There was a time when we'd use a cup or two of ricotta for a specific recipe and scratch our heads over what to do with the rest. Not wanting to waste it, we started adding spoonfuls to our everyday recipes. Now we can't get enough of it!
Top Five Things to Do with Ricotta
Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate ricotta (leftover or otherwise!) into our cooking:
1. To Enrich Sauces: Try adding a scoop or two of ricotta to pasta sauce just at the very end. It adds a lot of flavor and creaminess without a lot of extra fat.
2. To Enrich Egg Dishes: As with sauces, we find that a few spoons of ricotta give egg dishes an extra layer of richness. We also find that it makes our eggs a little fluffier. Try it in omlettes, scrambled eggs, and frittatas!
3. Layered in Gratins and Lasagna: This is an old classic and one of the ways that we first started using ricotta. It makes a good flavor base without adding a lot of extra moisture.
4. As a Quick Spread or Dip: We never realized how delicious ricotta can be all on its own! Good quality or home-made ricotta on toast makes a simple snack. We also make fancier spreads and dips by mixing in things like fresh herbs, roasted red peppers, or lemon zest. (Or honey and nuts for a sweet dessert!)
5. In Baking: Ricotta pancakes are just heavenly. They're moist and fluffy with just a hint of tartness. We also like ricotta in breads, muffins, and coffee cakes.
Where else do you use ricotta?
Related: Recipe: Easy Ricotta Gnocchi
(Image: Flickr member cpalmieri licensed under Creative Commons)
Tags
Dairy Products, Inspiration, Ingredients - Pantry, Frugality, dairy, cheese, ricotta, cooking without recipes, cooking by feel, top 5, top fiveRelated Links
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Comments (13)
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It's great on its own for dessert--a scoop of ricotta with raspberries coated in lemon juice and sugar on top.
view Edan's profile
I had some delicious, creamy ricotta with crispy sugar snap peas, mint and olive oil at Franny's in Brooklyn.
view art's profile
i put it on toast with honey for breakfast.
view TheVillageVegetable's profile
layered with pumpkin butter on toast.
view budino's profile
I use ricotta to stuff zucchini flowers. Mixed with beaten eggs and chives it makes a superb stuffing. Delicious!
view gormanmcadams's profile
I love ricotta in eggs and also blended with some hot pasta and whatever herbs I may have on hand.
view rosebud's profile
MMM great ideas. I have half a container in the fridge just waiting to be used!
Emily
view Emily Sneds's profile
For a low-carb breakfast, I usually eat it plain, but sometimes for a treat, I add a little splenda and cinnamon.
I also make pasta with butter, ricotta and romano. Kids love it.
view artichoke queen's profile
Definitely a very simple and quick spread - ricotta, lemon zest and black pepper.
no need to measure, just add, taste, adjust. Sitting in the fridge for a while only improves the flavor
on home made bread, toasted..... heaven!
view SallyBR's profile
ricotta salami roll-ups are perhaps the most delicious and EASY snack ever!
view sdnyc's profile
I love big plops of FRESH milky ricotta on pizza!
view ephilides's profile
On toasted bread, with sea salt, basil, and a little olive oil. Equally good as a pizza!
view callista21's profile
Ooooh, I love ricotta, especially fresh whole milk ricotta. I made a ricotta plum pie with lavender and honey this weekend.
http://twoalmostmavens.blogspot.com/2008/10/ricotta-plum-pie-with-lavender-and.html
Julie and Beth
view TwoAlmostMavens's profile