ricotta
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of ricotta
1875–80; < Italian < Latin recocta, feminine of recoctus, past participle of recoquere to re-cook. See re-, cook 1
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Explanation
Ricotta is a soft, creamy cheese made from whey. Because it tastes mild and slightly sweet, ricotta can be used in desserts as well as savory dishes. Mixed with garlic and parmesan, ricotta makes a delicious filling for pasta shells baked in red sauce. Italian cheesecakes and sweet cannoli can also be made using ricotta. It's similar to cottage cheese, but it's smoother and sweeter. In Italian, ricotta means "recooked," a reference to the way this versatile cheese is made, by cooking milk whey that's left over from making other cheeses.
Vocabulary lists containing ricotta
Cheesy Goodness
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Pizza, Pizza!
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5th Grade World Cuisine, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mixing ground beef with ingredients like mashed black beans, brown lentils, mushrooms, ricotta cheese or bread crumbs can help cut costs while maintaining flavor.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
Finish with a generous dollop of ricotta and shower with freshly grated Parmigiano.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
I wonder, as I bite into a slice spread with delicious ricotta.
From Slate • May 8, 2026
A version that lives up to the memory: tender and plush from ricotta, edged with buttermilk tang, and threaded with cinnamon that finally takes the lead.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
Kaira ordered lemon ricotta pancakes, and he ordered corned-beef hash and eggs.
From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
