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

Member’s Mark Five Cheese Tortellini Made with ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, mascarpone, and romano cheeses, Member’s Mark Five Cheese Tortellini comes in a two pack and can be cooked frozen. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 June 2025

Or top sourdough with ricotta and a heaping spoonful of curd for a très élégante afternoon snack. —Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2025

The eggplant is first salted then quickly dipped in flour and egg batter, rolled with a mixture of ricotta cheese, spinach, and Parmesan then baked, not deep-fried, with a judicious amount of tomato sauce. —John Mariani, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

Snacks were available in the galley all night and my lemon and ricotta hotcakes breakfast was rich and hearty, accompanied by a banana, coconut and mango smoothie. —Lois Alter Mark, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

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