If you happen to’ve ever made a tray of lasagna or layered a tiramisu, you would possibly end up with half a bath of ricotta left over and no concept easy methods to use it. No matter you do, don’t toss it. Milky ricotta is impartial sufficient in taste that it will probably go the route of candy or savory, making the choices for ending a bath fairly limitless. Listed below are a number of concepts to get you began.
Add it to pasta or pizza
There’s a typical phrase in cheese pairing that goes, “What grows collectively goes collectively.” On this case, ricotta is an Italian cheese that lends itself to Italian dishes properly past lasagna, similar to pizza or different pastas, like stuffed shells or ravioli. Simply add a pair dollops to a pie, or swirl it into any creamy pasta sauce. It will improve their richness with out including an excessive amount of salt, which could be a threat with exhausting cheeses like Parmiggiano Reggiano or pecorino Romano. (Or higher but, use a mix of ricotta and exhausting cheese for much more layered flavors).
Incorporate into pancakes
Including ricotta to pancake batter must be obligatory (I like this recipe from NYT Cooking). The cheese provides a lot moisture with out weighing down the pancakes — quite the opposite, ricotta can yield the world’s fluffiest pancakes. If you happen to actually wish to carry out the flavour of the ricotta, add lemon or blueberries. Elsewhere within the breakfast universe, a spoonful of ricotta is at all times a welcome addition to crepe or French toast batter.
Whip it right into a dip
For a formidable, no-effort dip, simply add the ricotta to a meals processor with no matter seasonings communicate to you. Lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper pair properly with crudités and crackers, however you can even go the candy route by mixing ricotta with honey and vanilla and serving it with graham crackers. For a extra substantial dip, pair ricotta with squash (and use the hollowed out gourd because the bowl). Ricotta additionally makes an amazing base for a pimento cheese ball, in order for you one thing lighter and fluffier than mayonnaise.
Unfold on a sandwich, wrap, or toast
Ricotta toast had a chokehold on Los Angeles’s breakfast scene for fairly a while, and it’s no thriller why. It’s extremely simple to copy at residence: merely unfold some ricotta over a crusty slice of bread and add your favourite toppings. I like mine with figs, a drizzle of honey, and flaky salt however have additionally made a savory toast with tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. A smear of jam can be efficient. You may consider the ricotta as an alternative choice to cream cheese and put it on a bagel, too. Even higher, unfold it in a wrap or sandwich; the gentle cheese pairs properly with turkey, ham, and fried eggs.
Simply eat it straight
Look, in case you get pleasure from cottage cheese or strained yogurt, consuming ricotta by the spoonful shouldn’t be a giant leap. I like including berries, honey, and vanilla bean to it, however if you wish to eat it plain? No judgement.
Dina Ávila is a photographer residing in Portland, Oregon.
