Cheese, ricotta, part skim milk

Fun Facts

1. A rich fresh cheese made from skim or whole cow’s milk that is slightly grainy but smoother than cottage cheese. It’s white, moist and has a slightly sweet flavor. Most Italian ricottas are made from the whey that is drained off while making cheeses such as mozzarella and provolone.
2. Ricotta is a creamy cheese that’s usually made with cow’s milk, but sheep or goat milk are sometimes used, as well. The cheese is cooked twice to achieve its texture, and it has a mildly sweet flavor that pairs well with fruit, but it’s commonly used in pasta and Italian cooking, too. Because it’s made with animal milk, the cheese usually contains fat, but fat-free versions are available. While the fat content obviously differs, the nutrient amounts don’t vary much between types.
3. Both types of ricotta cheese contain about 30 percent of the 1,000 milligrams of calcium you need each day. Calcium is an essential mineral that helps you build bone mass, as well as maintain the health of your teeth.
4. Ricotta cheese is also a good source of phosphorus, another mineral that is crucial for the health of your bones and teeth. A 1/2-cup serving of part-skim ricotta cheese delivers 227 milligrams of phosphorus, which is 32 percent of the 700 milligrams you need on a daily basis.