Whipped Ricotta (Print version)

A light, creamy ricotta spread whipped with olive oil and citrus zest

# What goes in:

→ Dairy

01 - 1 cup (250 g) fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese, drained
02 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream

→ Seasonings

03 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
06 - 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest

→ Optional Garnish

07 - 1 tablespoon honey or hot honey
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (basil, chives, or parsley)
09 - Cracked black pepper to taste
10 - Flaky sea salt to taste
11 - Toasted bread or crostini for serving

# Cooking steps:

01 - Place the drained ricotta cheese and heavy cream in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Using a hand mixer or whisk, beat the ricotta on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes until light, smooth, and fluffy.
03 - Add the olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon zest, mixing gently until just incorporated.
04 - Taste the whipped ricotta and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon zest as needed.
05 - Transfer the whipped ricotta to a serving bowl. If desired, drizzle with honey, sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs, cracked black pepper, and flaky sea salt.
06 - Serve immediately with toasted bread or crostini, or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

# Tips from flavorandfeast:

01 -
  • It transforms a humble tub of ricotta into something that feels deliberately luxurious with almost zero work.
  • The texture is impossibly smooth and pairs beautifully with sweet or savory toppings depending on your mood.
02 -
  • Draining the ricotta in a fine mesh sieve for fifteen minutes before whipping makes a huge difference in achieving that thick, spreadable consistency.
  • Underwhipping is the most common mistake, so keep going until you see the texture transform into something completely smooth.
03 -
  • If you want an extra silky result, pass the ricotta through a fine mesh sieve once before whipping to eliminate any remaining graininess.
  • A teaspoon of lemon juice added with the zest gives a tangier edge that pairs especially well with the honey drizzle.

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