I guess some weekends are more about practically understanding the meaning of fun… and then keeping your head down and working your way through. Like whoa. That’s ok. Some Wednesdays are more about doughnuts than emails, so I guess it all evens out down the line.
To ease my worky worky weekend, I made this Whipped Ricotta. Its simplicity and creaminess surprised me! Just to be sure I knew what I was getting into… I ate spoonfuls of whipped ricotta on toasted bread for Sunday breakfast and Sunday lunch. I had to be sure.
I’m sure now. I worked my way through. Success!
Whipped Ricotta feels too good to be true. It’s just dairy transformed, but it’s sooo good!
I tend to think of ricotta as the cheese I use to make lasagna (mostly because I’m small-minded and super-love lasagna). I also totally into smashing ricotta into my Lasagna Grilled Cheese (yes, again with the lasagna). Ricotta is a soft Italian cheese made from whey, acid, and heat. The end product is a creamy, slightly textured (think: cottage cheese, but don’t freak out), and very mild in flavor.
When beaten, ricotta becomes delightfully smooth and fluffy. I added cream cheese to boost the creaminess. With a big pinch of sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, the cheese is totally on its way to appetizer status. With good olive oil and lemon zest… I mean, you’re a total class act!
I like to spread generously on toasted baguette slices. Make a lot. It’s hard to share. I also served these toasts with eggs and almonds. There aren’t many food items that you can serve with both eggs and almonds… so let’s just go with it while we have the chance.
Whipped Ricotta with lemon and olive oil
makes 2 cups
1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
2 cups whole-milk ricotta
2 tablespoons whole milk
coarse sea salt + fresh cracked black pepper + lemon zest + olive oil
toasted bread for serving
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat cream cheese until smooth and pliable. Stop the mixer and add ricotta and milk. Beat on medium speed for 4 to 5 minutes or until mixture is less grainy and fluffed. Remove from the mixer and place in a bowl of platter. Sprinkle generously with sea salt, black pepper, lemon zest, and a good drizzle of olive oil. Serve with toasted bread and hard-boiled eggs.
shelly@ohshellsbells
you could make extra and share… or you could make extra and eat it all while your boyfriend/roommate/spouse is still at work. not that i’ve ever done that.
Christina @ Scaredy Cat Kitchen
Ricotta is freakin’ awesome! I’ve never tried it with lemon so will definitely have to give it a go.
Quinn Cooper
Can’t go wrong with ricotta, EVER!
Love a goos crostini with ricotta.
xo Quinn
Quinn Cooper Style
Tina Jui
What a beautiful recipe and photos. Now I need to find a good baguette worthy of this recipe :)
Daniel Etherington
Looks delicious. We live in Rome, where there’s a tonne of ricotta, but I’m often a bit uncertain what to do with it. It’s one of those ingredients that can easily go either way, sweet or savoury. The classic way here is just eaten with honey, which we do a lot for breakfast, just smeared together – though one could whip it together like this too.
Crumblyandcrispy
Oh how I love ricotta !!! It’s equally good in lasagna and in sweet treats like cheese cake … I’ll definitely try this :)
Belinda @themoonblushbaker
I might not have working weekends but I have study weekends. the student life is kills the fun. The set up of food you had in the last picture is making me hungry and angry (more angry because I have to study!).
Would love to try this with as a sweet version to for tarts
Susann
Look delicious!
Kezia
I want to stick a whole heap of that in my face. If that’s wrong then I don’t want to be right!
Ellen
Yeah, class act! This stuff looks super classy indeed. I hear ya on those worky work weekends. They are precisely why I have doughnut Wednesdays. Well, in my case they are more like Sazerac Wednesdays…
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Working weekends. Yep, I know it. I love the 2nd image. So pretty, Joy! Glad you were able to take a break from work and enjoy some of this whippy action!