ricotta

noun

ri·​cot·​ta ri-ˈkä-tə How to pronounce ricotta (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Try her recipe for this comforting baked pasta with tomato, sausage and ricotta. — Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026 Dishes such as beef mantou, its interpretation of the Chinese hamburger, thousand-year-old egg and ricotta, passion fruit fish maw noodles, and a generous offering of spicy Yakitori skewers, sums up its imaginative and bold offerings. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Breakfast was my favorite meal, particularly the lemon ricotta pancakes fresh off the griddle. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026 Once a seasonal delicacy, Jimmy’s sources squash blossoms ($25) year-round, stuffs them with ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano and lightly batters and fries them. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ricotta

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ricotta was in 1617

Rhymes for ricotta

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Browse Nearby Words

ricolettaite
ricotta
rictal
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Cite this Entry

“Ricotta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ricotta. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ricotta

noun
ri·​cot·​ta ri-ˈkät-ə How to pronounce ricotta (audio)
: a soft, white Italian cheese

More from Merriam-Webster on ricotta

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ricotta

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