Bellwether Farms Whole Milk Basket Ricotta
- by Bellwether Farms
- United States
Can cheese be cloud-like? When it’s whole milk ricotta from Sonoma County’s Bellwether Farms, the answer is decidedly yes. Jersey cow’s milk (uniquely rich and sweet) is cultured and cooked slowly in kettles before being hand-dipped and packed in its original draining basket. It’s handled as little as possible to maintain the delicate, pillowy texture. The creamy, fresh milk flavor makes it a lovely canvas for cooking, but it’s just as good savored with Black Cherry Confit and crackers.
“The fresh, creamy milk flavor is off the charts in this ricotta. I like to say that it tastes the way milk looks in commercials. A generous dollop in a bowl, topped with peaches, tomatoes, and basil is one of my favorite meals.”
- Bellwether Ricotta is unique among ricottas as it’s made with the milk of Jersey cows—it’s higher in butterfat than other cow’s milks and is known for its sweet richness.
- Like other ricottas, it can be used in both sweet and savory cooking applications. It’s a favorite among many chefs, including Nancy Silverton.
- It’s hand-dipped and hand-packed, which leaves the curds more intact and gives the cheese a higher moisture content. The result is a final product that is more luscious and deeply flavorful than most ricottas on the market.
- The texture is unreal—pillowy and delicate, it breaks apart into fluffy piles almost like meringue.
- Founded in 1986 in the hills along the Sonoma County coast, Bellwether Farms crafts dairy products from full-fat milk using traditional techniques.
- It’s family-owned and -operated, known for its fresh dairy like yogurt and ricotta.
- The company created the Bellwether Farms Foundation in 2016, through which they donate 1% of sales to organizations providing hunger relief or food education.
While harder cheeses can stay fresh for up to two to three weeks when wrapped tightly, fresh style cheeses are best consumed within a few days. The best thing to do is to keep the cheese in one of your refrigerator drawers or the vegetable bin; this will help to keep your cheese from drying out. If your cheese is packed in olive oil or brine, store any leftovers in the liquid and follow package instructions. All cheeses and meats are perishables—by definition they degrade over time—so we encourage our customers to enjoy the cheese while it's in peak condition!
