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

My husband’s Clapp’n Back, a meatball ricotta situation, was exactly as described. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026

The dinner consists of 10 choices, including a Caesar salad, ricotta and spinach ravioli, chicken parmigiana and a tiramisu dessert. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026

For example, in the current spring menu, a verdant green spring pea vellutata stands on its own with watercress, a toast crisp, Marcona almonds and a lemon ricotta. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Here's a hearty vegetarian penne recipe with eggplant, tomato, and ricotta from Sicily. —Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 21 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