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Cheese from Italy, Campania

Ricotta di fuscella di Sant'Anastasia

A heat-and-acid-set boundary entry made from whole cow milk instead of whey, which is why the region lists it as a cheese. Salted milk is heated to 84–85 °C and soured with a milk starter, either selected or made by keeping farm milk at 4 °C for some days until pH 4–4.5; within 15–30 minutes all the milk proteins rise as flakes. These are ladled into cone-shaped baskets (fuscelle) and kept under ice for up to 10 days.

Fully documentedCheese15 min – 30 minPAT (traditional agri-food product, Campania)Family: Acid-heat set cheese family (FERMENTATION BOUNDARY)

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedThe regional sheet gives the method, not a batch recipe. A ricotta weighs up to 2 kg; the yield is 12–13% of the milk.
Whole cow milkNormally at least 3.5% fat and 3.4% protein; raw, thermised or pasteurised[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]
SaltAdded to the milk before heating[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]
Milk starter (lattoinnesto)Selected, or natural from farm milk held at 4 °C for some days; no chemical acids or pH correctors allowed[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]
Startermilk starter (lattoinnesto), selected or natural

Total time across the recorded steps: 15 min – 30 min

Start
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4 °CpH 4–4.5Milk sugarLactic acid

What changes: Farm milk kept cold for some days sours slowly to pH 4–4.5

Step 1 of 5
Make the milk starter
Time
Not documented
Temperature
4 °C
Reported
Salt
None given
Acidity
pH 4–4.5
Reported

A selected starter may be used instead. The regional sheet's wording can also be read as the pH of the acidified milk; ONAF gives it as the starter's pH.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

At a glance

A heat-and-acid-set boundary entry made from whole cow milk instead of whey, which is why the region lists it as a cheese. Salted milk is heated to 84–85 °C and soured with a milk starter, either selected or made by keeping farm milk at 4 °C for some days until pH 4–4.5; within 15–30 minutes all the milk proteins rise as flakes. These are ladled into cone-shaped baskets (fuscelle) and kept under ice for up to 10 days. Made in 5 steps over 15 min – 30 min. The longest step, add the starter and let the flakes rise, takes 15–30 min (Regione Campania 2015).

Key numbers
Main step15–30 minReported[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]Add the starter and let the flakes rise
Temperature4 °CReported[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]Make the milk starter
AciditypH 4–4.5Reported[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]Make the milk starter

What makes this one different

Made from whole acidified cow milk rather than whey, so all the milk proteins are caught and it is creamier and more velvety than ordinary ricotta. Only a milk starter may sour it; chemical acids are not allowed.

Composition
Fat 10–20%, moisture no more than 70%, lactic acid 0.3% or less, protein 8–10% (regional sheet)
Yield
12–13% of the milk
Size
Truncated pyramid or cone, up to 2 kg
Rind
None

Related ferments

Safety

The milk is heated to 84–85 °C and the ricotta is kept under ice for no more than 10 days, with no preservatives.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

The regional sheet says the ricotta was first made from the sheep and goat milk of the area's flocks; today cow milk from the region's farms is used.

Microbes
No study we found names its microbes.
  1. [pat-sheet] Regione Campania, Assessorato Agricoltura, Prodotti tradizionali, page «Ricotta di fuscella di Sant'Anastasia» (updated 13 March 2015; copy hosted by ONAF)gov
  2. [onaf-sheet] ONAF (Organizzazione Nazionale Assaggiatori Formaggi), technical sheet «Ricotta di fuscella di Sant'Anastasia»web
  3. [onaf] ONAF, cheese page «Ricotta di fuscella di Sant'Anastasia» (id 1196)web