Bleeding Espresso

27 May 2009

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Ricotta Fresca

Ricotta fresca (fresh ricotta) is one of my most favorite foods in the whole world.

Our kids Pasqualina and Margherita aren’t old enough to breed and make milk yet, but I’m really looking forward to the day when we can make our own ricotta…because I’m pretty sure the only thing better than fresh ricotta is fresh ricotta made by your own two hands. I’ll keep you posted!

One great way to enjoy fresh ricotta is spread on bread–especially if both are warm–and for this week’s What’s Cooking Wednesday, I’m sharing three of my other favorite ways to enjoy fresh ricotta:

*Breakfast of Campioni*
Ricotta, Strawberries, Bananas, and Honey

This is definitely one of my favorite spring treats. Feel free to use kiwi and other favorite fruits if you got ‘em!

*Fast, Easy, Delicious Lunch or Dinner*
Spaghetti with Ricotta

Sometimes also called Pasta alla Pastora (Shepherd’s Style), all we do is toss cooked, salted pasta with fresh ricotta. You can add grated cheese, parsley, and hot pepper, but trust me, this is fabulous with just the ricotta.

*Scrumptious Dessert*
Gina DePalma’s Ricotta Pound Cake

Remember when I made this a couple years ago? It’s still one of my favorite cakes, and you can find the recipe here. Yum!

Have you had fresh ricotta?

What’s your favorite way to enjoy it?

22 beans of wisdom »

22 beans of wisdom to “What’s Cooking Wednesday: Ricotta Fresca”

odessa on 27 May 2009 at 7:53 am #

michelle, this looks too delicious that i just have to comment! ummm, can i have some please?

odessa’s last blog post..confession tuesday

Help yourself, Odessa!
Gil on 27 May 2009 at 8:00 am #

I saw an ad in the local paper, Connecticut, that a restaurant supply store is now selling kits to make your own fresh ricotta and mozzarella at home along with the usual home brewing kits. I think I’ll just make the trip to the store(s) that sell their locally made ricotta and mozzarella. Their products are worth the hour plus drive. As usual your food looks and sounds so delicious!

Kits to make fresh cheeses…ain’t that America!
MsGourmet on 27 May 2009 at 8:53 am #

I don’t think I could live without ricotta! I love it in and on pretty much everything

MsGourmet’s last blog post..Jerusalem Artichoke & Rocket Soup

Mmmm I would definitely enjoy a vacation at your house
KC on 27 May 2009 at 10:57 am #

I love fresh ricotta! Caseifici around here often include a small tub of it free when you but a kilo of mozzarella. (Do they do that elsewhere?) I love to make ricotta fritters, or eat the fresh ricotta with chocolate chips mixed in it. Now I’m waiting for figs so I can eat them with ricotta and honey.

KC’s last blog post..Something happened, and hypocrisy

Ooh what a great deal on the free ricotta! I’ve never had that happen to me, but then again, you’re more in mozzarella country
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 27 May 2009 at 2:10 pm #

yum, yum, yum!

I love fresh ricotta as well.

All three recipes look delicious.

nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Why writers write.

I love when you can eat something on its own or mix it with stuff and it’s always lovely
maria on 27 May 2009 at 2:19 pm #

It all looks amazingly good. Fresh ricotta is a great ingredient. I have to say I especially love that Ricotta Poundcake as well … I made one some time ago but I think I’ll have to try this recipe soon.

maria’s last blog post..Keik me Fraoules kai Karydia–Strawberry Walnut Loaf

Hope you enjoy this recipe, Maria; it’s one of my favorite cakes
Stefanie on 27 May 2009 at 2:31 pm #

Yum. I would happily eat any of those right now, please!

Stefanie’s last blog post..More talk about things that terrify me, but I promise it moves on after that.

If only I could pass them through the screen!
Jeni HIll Ertmer on 27 May 2009 at 3:48 pm #

Oh Wow! I think I may have gained at least five pounds just looking a the pictures of the luscious things you displayed today. All of ‘em look really great and are things I’ve never tried with Ricotta before. Wish I’d seen this last week when I had two pints of fresh strawberries sitting in the refrigerator. I may have to go do a little shopping later today just to see if they have any strawberries on sale, pick up some RIcotta too and try that breakfast item! MMMMM Good!

Jeni HIll Ertmer’s last blog post..Summer Boredom

Fresh strawberries are just so wonderful, aren’t they? I hope you like them with the ricotta and honey!
BeanMa on 27 May 2009 at 4:43 pm #

OMG. You’re killing me. That looks SOOO yummy!

I think your little bean has a hankering
Miss Footloose on 27 May 2009 at 4:58 pm #

What is wrong with me? Tell me what I’m missing! I find fresh ricotta a bit, well bland. Is it my taste buds? I’ve eaten it in Italy, so it’s not because I haven’t had the real deal.

I’m going shopping this afternoon and see if I can find the best most expensive ricotta in the supermarket here (in the US right now) and give it another try.

Please don’t hate me! =:(

Miss Footloose’s last blog post..MADAME THE EXPAT AND THE GARDENER

Hah, I won’t hate you; it’s entirely possible that you’re just not a fan, although I’ve had ricotta that’s more and less flavorful than others…it does depend who makes it, so maybe you just weren’t lucky with yours. Or maybe it’s just too bland for you
Meg on 27 May 2009 at 7:46 pm #

In the morning, spread on toasted bread (or even day-old focaccia, split and toasted), with jam on top. The fritters with them are scrumptious, but I am mostly too lazy to make them (and have a knack for burning myself with hot oil, so the whole fritter frying thing is something I usually avoid).

Hah, I don’t *love* hot oil either, Meg (or it doesn’t love me)…I hear you!
girasoli on 28 May 2009 at 9:18 am #

Yum!!! They all look so deeelish! I need to find some good ricotta and try your Breakfast of Campioni. Is the Spaghetti with Ricotta just spaghetti and ricotta?

girasoli’s last blog post..frozen shoulder – part 2

Indeed it is–just make pasta as usual and then toss with ricotta
SabineM on 28 May 2009 at 3:32 pm #

I wish I had ricotta, because that Ricotta Fresca looks amazing!
I made the pound cake a few times and IT IS TO DIE FOR!!!

I really have to make it again, Sabine. I just *loved* it
Poetikat on 28 May 2009 at 4:04 pm #

That’s what I love about Italian cooking, its simplicity. I love pasta with olive oil and tomatoes, but I definitely will try the pasta and fresh ricotta.
Those strawberries look scrumptious!
It’s always a treat to stop by here.

Kat

Poetikat’s last blog post..Theme Thursday: Suitcase (a Villanelle)

Thanks Kat! The summer is the best time for simple dishes
jen of a2eatwrite on 29 May 2009 at 3:50 am #

I love it with grated, bittersweet chocolate and strawberry slices mixed in.

jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: POM Wonderful: Wonderfully Decadent and Wonderfully Wholesome

No one has yet mentioned cannoli….
marge on 30 May 2009 at 12:57 am #

I love Cannoli. They are originally from Sicily, I think. We had them all the time growing up. Ricotta on pasta always a favorite. Your ricotta cake looks great. I am going to try it this weekend.

marge’s last blog post..Life is Just a Bowl of these….

Yes, they are Sicilian and *so* good…I’ve never made them though. Hope you like that cake!
Andy Hayes on 31 May 2009 at 10:55 am #

This not only *looks* delicious but suspect it tastes amazing as well.

Your suspicions are correct Andy
Deidre on 01 Jun 2009 at 11:54 pm #

I made pasta (rice pasta am allergic to gluten) with ricotta and butternut squash puree…it was gooooood.

Also, in crepes with fresh berries!

Those recipes look delish!

Deidre’s last blog post..A little bit of this…and just a wee bit of that.

Sounds great Deidre! Yum!
Nate on 03 Jun 2009 at 8:03 am #

Fresh ricotta is a wonderful thing! We like to use it in lasagna.

Nate’s last blog post..Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Ultimate Backyard Lu’au

YUM!
Melissa on 03 Jun 2009 at 5:18 pm #

Yum, what great ideas! I’m so glad you reminded me of the pound cake – I’ve been meaning to make it ever since you posted about it!

Melissa’s last blog post..Ricotta in Print

Yeah! Give it a go, Melissa; you won’t be disappointed
joe@italyville on 03 Jun 2009 at 10:01 pm #

Love love love fresh ricotta! I agree, spread it on fresh bread and …YUM. Your other recipes look good too Michelle. Come on Pasqualina e Margherita… grow!

Exactly Joe!!!
Shan on 10 Jun 2009 at 2:11 pm #

Those strawberries look so pretty and delicious!

Shan’s last blog post..what’s cooking wednesday – chocolate sour cream icing

They were definitely delicious