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

The ricotta lends coolness both in temperature and in flavor, offering relief between bites of spicy booziness. —Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026

Piattello’s housemade sourdough and ricotta is a popular starter. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026

There’s also the Crêpes Suzette, prepared with vanilla ricotta crème patisserie, and the Croque Madame, layered with Black Forest ham, mornay, gruyère and sunny side eggs. —Jillian Dara, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026

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