How to make ricotta cheese with whey? This is a super easy cheese to make at home using the whey from another cheese. When we make a cheddar cheese or jack cheese (see recipe below) you are using several gallons of milk which leaves behind gallons of whey. This is a way to use that leftover whey again and get the best bang for your buck.
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Is Ricotta Cheese Healthy?
According to Dr. Josh Axe, ricotta cheese is high in protein, calcium, and phosphorous. He said it can aid in weight loss and even high blood pressure (link below).
Where Did Ricotta Cheese With Whey?
Ricotta cheese was originally made in Sicily from the whey leftover from making sheep cheese.
What Is Ricotta Cheese?
Ricotta cheese is creamy cheese curd that is made by cooking a second time which is the name ricotta – cooked twice. Traditionally it would be made after you make a provolone cheese, the Sicilians call this cheese zabbina. It was originally made with sheep cheese. There are writings that mention the zabbina all the way back to the 1300s.
How To Make Ricotta Cheese With Whey
Supplies You Will Need For Ricotta with Whey:
- Stockpot
- Pillow Case, flour sack towel, fine cheesecloth
- Strainer
- Spoon
- Sealed container
Ingredients:
2-3 Gallons Of Whey
1/2 Cup of White Vinegar
Pink Himalayan Salt (fine ground)
Directions To Make Ricotta with Whey:
After you are finished making whatever cheese you are doing and have it in the press, take the whey in your large stockpot and reheat it to 180F degrees.
As you heat the whey you’ll need to stir constantly so the ricotta doesn’t settle and stick to the bottom of the pan. When you get to almost the boiling stage you will start to see what looks sort of like cottage cheese floating in the liquid. This is your ricotta cheese.
Once you reach 180F, turn the heat off and add your vinegar.
Let the whey sit for 5-10 minutes.
Strain the cheese in a colander lined with a clean white pillowcase, flour sack towel, or fine cheesecloth.
Remove from fabric and place into an air-tight container.
Add salt to taste and stir.
How do you store ricotta cheese with whey? You store it in the refrigerator in a sealed container until you are ready to use it.
This ricotta cheese with whey used for? It is used in recipes like lasagne, manicotti, stuffed shells, tortellini, ravioli, and lots of other dishes.
Print Recipe Here
How To Make Homemade Ricotta Cheese With Whey
Easily make your own ricotta cheese at home
Ingredients
- 2-3 Gallons Of Whey
- 1/2 Cup of White Vinegar
- Pink Himalayan Salt (fine ground)
Instructions
After you are finished making whatever cheese you are doing and have it in the press, take the whey in your large stockpot and reheat it to 180F degrees.
As you heat the whey you'll need to stir constantly so the ricotta doesn't settle and stick to the bottom of the pan. When you get to almost the boiling stage you will start to see what looks sort of like cottage cheese floating in the liquid. This is your ricotta cheese.
Once you reach 180F, turn the heat off and add your vinegar.
Let the whey sit for 5-10 minutes.
Strain the cheese in a colander lined with a clean white pillowcase, flour sack towel, or fine cheesecloth.
Remove from fabric and place into an air-tight container.
Add salt to taste and stir and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.
This yummy cheese is used in recipes like lasagne, manicotti, stuffed shells, ravioli, and lots of other pasta dishes.
So, you are now done making your cheese and your ricotta cheese from the whey. What do you do with the leftover whey? There are so many uses for unsalted whey. Let’s talk about just a few of them!
What to do with the leftover whey?
- Whey used in your soups makes a delicious broth.
- You can drink it. It is good for your gut health.
- Add it to your smoothies to give it more protein
- Make homemade lemonade or gingerade
- Add a half of a cup of whey to your firecider
- Use whey for making your morning bowl of grits instead of water
- Use it to make lacto-fermented vegetables
- Use it in your pizza dough
- Use it in place of water when you make rice
- Use it on your face for a skin toner
- Use it in bread dough
- Use it as a rinse for your hair leaving it smooth and shiny
- Use it in your bathwater
- Use it (unsalted) on your acid-loving plants like tomatoes, hydrangea, and blueberries
- Use it in your compost pile (unsalted) for the microbes.
Before you go, check these other recipes out!
- How To Make Butter
- Homemade Jack Cheese
- How To Make Fromage Blanc Cheese
- How To Make Cheddar Cheese (coming soon!)
- How To Make Yogurt In A Slow Cooker
Things To Make With Ricotta Cheese
- Delicious Delicata Squash Ravioli
- Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli With Vodka Sauce
- Homemade Ravioli Recipe
- Lasagne Recipe
For information on raising your own goat herd check out our site, I Dream Of Goats
Check out our Amazon Storefront for all of the cheese-making supplies you’ll need.
