Best Crock Pot Ricotta Recipes

CROCK POT ZITI WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA, AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce:.
• Heat a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic. Brown garlic about 2 minutes then discard the garlic but reserve the oil. To the garlic flavored oil, add the crushed tomatoes, whole onion, butter, 1 teaspoons sea salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer partially covered for 20 minutes. Remove onion and discard when done.
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, spinach, 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoons salt and fresh ground black pepper. Mix well to combine. Add ziti, toss to combine.
• Spray the crock pot with cooking spray. Add about 1/2 cup of sauce, then add 1/4 of the pasta mixture. Repeat 3 more layers (4 layers in total) ending with sauce. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese over the top.
• Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours depending on your slow cooker.
• If you have any sauce left over. Save it in case you want to add more to the finished dish.

HOMEMADE RICOTTA CHEESE (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Combine the milk and acid (white vinegar, lemon juice, Champagne vinegar, or white wine vinegar) in the crockpot and heat on low until temperature reaches 180 degrees F. (At 7,000 feet or above, bring it to 172 degrees F.) If heating on a stove top use a heavy pan and very low heat. It takes about 30 minutes. (Do not try to hurry this process; the milk might scorch on the bottom of the pan and you'll have brown specs in the cheese.).
• Once the temperature has reached 180 degrees, remove from heat, cover and seet aside in a warm place (80 - 100 degrees F) for about six hours. The cheese is ready to strain when a solid curd has formed.
• Strain through several layers of dampened cheese cloth or a fine metal strainer; discaring the whey (the watery residue).

CROCK-POT RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine milks in crockpot. Turn on low and add acid agent. Stir well. Cook six to eight hours (the longer cooking time will start to add a bit of color to the cheese); it is very subjective and dependent on your crockpot, so watch carefully. The curd should be solid, and it should have a good cooked-milk smell.
• Turn off the crockpot and wrap the whole thing in several layers of towels. Let stand undisturbed for another 6-8 hours. Line a colander or mesh strainer with damp paper towels or damp cheesecloth. Spoon the curd into the colander and let drain; you can reserve the whey for various purposes (roses love it) or discard it. Don't rush the draining if you want a thick, soft cheese.
• Pack into containers; you can stir in flavorings or salt before packing if so desired. It will stay fresh for about 4 days, up to 7 days in a very cold refrigerator.