Definition

A soft, white cheese from Italy that is made from whey and has a texture similar to cottage cheese.

Example

I added ricotta to the pasta for a creamy texture.

Conversation

Have you ever tried making a lasagna with ricotta?

No, I haven't! How does it taste?

It's creamy and adds a nice texture to the dish.

That sounds delicious! I should give it a try.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ricotta comes from the Italian word 'ricotta', which means 'recooked'. It is derived from the Latin 'recoctus', the past participle of 'recoquere', where 're-' means again and 'coquere' means to cook. The word describes the process of cooking the whey again to create this cheese.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'recooked' — 're-' means again and 'coquere' means to cook. This helps you remember that ricotta is cheese made by cooking the whey again.

Visually Confused Words