Lactose free 'ricotta' recipe from www.georgeats.com | @georgeats

Lactose free 'ricotta' recipe from www.georgeats.com | @georgeats

Ah ricotta. We have a mostly love but a little bit of hate relationship, don't we? While my somewhat severe lactose intolerance seems to have mostly disappeared with age, my disagreement with an excess of especially milky foods remains. Which is why I have developed this super simple, speedy and cheaty lactose free ricotta recipe for you in partnership with Liddells Lactose Free Dairy.

Through the years, I have been relatively restrained in using ricotta in my recipes. This is an unfortunate and direct result of ricotta's relatively high lactose content. I have dabbled with using it in my involtini recipe from my first cookbook and in the zucchini ricotta tart.

Now? No restraint necessary! We can (collectively) eat ricotta style cheese with reckless abandon. My suggestions for your first foray? On a nice gluten free sourdough or mixed into a FODMAP friendly pesto pasta. Or, you know, either of the subtly linked recipes above.

Note that a lot of easy ricotta recipes rely on both full cream and a thermometer, whereas this recipe has neither. I wanted to make it as simple and accessible as possible, and I have found that it can quite easily be made without either. If you'd like to try with one or both of these elements, see my ricotta making links below.

Lactose free 'ricotta' recipe from www.georgeats.com | @georgeats RECIPE NOTES

  • Ricotta is traditionally made using the whey leftover from making cheese, which is then mixed with an acidic component to form ricotta. Here, we're using Liddells Lactose Free Full Cream milk to create a quick and easy lactose free ricotta style cheese.
  • Ricotta is quite a high lactose and FODMAP cheese, so this version is a great alternative for those with a lactose intolerance or on a FODMAP diet.
  • The ricotta can be flavoured with whatever you fancy – herbs, a bit of balsamic, truffle oil or a smoked salt. It is also delicious plain.
  • How much you drain the ricotta is up to you. If you prefer a runnier ricotta, you don't even need to leave it to drain – simply give it a good squeeze in the muslin cloth or nut milk bag and decant into an airtight container. If you prefer a drier ricotta, leave it to drain for 30 minutes or longer.
  • The same goes with salt – salt the ricotta according to your taste after you have drained it. The amount listed in the recipe is a suggestion and the salinity level that I prefer.
  • You can use the leftover acidic liquid in smoothies, pizza bases, curries – basically any cooking process that requires liquid. You can also use it for a handy pre-salted and pre-flavoured water to boil pasta in. It adds a unique tang and a bunch of nutrients from the milk.

RICOTTA MAKING LINKS

  • This recipe from Gourmet Traveller is a little more advanced, for the ricotta connoisseur. Just make sure you use lactose free milk and cream if you need to.
  • This 'It's Alive' tutorial with Brad on making ricotta. Any excuse to link an It's Alive episode.

Lactose free 'ricotta' recipe from www.georgeats.com | @georgeats

Lactose free 'ricotta' recipe from www.georgeats.com | @georgeats

Lactose free 'ricotta'

Lactose free, FODMAP friendly

  • 1 litre full cream lactose free milk
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (you can also use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar but they will leave more of an aftertaste than lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt or to taste

  • Place the milk and salt in a large saucepan over a low-medium heat. Allow the milk to come to a simmer – about 10-15 minutes.

  • Once the milk is gently bubbling, turn the heat off and remove from the heat and the stove. Add the lemon juice. Stir gently, only just to distribute the acid in the milk. Allow to sit for 15 minutes – the mixture should have curdled and become obvious 'curds and whey.' There should be ricotta like lumps of milk and a semi-transparent lemon coloured liquid.

  • If the liquid is still milky and completely opaque, return the ricotta to a gentle heat until it begins to separate, and then take it off the heat again. You can add a little extra acid (a teaspoon at a time) as an insurance policy, although this might affect the taste of the final product.

  • Once you have left the mixture to sit for 15 minutes, the mixture should have obviously separated into the two distinct elements. Gently pour the ricotta through a sieve lined with muslin cloth or a nut milk bag. You can discard the whey or use it in smoothies or baking – see notes for a few more ideas.

  • How long you strain the ricotta is up to you – it depends on how runny you like your ricotta. I like mine on the more spreadable side, so I either give mine a good old squeeze and decant, or strain mine for a maximum of around 20 minutes. Anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour is a good ballpark. If you accidentally overstrain, you can add a little lactose free milk to loosen it up.

  • Check for seasoning and store in an airtight container. Keeps for a few days in the fridge.

  • To make a delicious spreadable whipped ricotta, simply pop the ricotta in your stand mixer and whisk until it is light and fluffy. You can also use a hand beater and add in any flavourings you see fit.

Let us know how it was!

Lactose free 'ricotta' recipe from www.georgeats.com | @georgeats