Torta di Ricotta

I wish I could share the source of this recipe, but I can’t. It dates back to the days when I borrowed cookbooks instead of buying them. I would get stacks of cookbooks every week from our local library, zerox favorite recipes, glue them onto large index cards, and then go back for more. This was all for economic reasons, as there was a period of time while raising our daughters that the purchase of cookbooks would have been completely extravagant and irresponsible.

This recipe is definitely Italian in origin, and I’m wondering if it’s from a Lorenza de Medici cookbook. But whose ever it is, it’s one of the few desserts I’ve made on many an occasion when I need to give a small gift of food for one person, or perhaps for just a few of us getting together for a girly lunch.

It’s a small ricotta-based cheesecake, that is moist and full of flavor. I hope you like it, too!

Torta  di  Ricotta

1 pound ricotta cheese, whole-milk only
1/3 cup raisins
2 tablespoons brandy
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Grated zest of 1 orange
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup pine nuts, but today I used pistachios
Softened butter for the pan

Drain the ricotta overnight in a cheesecloth-lined sieve.

Soak the raisins in the rum. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Add the zest of the orange and lemon to a small bowl, and add the vanilla to the same bowl.

ric5

Beat the egg yolks with the sugar and salt until pale yellow.

ric4

Add the drained ricotta, salt, and citrus zests, and blend thoroughly. Add the pine nuts and raisins and rum, blending well.

ric6

Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Fold them into the cake batter.

ric7

Brush a 6″ springform pan with softened butter. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, and bake 30 to 35 minutes.

ric8

Use a tester in the middle to make sure the torta is ready to come out of the oven. It will look like this:

ric9

Cool for about half an hour, then turn onto a serving plate. It’s good warm or at room temperature.

ric11

The torta will slice very easily. I served mine with some macerated strawberries, which just means that I sprinkled some white sugar over sliced strawberries, tossed them gently, and let them sit for about 20 minutes or so.

ric22

But this torta di ricotta is such a delight, it doesn’t really need anything at all!

ric3

verdict: The pistachios were just as good as the pine nuts.

By Published On: May 27th, 201348 Comments on Torta di Ricotta

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

48 Comments

  1. thesinglegourmetandtraveller May 27, 2013 at 10:06 AM - Reply

    Lovely cake. I have a similar recipe sent to me typed by a cookery writer I was working with many years ago who lived in Italy. I used to make it a lot. I’ve been thinking I should try it again sometime and maybe now you’ve done this I’ll be inspired!

    • chef mimi May 27, 2013 at 11:11 AM - Reply

      It’s very little, so it’s perfect for not overindulging!!!

  2. fionaward May 27, 2013 at 10:08 AM - Reply

    Torta di Ricotta is something I’ve had all over Italy, and some decent restaurants in London too, and it is divine. I’m adding this to my list of must-tries!

  3. Pride in Photos Photography May 27, 2013 at 10:19 AM - Reply

    Mimi…looks beautiful as always. Would you be considering going to Stehenes retreat? I want to go SOO bad….just don’t know if I can pull it off.

    • chef mimi May 27, 2013 at 11:10 AM - Reply

      oh my… if it was only later in October. I’ve got family coming in early October. Wouldn’t it be fabulous!!!!

  4. sallybr May 27, 2013 at 10:24 AM - Reply

    Your post brought me memories of my sister in Brazil, she used to make a ricotta cake that I think was very similar, although if I remember correctly she add no nuts. Nuts were very expensive in Brazil when I was growing up, maybe that’s why Brazilian versions omitted them?

    Beautiful post, as usual…

  5. sallybr May 27, 2013 at 10:25 AM - Reply

    oh, my – forgive my bad grammar – fast fingers, slow brains… “she added no nuts”

  6. sweetbakedlife May 27, 2013 at 11:32 AM - Reply

    Looks delicious Mini!

  7. MonkeyBreadandSweetPea May 27, 2013 at 11:40 AM - Reply

    This looks so good. I’m saving the recipe and will make it soon! I used to save recipes the way you described. Now I’m much better at noting where I get the recipe. Always handy if I need to go back to the source for more info, etc. And I love saving things on the computer – but I still have my binders with my recipes as well. If I could just gather them in one place! haha Thanks for sharing!!

    • chef mimi May 27, 2013 at 11:46 AM - Reply

      You are way smarter than I am! I have my boxes still, as well. And typing takes so much time if you have lots of recipes collected. There’s just not one good way, I think.

  8. lapadia May 27, 2013 at 12:39 PM - Reply

    Delicious recipe and such a gorgeous photo!!

  9. apuginthekitchen May 27, 2013 at 1:01 PM - Reply

    Oh wow, thats beautiful, love torta di ricotta. There was a bakery in Naples that made something similar and I had to have a slice every time I went there. Just lovely.

  10. Bam's Kitchen (@bamskitchen) May 27, 2013 at 7:25 PM - Reply

    Your ricotta torta looks scrumptious! I had a similar problem when sharing some of my mom’s old dessert recipes. When I was in my youth, I would copy some of my favourite recipes on 3×5 cards but of course there was no reference as to the old magazine or book she referenced it from but it became part of our family recipes and then of course modified along the way. Take Care, BAM

    • chef mimi May 28, 2013 at 6:06 AM - Reply

      I collected recipes the same way – I think a lot from my mother’s McCall’s magazines. Oh well, if you’re like me, you never follow a recipe exactly anyway, and adapt recipes over the years like you said.

  11. A Taste of Wintergreen May 27, 2013 at 7:30 PM - Reply

    Love this – it looks so posh!

  12. Bluejellybeans May 28, 2013 at 4:40 AM - Reply

    It looks fantastic! :)

    • chef mimi May 28, 2013 at 6:04 AM - Reply

      Fortunately, it’s a small cheesecake…

  13. thecompletecookbook May 28, 2013 at 6:53 AM - Reply

    Ooo, this sounds and looks fantastic! I shall have to try this lovely recipe when I weather warms.
    :-) Mandy

  14. dedy oktavianus pardede May 28, 2013 at 9:31 AM - Reply

    gloriuus cake Chef!
    how did you’ve made the stuffing is spread evenly in the cake??
    since mine used to sink in the bottom of the cake, especially the pistachio…

    • chef mimi May 28, 2013 at 9:35 AM - Reply

      I think because the batter is so light – especially folded with the egg whites, that everything stays in suspension. But even if the nuts sank, it would still be pretty and taste good!

      • dedy oktavianus pardede May 29, 2013 at 10:38 AM

        I guess the taste is prety good, but i think it’s such a shame when i saw yours chef…heheh
        thx for the tips….

  15. lovinghomemade May 28, 2013 at 10:42 AM - Reply

    That sounds so much better than an average baked cheesecake!

    • chef mimi May 28, 2013 at 12:21 PM - Reply

      Maybe not better, but different and really good!

  16. richardmcgary May 28, 2013 at 3:09 PM - Reply

    Lovely torts, Mimi. I bet it was delicious. I well remember clipping recipes or writing them down. I never used the public library as a source because I was terrible about returning them timely. I did, however, trade books with my friends and may family always knew a cookbook was a good Christmas or birthday gift.

    • richardmcgary May 28, 2013 at 3:10 PM - Reply

      I really despise spell checking. Torta. Lovely torta.

    • chef mimi May 28, 2013 at 3:13 PM - Reply

      Cookbooks are the best gifts ever, unless you already own them! My family is sometimes hesitant because of that…

  17. StefanGourmet May 28, 2013 at 3:39 PM - Reply

    Very nice, Mimi, and it does seem authentic to me. I’ll have to try something like this :-)
    By the way, you didn’t specify the amount or type of vanilla. In Italy they use either vanilla pods or sugar with synthetic vanilla (not vanilla extract as in the US, although I do find it very handy).

    • chef mimi May 28, 2013 at 7:19 PM - Reply

      Thanks for catching that. I also found a serious typo!
      I used 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract!

  18. Michelle May 28, 2013 at 9:06 PM - Reply

    I never warmed to my Italian mother-in-law’s ricotta pie (grocery store candied fruits … ugh). But I think this cake has taken the best of it and improved upon it! I remember those public library cookbook days, too. I have a whole ring binder full of copies and retypes—and even though I’ve bought most of the favorites in the years since, I can’t seem to make myself throw it away.

    • chef mimi May 28, 2013 at 9:23 PM - Reply

      If I ever do throw some recipes away, I always regret it…

  19. Choc Chip Uru May 28, 2013 at 11:58 PM - Reply

    Cheesecake? What even! This looks so delicious :D

    Cheers
    CCU

  20. Fig & Quince May 29, 2013 at 1:46 PM - Reply

    OK, this is like torture looking at this. I want a HUGE slice please!

  21. Sophie33 June 9, 2013 at 3:02 PM - Reply

    Hey Mimi,

    I made your divine ricotta tart & it was magnificent & ooh so wonderful too! ;) x

    • chef mimi June 9, 2013 at 3:04 PM - Reply

      Oh fantastic!!! I’m so glad you liked it!

  22. Cecile June 11, 2013 at 6:28 PM - Reply

    I’ve got so many clippings etc. of recipes that I finally filed them all in different folders so I can find them easier. I will NEVER be able to make them all – even if I live to be 100!. I love this recipe – it looks yummy – and I’ve already pinned it. And, I’m so very pleased you recently began following my blog! I’ve really been remiss lately with my posting – I’m out in working in my gardens too much…

    • chef mimi June 12, 2013 at 5:19 PM - Reply

      ah, I garden too. It’s worth all of the effort, but it does take so much time!

  23. buttoni June 22, 2013 at 1:28 PM - Reply

    This sounds delicious. the recipe sort of sounds like Russian Pashka, but that one uses Galliano liqueur. I think I can low-carb this with a sugar sub and plan to make it sometime!

Leave a Reply to sallybrCancel reply