John Barricellis Ricotta Cheesecake Recipes

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE - JUST 3 INGREDIENTS!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C with the fan option off. Arrange the baking tray onto the middle shelf of the oven. Line with parchment paper a 7-inch springform cake pan.
• Using a hand mixer, beat the drained ricotta cheese on medium-low speed until smooth and lump-free, 1-2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined and you reach a creamy lump-free batter. Do not overmix.
• Pour the batter over the prepared cake pan. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes. The cheesecake should be taken out of the oven when the edges are set but the center is still jiggly You can check whether the cheesecake is ready, with an instant-read thermometer. When the cheesecake inside reaches 65°C/150°F, it's ready.
• Let the cheesecake cool completely before removing the cake from the pan. Cover the cake with cling film and refrigerate for a few hours before serving. It tastes even better the next day!

OLD-WORLD RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine zwieback crumbs, sugar and cinnamon; mix in butter until mixture is crumbled. Press onto bottom and 1-1/2 in. up sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Refrigerate until chilled., Preheat oven to 350°. Beat all filling ingredients except eggs until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low until combined. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake until center is set, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 15 minutes, leaving oven on. Combine topping ingredients; spoon around edge of cheesecake. Carefully spread over filling. Bake 10 minutes longer. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan. Refrigerate leftovers.

JOHN BARRICELLI'S RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan, and dust with breadcrumbs, tapping out excess. In a small bowl, stir together raisins, flour, and zests; set aside.
• With an electric mixer, beat ricotta, sugar, and salt until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture, and beat just until smooth (don't overmix).
• Pour mixture into prepared pan; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until cake is browned and jiggles only slightly when shaken, 60 to 70 minutes. Cool completely in pan; unmold to serve. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

RICOTTA CITRUS CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Wrap foil around the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Spoon the ricotta into a fine mesh strainer set over a large bowl and set aside until well drained.
• Meanwhile, brush the inside of the a 9-inch springform pan with a little of the melted butter. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, remaining melted butter, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and salt together in a medium bowl until well moistened. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom and all the way up the sides of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bring a large pot of water to a boil and keep hot.
• Beat the drained ricotta, remaining 1 cup granulated sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, almond extract, lime zest and orange zest in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add the eggs and beat until just combined, taking care not to over beat the mixture. Pour into the cooled crust. Place the springform pan in a deep roasting pan and transfer to the oven rack and carefully pour the hot water into the roasting pan until it reaches about halfway up the sides of the pan.
• Bake until the cheesecake is slightly jiggly in the center and very lightly browned on top, about 1 hour and 35 minutes. Careful of splashing the hot water, remove the roasting pan from the oven and immediately transfer the cheesecake to a rack to cool completely. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours up to overnight.
• At least thirty minutes before serving, run a knife along the edge of the pan to loosen the cheesecake, release the pan and carefully lift the ring off. Dust the top with confectioners? sugar.

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray the springform pan with cooking spray. Separate the eggs, placing the whites in one of the large bowls and the yolks in the work bowl of a food processor.
• Add the sugar and vanilla to the work bowl of the food processor and process until thick and light yellow, about 1 minute. Add the ricotta and zest and process until smooth, another 30 seconds. Scrape the mixture into the other large bowl.
• Beat the whites on high speed with the mixer until they hold stiff peaks. Fold the whites into the ricotta mixture and scrape into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.
• Bake until the cake is deep golden brown and the sides begin to pull away from the pan, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Transfer to the rack to let cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day. To serve, release the sides of the springform pan, dust with confectioners' sugar using the strainer, and cut into wedges.

CHEF JOHN'S HOMEMADE RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Line a mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a deep bowl or pot.
• Combine milk, cream, and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally in a "figure eight" motion, until it reaches a temperature of 195 degrees F (90 degrees C). If you don't have a thermometer, this will be right before it starts to simmer. You'll see steam rising from the surface, and tiny bubbles forming around the edges of the pan.
• Turn off the heat, pour in the vinegar, and stir slowly in a "figure eight" motion for 3 or 4 seconds.
• Let the mixture sit, untouched, for 6 minutes.
• Carefully ladle into the cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer so that the dripping whey drains into the pot or bowl. Let the ricotta drain into the pot for between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on how soft or firm you want your cheese. The longer it drains, the firmer the texture will be once chilled.
• Grab the ends of the cheesecloth and lift the drained ricotta out of the strainer and place in a bowl. Let cool on the counter to room temperature, then wrap and chill thoroughly.
• Remove cheesecloth and serve. Ricotta usually needs an additional pinch of salt when serving.