Sformata di Ricotta Recipe (2024)

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Nisa

It clearly says, Featured in: Food; Italian For Beginners. Adapted from "Italian Easy:Recipes from London's River Cafe"

Dana Reinhardt

This recipe is from the River Cafe Easy Cookbook. I worked at the Cafe and made this many times. Please make sure to credit the creator when "borrowing" material.

JP

I thought this was good, but not super fantastic. It's a great presentation, but felt like I needed more tomatoes and more "flavor". The ricotta is very very mild. I would make it again with more tomatoes, more thyme, and probably add another herb to the mix.

Shauna Stokely

This was easy and my two-year old approved, as did my husband and I. The ricotta cheese made it a firmer egg dish compared to a frittata. I did sneak in some extra vegetables by adding zucchini chunks (I roasted them alongside the tomatoes) and that was good. I also used sour cream instead of creme fraiche because that was what I happened to have on hand. I also did not use the food processor to mix it and doing it by hand was just fine, I think.

Echo35

This recipe was included in a piece by Julia Reed about the first time she went to River Cafe:https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/magazine/food-italian-for-beginners.html?searchResultPosition=1She does credit the restaurant, Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray. The new Times Cooking site doesn't always include links to the stories that precede the recipes.

Mary

This had a wonderful delicate flavor. Usually I play fast and loose with recipes, but this time I followed it almost exactly (except that I had pecorino rather than parm in the fridge). I did the step of removing the tomatoes & juice from the baking dish before adding the egg-cheese mixture, but it seemed unnecessary. When I added the tomatoes back in they sank to the bottom anyway. Great leftovers the next day.

nicole b.

A grating of nutmeg adds that extra little punch to the blandness of the ricotta. Not so much that you can really taste it- just in the background.

SU

Perfect brunch party dish, have been serving this for years and always get compliments. I use a blender to mix the egg/cheese mixture so clean up is a breeze. I do find that I need to extend the cooking time quite a bit for the eggs to set properly. Add more garlic/thyme for stronger flavor.

L. Likely

Loved this—used basil instead of thyme. And it was perfect for COVID entertaining; had friends over for outside co*cktails and baked it in two separate gratin dishes. Served with baguette and it was a perfect nosh.

Smtrutt

Needs much more baking time.Sour cream works

Cynthia

This is very good. Best when well browned. Cooking in a clear glass dish helps in judging when to take it out of the oven.

terry b

20 minute baking time is IMO not nearly enough. Here, at 5000 feet it requires about 45 minutes. At 20, the center is a soup of tomato juice and uncooked egg.Might be the altitude, might also be that I use fresh tomatoes from my garden (hence juicier) but based on experience, allow more baking time.The end result is worth the wait.

terry b

20 minute baking time is IMO not nearly enough. Here, at 5000 feet it requires about 45 minutes. At 20, the center is a soup of tomato juice and uncooked egg.Might be the altitude, might also be that I use fresh tomatoes from my garden (hence juicier) but based on experience, allow more baking time.The end result is worth the wait.

dimmerswitch

Dee-luscious! Also foolproof to make. *Per recipe for technique and using 8x8 Emile Henry baker for the vessel. *Small ingredient adjustments: a) 2C ricotta instead of 2 1/4C since that's what was on hand, b) ditto 4 eggs (X lg) instead of 6. *Recipe specifies 20 min final bake time but took about 35 to get to perfectly set. *Delicious warm or room temp so good on buffet table.*Next time I'll try 12 oz cherry toms instead of 10 oz and full fat Greek yogurt instead of creme fraiche.

terry b

Same experience with the baking time, here at a mile high, more like 45 minutes (but then a soft-boiled egg takes 7 and not 3.)

Beth L

Used Mexican crema instead of creme fraiche and it worked out well! Great way to enjoy some homegrown cherry tomatoes

Cynthia

This is very good. Best when well browned. Cooking in a clear glass dish helps in judging when to take it out of the oven.

L. Likely

Loved this—used basil instead of thyme. And it was perfect for COVID entertaining; had friends over for outside co*cktails and baked it in two separate gratin dishes. Served with baguette and it was a perfect nosh.

nicole b.

A grating of nutmeg adds that extra little punch to the blandness of the ricotta. Not so much that you can really taste it- just in the background.

Shauna Stokely

This was easy and my two-year old approved, as did my husband and I. The ricotta cheese made it a firmer egg dish compared to a frittata. I did sneak in some extra vegetables by adding zucchini chunks (I roasted them alongside the tomatoes) and that was good. I also used sour cream instead of creme fraiche because that was what I happened to have on hand. I also did not use the food processor to mix it and doing it by hand was just fine, I think.

Esra

The taste and texture of final product is not reflecting the good ingredients you use in this recipe. A "no go" for me at least...

Mary

This had a wonderful delicate flavor. Usually I play fast and loose with recipes, but this time I followed it almost exactly (except that I had pecorino rather than parm in the fridge). I did the step of removing the tomatoes & juice from the baking dish before adding the egg-cheese mixture, but it seemed unnecessary. When I added the tomatoes back in they sank to the bottom anyway. Great leftovers the next day.

Penny

Good flavor. Too watery.

SU

Perfect brunch party dish, have been serving this for years and always get compliments. I use a blender to mix the egg/cheese mixture so clean up is a breeze. I do find that I need to extend the cooking time quite a bit for the eggs to set properly. Add more garlic/thyme for stronger flavor.

Smtrutt

Needs much more baking time.Sour cream works

Eric Rector

We make this all the "thyme" in the late summer when it's easy to get plenty of herbs and SUNGOLD cherry tomatoes; no lack of flavor there! Easy and excellent meal with a simple garden salad.

Dee

There is a similar recipe in the williams sonoma Italian cookbook that is lighter

Dana Reinhardt

This recipe is from the River Cafe Easy Cookbook. I worked at the Cafe and made this many times. Please make sure to credit the creator when "borrowing" material.

EVE

Hi Dana, I read your comment, and I am curious about the River Café Easy Cookbook. I looked it up on Amazon, and there are several of them. I was thinking it might be a good addition to my collection, but don't know which one to choose. Can you help me with that? Which one had this recipe, or is the best?

Thank you
Eve

em

looks great, how it is served? Thanks

KW

Eve: not Dana, but agree with her. The late Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers published wonderful River Cafe and Italian cookbooks, in British (metric measures, some terms) and Other, confusingly with different titles. A similar recipe is on p104 in "Italian Easy Recipes from the London River Cafe" (Clarkson Potter 2004, NY) and "River Cafe Cook Book Easy" (Ebury Press 2003, London). I accidentally bought both. This recipe here has clearer directions and a small ingredient change.

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Sformata di Ricotta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my ricotta cheese not thickening? ›

If there isn't enough acid, the cream won't thicken to form curds. If yours is not thickening and changing to form curds after 10-15 minutes, add another tablespoon of lemon juice, give it a quick stir, and wait another 10-15 minutes. Repeat until it works.

What happens to ricotta when cooked? ›

Fresh ricotta is fluffy, creamy, spreadable. It can be spooned into a dish and baked in the oven to become baked ricotta. The top browns and is slightly crusty and toasted and the middle is warm and creamy.

How do you fix runny ricotta cheese? ›

There are several ways to thicken ricotta filling. One is to place the filling in a fine strainer over a bowl and allow excess liquid to drain off. Another way is to line the strainer with cheesecloth. Yet another way is to add a thickener such as cornstarch or arrowroot starch.

Why isn't my ricotta cheese creamy? ›

The type of ricotta you are using. Generally all the ricotta from a normal grocery is very grainy. If it comes in a sealed pint container, I'm not generally a fan. If you can get hand dipped ricotta from an Italian grocery or Whole Foods it will be so much better.

What does adding egg to ricotta do? ›

For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella. Eggs help prevent the ricotta from drying out and serve to bind the ricotta so it doesn't become runny.

What can I do with runny ricotta cheese? ›

Place ricotta in cheese cloth, cover with seran wrap, and place in fridge to drain overnight. The next morning your ricotta will have much less liquid, restoring it to the right consistency.

Can you add too much acid to ricotta? ›

Note: If too much acid is added, the curds will sink to the bottom and the cheese will not be sweet. The correct amount of acid will produce a clear separation of white curds and bright green whey.

What happens if you don't put egg in ricotta? ›

It'll just be a bit runnier, but omitting the egg won't affect the taste.

Why is my homemade ricotta rubbery? ›

It really matters what kind of dairy you use: organic whole milk and not ultra-pasteurized cream are preferred. I also want to emphasize the importance of timing: do not overheat the milk-cream mixture, and do not let it boil. Otherwise, you will end up with tough and rubbery curd.

Is mascarpone or ricotta better for cannoli? ›

Cannoli is traditionally made with ricotta, but some people prefer mascarpone. It simply depends on your personal preference.

Why is it important to let ricotta cheese drain after you make it? ›

That's why it's important to give yourself as many advantages as you possibly can, especially when it comes to removing excess moisture before and during the cooking process. Epstein explains that if ricotta isn't drained as part of the prep, "the moisture in the ricotta causes the lasagna to fall apart."

What can you use instead of cheesecloth for ricotta cheese? ›

Cotton hankies, napkins, and fabric scraps are thinner with a tighter weave than cheesecloths, so they're great at holding out even the tiniest particles. The best use for cotton hankies is for making softer cheese like ricotta.

How to fix ricotta that doesn't curdle? ›

The key to making a slightly sweet ricotta that curdles and does not taste acidic is adding just enough acidity to curdle the heated milk. If curds do not form, add additional lemon juice (or vinegar) a ½ Tablespoon at a time.

What to do if your cheese sauce won't thicken? ›

You can thicken cheese sauce further by adding more flour or even using a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch or flour with a cup of water. The cold water will create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the cheese sauce over medium heat, and let the sauce boil and thicken.

How to thicken store-bought ricotta cheese? ›

Place a mesh strainer over a bowl, lining the strainer with cheese cloth. Place ricotta in cheese cloth, cover with seran wrap, and place in fridge to drain overnight. The next morning your ricotta will have much less liquid, restoring it to the right consistency.

Why is my ricotta lumpy in the sauce? ›

Ricotta is not supposed to melt, or dissolve, or anything like that. It is made up of protein clumps. The only way it can appear very smooth is if the manufacturer created a cheese where the clumps have been made very tiny mechanically - because chemically, they are still clumps and stay that way after heating.

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