Ricotta Salata is one of the few cheeses that originated from Sicily. The cheese is made from lightly salted sheep's milk curd. The curd is pressed and dried then aged for at least 3 months.
Ricotta salata has a mild, nutty/milky flavor but it is not a salty cheese. The texture is quite smooth. The Sicilian style cheese is also referred to as "per la grattugia" which means "for the grater".
Some notable brands include Mannoni and Pinna. Once you purchase the cheese re-wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the vegetable bin in your refrigerator. This will help to keep the moisture in the cheese. The uses are numerous, salads, sprinkle over sauteed vegetables or atop your favorite pasta. It can also be sliced and added to your cheese board with fresh fruit, crusty bread and you favorite salami or prosciutto.
This is not a very hard to find cheese. Look for it at Trader Joes, Wholefoods Market, and online: Ricotta Salata
If you can't find Ricotta Salata you can substitute, ounce for ounce:
Ingredients will vary per brand. These ingredients are for Belgioioso Ricotta-Salata: Pasteurized whey and milk, vinegar, salt.
If you are a cheese maker you can try this recipe for making your own ricotta salata at home.