Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026

Velvety Green Garlic Vichyssoise stars chilled potato-leek bisque with ricotta, and the spicy Shrimp Campechana combines poached shrimp, mango, lime, tomato and jalapeno in a tangy chunky salsa served with avocado and housemade crispy tortilla chips fried in rice oil. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

High-moisture cheeses like cream cheese, ricotta, and Boursin can change in texture and even flavor after freezing and thawing. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 May 2026

Cara Mangini spoons these luscious tomatoes over crostini that she's smeared with goat cheese or ricotta, then tops each with extra basil. —Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 21 May 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