Ricotta cheese: what is, recipes

It is Difficult to find a tourist who, while vacationing in Italy, would try the traditional desserts of this country on the basis of the ricotta. This cheese has a special, sweet taste, for which he is so fond of pastry. But in other areas of cooking, not less popular ricotta cheese. What it eats Italians? What are the recipes for this use? The answers to these and other questions can be found in this article.

What is ricotta?

First of all, ricotta – Italian cheese, the production of which is significantly different from other varieties. More precisely, it's not even cheese, a traditional dairy product. It is more like cottage cheese but has a softer consistency. The taste is not sour, but rather sweet, even more sweet.

Ricotta cheese is hard to call, because it is made not from milk (traditional recipe), and of serum, which remains after receipt of mozzarella or other varieties. This product re-processing of raw materials. The emergence of this kind of cheese in Italy and was associated with the need to dispose of a large quantity of serum, which remained in the production of mozzarella.

The ricotta is lactose, which gives it a sweet taste. The fat content of cheese depends on the milk used for production (cow, sheep, etc.), and varies from 8% to 24%. A related lower-calorie ricotta cheese. What the Italians eat it? Definitely a dessert. This makes them not only tasty but also very useful for the figure.

Production Technology

Ricotta & ndash; is a product that is obtained by re-boiling the whey. Translated from Italian cotta means “cooking” and ri is the prefix denoting repetition of the action. The process of obtaining ricotta is simple and doesn't take much time.

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First, the whey is heated to a temperature of 80 degrees. Thanks to this milk fats begin to curl and fall down. The main condition of production is to maintain the desired temperature at the level of 80-90 degrees. About 1 hour from the surface of the serum, it will be possible to collect all the flakes of ricotta.

According to the production technology of the ricotta is more like a soft cheese varieties. In General there are several types of ricotta, which is made from different milk whey and aged for a certain time.

Italian ricotta cheese: what to eat?

Ricotta as the cheese, is easily whipped into a soft mass. Because of this, a cheese used in traditional Italian desserts. But not only the prized pastry ricotta. What is this soft cheese even?

Ricotta is used in the preparation of certain types of lasagna in baking a traditional Italian Easter bread, smear it like a paste on sandwiches, crackers. Soft cheese with a sweet flavor goes well with fresh vegetables and fruit. So it is often used as one of the ingredients in salads.

Allows the Ricotta to make the dish lower in calories. In desserts it is sometimes replaced heavy cream. In this case, soft cheese, add a little boiling water and well kneaded mass with a spoon. In this consistency it can be used as cream.

Ricotta fits the taste of many products. It complements traditional dishes unique Italian twist.

A Traditional dessert with ricotta: "Fiadone Italian"

This dessert has a mouthwatering aroma of citrus and vanilla, amazing taste and is incredibly easy to prepare. The main ingredient-ricotta cheese. What is this dessert? It is especially delicious with strawberry jam, while in Russia it is even served with sour cream.

For preparing this traditional dessert Italian first you need to whisk 3 eggs and 50 grams of sugar. Weight should be lush, white. The amount of sugar can be increase or decrease, depending on taste preferences.

Now you can add other ingredients: a teaspoon of vanilla, a pinch of salt, zest of 1 lemon and starch (1 tablespoon corn or potato). A lot whisk until smooth. Then gently push the ricotta (250 g).

Pour the resulting mass with a parchment form. Bake until Golden brown about 40 minutes at 180 degrees. Ready fiadone cut into squares or triangles.

"Sicilian cassata,"

This is one of the most popular and beloved of Italian desserts. Many pastry chefs believe that for the layman to replicate the taste of cassata cake is almost impossible. It is actually not so difficult. Importantly, the preparation was used ricotta. What is this dessert? Served with dessert cassata, a Sicilian wine or other traditional drinks.

First we need to prepare the cream, as it needs to be well chilled. Ricotta (500 g) vzbit with sugar powder and add 100 g pre-soaked in rum candied fruits. The resulting cream put it in the refrigerator for 12 hours.

Bake the cake according to their proven recipe that will have everyhousewife. The finished cake cut into 3 parts.

That cake does not dry out the taste, his need to soak. To do this, prepare a sugar syrup of 100 ml of water, a tablespoon of sugar and 25 ml of rum. Wait until cooled, and you can collect cassatt.

The form to put the first disc of sponge cake and soak it with syrup with a silicone brush. On top put a layer of cream. Repeat similar steps with other disks. Put the cassata in the fridge for 12 hours.

After a specified time, the dessert can be decorated. For this you will need powdered sugar and 200 g ricotta cheese (what to eat, mentioned above). To cook from the ingredients cream and coat them with the sides and top of cake. Sprinkle the top with chopped pistachios. By the way, cassatt serves not only as a cake, but in the form of small cakes.

Ricotta Cheese: what to eat, recipes of delicious and healthy salads

Fine Italian desserts with cottage cheese-it's delicious. But this is not all the dishes that use ricotta cheese. What to eat it? Often it is used in salads, with fresh vegetables and fruit.

A lot of Italians love the combination of ricotta with chicken and apples. Salad is very healthy and low in calories. To prepare it, you need to cut the boiled chicken fillet into strips (500 g), sour-sweet apples (3 PCs.) large pieces, a bunch of lettuce to break it. Add 250 g of ricotta, pour dressing on top and garnish with halves of quail eggs. The salad is ready!

To prepare the filling you will need 6 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tbsp wine vinegar, 3 tbsp. tablespoons boiling water and 1 teaspoon of honey. All the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. The dressing is ready!

You Can prepare sweet fruit salad based on ricotta cheese. What to eat and what to add? Favorite fruits and berries (apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes) cut into large chunks, combine in one plate and fill with whipped ricotta cheese. Add some honey to taste. This salad is good to eat even for Breakfast.

How can I replace ricotta?

Ricotta has its own unique flavour, so you can replace it in salads and other dishes is not recommended. But if there is a need, you can choose any soft cheese (for example, Almette), even cottage cheese. It is desirable that it was fresh, a bit reminiscent of the taste of ricotta cheese. What is it?

Soft cream cheese is added to the same dishes, and ricotta. Still, to repeat the exquisite taste unlikely. Therefore, in the preparation of this Italian dessert or salad it makes sense to look for the stores that is ricotta.