Walk through the dairy aisle—or better yet, visit a farmstead creamery in North Texas—and you’ll see ricotta and mozzarella side by side. Both are Italian cheeses, both creamy and delicious, but their origins and uses couldn’t be more different.
🧀 How They’re Made
- Mozzarella is a stretched-curd cheese. Fresh milk is heated, curdled, and kneaded in hot water until it becomes silky and elastic. That process gives mozzarella its signature pull when you lift a slice of pizza.
- Ricotta isn’t made from curds at all. It comes from whey—the leftover liquid from cheesemaking. The whey is heated a second time, and tiny curds rise to the surface to form ricotta’s soft, fluffy texture. (The name literally means “recooked” in Italian.)
🥛 Flavor and Texture
- Mozzarella: Mild, milky, stretchy—perfect for melting.
- Ricotta: Light, creamy, slightly sweet—better for spreading or dolloping.
Ricotta is light and creamy, mozzarella is stretchy and mild—just like how raw butter tastes different from what you’ll find at the store.
🍽️ Where You’ll Find Them
- Mozzarella: Pizza, lasagna, Caprese salad, stuffed chicken breast.
- Ricotta: Cannoli filling, ravioli stuffing, dolloped on flatbreads, whisked into pancakes.
📜 A Quick Bit of History
Both cheeses trace their roots to Southern Italy. Mozzarella became iconic in Naples, the birthplace of pizza, while ricotta spread across Italy as a thrifty way to make the most of leftover whey—an early example of waste-free cooking. Mozzarella and ricotta both start with milk—but not all milk is treated the same. Curious about the raw milk debate? Here’s what you need to know.
👩🍳 Want to Try Making Cheese Yourself?
Farm-fresh ricotta and mozzarella are surprisingly approachable to make at home—but the best way to learn is hands-on. Delve offers cheese-making classes where you can stretch mozzarella curds or whip up fresh ricotta yourself. You’ll leave with cheese you made with your own hands—and a new appreciation for Italian food traditions.
❓ FAQs
Can I substitute ricotta for mozzarella in recipes?
Not usually. Ricotta is soft and fluffy, while mozzarella is stretchy and melty. They complement each other in dishes like lasagna, but one won’t fully replace the other.
Which cheese is healthier—ricotta or mozzarella?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Ricotta is lower in fat and calories, while mozzarella is higher in protein and calcium. Both can fit into a balanced diet. Curious about dairy nutrition? See our guide on what’s the deal with raw milk.
What’s the easiest cheese to make at home?
Ricotta is often the beginner’s choice because it uses simple ingredients and doesn’t require stretching. Mozzarella takes more technique but is fun once you get the hang of it. You can try both in a hands-on cheese-making class.
