The Hyblean ricotta is a dairy product derived from the whey produced in Libero consorzio comunale di Ragusa and is recognized as

prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale ''Prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale'' (PAT) is an official approval for traditional Italian regional food products similar to the Protected Geographical Status of the European Union. A list of approved products is published by the Ministry of ...

since 2000.

Milk

The milk used to produce the classic is that of the wild and autochthonous breed Modicana, producer of

Protected Designation of Origin The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union and the United Kingdom aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main ...

milk, bred in the wild mainly on the highlands between

Modica Modica (; scn, Muòrica) is a city and ''comune'' of 54,456 inhabitants in the Province of Ragusa, Sicily, southern Italy. The city is situated in the Hyblaean Mountains. Modica has neolithic origins and it represents the historical capital ...

and

Ragusa Ragusa is the historical name of Dubrovnik. It may also refer to: Places Croatia * the Republic of Ragusa (or Republic of Dubrovnik), the maritime city-state of Ragusa * Cavtat (historically ' in Italian), a town in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Cro ...

in the pastures enclosed in the classic dry stone walls characteristic of the area. Iblea ricotta can also be produced with mixed milk, that is, deriving from various breeds, with the addition of whole and raw milk up to 10%. Ragusan milk has unique characteristics, containing hints of spontaneous Hyblaean mountain vegetation such as fresh mushrooms, orange, freshly cut grass and floral traces typical of the area, such as

calendula ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

anthemis ''Anthemis'' is a genus of aromatic flowering plants in the family (biology), family Asteraceae, closely related to ''Chamaemelum'', and like that genus, known by the common name chamomile; some species are also called dog-fennel or mayweed. ''An ...

, malva silvestris,

geranium ''Geranium'' is a genus of 422 species of annual, biennial, and perennial plants that are commonly known as geraniums or cranesbills. They are found throughout the temperate regions of the world and the mountains of the tropics, but mostly in ...

, and

jasmine Jasmine ( taxonomic name: ''Jasminum''; , ) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. Jasmines are widely cultiva ...

Preparation

The preparation procedure takes place according to the traditional Ragusan method, different from other processes.

Consumption of hot ricotta

For the consumption of freshly made ricotta, in the various farms scattered throughout the territory, typical terracotta cups are used which have a mixed shape between a soup plate and a

bowl A bowl is a typically round dish or container generally used for preparing, serving, or consuming food. The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve. This makes ...

, usually it is accompanied with homemade bread.

Use in the pastry shop

Contrary to the pastry tradition of most of

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, which uses sheep ricotta, Hyblean ricotta is traditionally used in the local

pastry Pastry is baked food made with a dough of flour, water and shortening (solid fats, including butter or lard) that may be savoury or sweetened. Sweetened pastries are often described as '' bakers' confectionery''. The word "pastries" suggests ma ...

and in some areas of the Syracusan. Among the sweets generally considered among the best on the island, there are also those based on .

References

Cuisine of Sicily Italian cheeses Cow's-milk cheeses Whey cheeses {{Portal bar, Food, Italy