Summer Fest Ingredient: Herbs, Greens & Beans
Making ricotta cheese from scratch isn’t as daunting as it may seem. Start with a mix of milk and buttermilk and end with spoonful after spoonful of creamy homemade ricotta. Fold in your favorite fresh herbs and you’ve got a perfect pasta filling, an unbeatable crostini topper or my favorite addition to scrambled eggs.
Fellow Summer Fest 2010 Bloggers:
- Food2
- Devour (The Cooking Channel)
- Healthy Eats (Food Network)
- The FN Dish (Food Network)
- A Way to Garden
- The Wright Recipes
- White on Rice Couple
- Food Philosophy
- Alice Q. Foodie
- Pinch My Salt
- Gluten Free Girl
- Tea and Cookies
- Eating from the Ground Up
- Tigress in a Jam
- The Sister Project
- Sweetnicks
- San Diego Foodstuff
- Remarkable Palate
Servings 2 cups
Ingredients
- 8 cups whole milk
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh chives
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Mix together the milk and buttermilk in a heavy-bottom sauce pot over medium-high heat.
- Stir the mixture occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pan to avoid scorching the milk.
- Stop stirring once the milk is hot and curds begin to rise to the surface. Scrape the bottom of the pan again again one more time to free up any stuck curds.
- Line a large sieve or colander with 5 to 6 layers of cheesecloth. Place the lined sieve or colander over a bowl.
- The curds and whey will separate at around 175ºF. Allow the mixture to continue cooking until the top surface is covered with the separated curds. Remove the pan from the heat at this point and ladle the curds into the lined sieve or colander, allowing excess whey to drain into the bowl beneath it. Do not press the curds.
- Pull up on the sides of the cheesecloth and tie the pouch closed. Allow the curds to drain for at least 15 minutes.
- Once the curds have drained and are semi-firm, transfer the ricotta to a bowl and fold in the chopped fresh herbs, grated garlic, salt and pepper. Enjoy the herb ricotta immediately or refrigerate it in an airtight container for later use.
Kelly's Note:
- If the ricotta is too firm, simply add in a few tablespoons of the reserved hot whey (or hot water) and stir to soften the cheese.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
Calories: 754kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 38g, Fat: 39g, Saturated Fat: 22g, Cholesterol: 124mg, Sodium: 1836mg, Potassium: 1643mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 61g, Vitamin A: 2255IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 1419mg, Iron: 1.3mg
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Recipe adapted from 101 Cookbooks.
My husband and I made this and used it as a spread on crusty baguette. It was delicious!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jane! Thank you so much for leaving a star rating!
Sounds delicious!! Quick question for you. How long will the ricotta stay fresh in the fridge?
Thanks, Michelle! It will last up to 3 days, as it’s best enjoyed fresh.
Made it, it’s delicious! What do you do with the whey?
Thanks, Charlotte! There are endless options for how to use up the leftover whey. I like using it when baking breads, which is one of the many ways mentioned in this great article: http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2011/06/16-ways-to-use-your-whey.html
Enjoy!
I love ricotta and so does my husband. We always have it with something sweet. I can’t wait to try your version with the savory herbs. BTW, you do awesome work, love the photos!
I love this week’s ingredients. I am cooking up a storm with my garden gluts.
One for my bunches of parsley and basil:
http://veganscene.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/cashew-pesto-paste/
And kale, does anyone else have masses of kale to harvest right now?
http://veganscene.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/natural-neon-energy/
http://veganscene.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/gluts/
I’ve been wanting to make ricotta for a while now and I think your post may have given me just the incentive I needed with your beautiful shots. I wish it wasn’t 10:40 pm or I’d be in the kitchen making cheese!
I posted a Green Curry Shrimp recipe for my first Summer Fest contribution here: http://bit.ly/96cwR8
This is something I’ll have to try. I made ricotta before, but always using lemon juice or vinegar. I was satisfied with the results, but I am willing to try something new! And the addition of fresh herbs is a sure winner. Thank you for the inspiration.
My contribution for this week’s Summer Fest is a story and a recipe for a comforting, vegetarian Bean Stew.
http://bibberche.com/2010/08/bean-stew/
I adore homemade ricotta and this looks stunning and delicious.
I wrote about one of my favorite herbs in honor of this week’s summer fest. It’s anise hyssop, and the post is found here:
http://blog.healthy-green-lifestyle.com/anise-hyssop.html
Thanks!
This looks heavenly. I am ready to take a bite right now! Yummo
Here is my contribution:
http://www.paintchipsandcupcakes.com/2010/08/11/basil-pesto/
I made fresh ricotta last week and agree that it’s a MUST!!!
At Flexitarian Foodie, we’re into beans and greens—together, or separately! Here are a few of our favorite related posts:
Beans & Greens: The Soup
http://www.flexitarianfoodie.com/2010/04/beans-n-greens-worlds-most-easy-going.html
Creamy Vegetable Lasagna
http://www.flexitarianfoodie.com/2010/04/transitioning-to-spring-with-veggie.html
Avocado and Black Bean Enchiladas (my favorite!!!)
http://www.flexitarianfoodie.com/2010/05/happy-cinco-de-mayo.html
This looks amazing. Can’t wait to make it! My recipe this week is for Green Beans with Cilantro and Lime
http://www.ingredientsinc.net/2010/08/summer-fest-2010-green-beans-with-cilantro-and-pine-nuts/
Kelly, your photos are delicious! I just took a cheesemaking class and was amazing at how simple it was to make ricotta — I will have to add this to my recipe list.
Fresh Ricotta sounds wonderful
This week for Summer Fest at It’s The Way She… I baked up a batch of Lemon-Thyme Walnut Biscotti
http://itsthewayshe.blogspot.com/2010/08/summerfest-2010-so-many-herbsnever.html
Such a cool idea! I love fresh ricotta but have never made it myself. Sounds like a fun weekend project. :)
mmm, fresh ricotta is the best!
This week for Summer Fest, I made pasta with greens, beans, and garlic bread crumbs:
http://4seasonsoffood.blogspot.com/2010/08/pasta-with-greens-beans-and-garlic.html
I love ricotta! I’ve never tried to make it myself, but it would be worth a try! Here is my contribution to Summerfest 2010:
http://flavorsings.blogspot.com/2010/08/summer-fest-chicken-under-brick-with.html
Sounds delicious. I am contributing a garden salad for Summer Fest. http://dejavucook.wordpress.com/010/04/29/spring-garden-salad