Whipped Ricotta with Lemon, Garlic & Roasted Tomato Vinaigrette
This 15-minute appetizer is so easy it will surprise you, and it's pretty fancy to be as simple as it is to make. Roasted tomatoes, garlic & lemon + fresh herbs and olive oil over a blend of warm, whipped ricotta & parmesan cheeses. Grab some baguette bread, toast a few slices and make this to enjoy with friends or as a yummy appetizer over a fun dinner for two.
Whipped Ricotta
If you've never tried it, get ready! All you need is a mixer and a few herbs & spices and that's it. Don't skimp on the fat with this stuff--whole milk and full fat is the BEST and will render the creamiest results.
Add the ricotta cheese to a medium-sized mixing bowl and, using the mixer, whip for 2-3 minutes until it becomes light & airy. That's it for the basics!
I added some extra ingredients to my whipped ricotta base before adding the vinaigrette, but I'll share a few other ways to enjoy whipped ricotta below.
Honey & Herbs - You get the best of both the sweet and savory worlds with a blend of honey & herbs served over creamy whipped ricotta cheese. Combine 1 tablespoon of honey with 1 tablespoon of olive oil; mix in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint and 1 teaspoon of parsley. Pour the mixture over whipped ricotta and top with a pinch of salt and a splash of lemon juice.
Pepper jelly - Mix in 1 tablespoon of honey & 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt with the whipped ricotta cheese, and top with pepper jelly. Drizzle a little extra honey on top; serve with grilled pita bread and enjoy!
Olive Oil & Herbs - If you're not big on tomatoes or tangy flavors, simply mix in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and some fresh herbs. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and serve with toasted baguette or grilled pita bread.
Olive or Tomato Bruschetta - This one is another favorite! Whipped ricotta cheese, olive bruschetta and a little olive oil drizzled on top of some crusty bread...yum!!
Whipped Ricotta + Parmesan
For this recipe, after whipping the ricotta cheese, I added 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and whipped for another minute. Then, I added 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, garlic powder and Italian seasoning and stirred until everything was well-combined and smooth. Next, I added the good stuff!
Tomato Vinaigrette
I love a good vinaigrette, but this tomato vinaigrette far surpasses any vinaigrette I've ever made! I wanted it to be bursting with flavor, so I sliced a lemon peel super finely to add to the tomatoes while they were roasting in the skillet, and boy did it deliver on flavor!
Everything about this vinaigrette is delicious from the lemon juice to the warm bursting tomatoes, and when it's served over the whipped ricotta and parmesan blend, the dip is killer. Truly, that's the one word I know to describe it, and you'll know exactly what I mean when you try it.
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