Whipped Ricotta with Lemon, Honey, and Fresh Thyme Recipe
This whipped ricotta recipe transforms creamy whole milk ricotta into a light, fluffy spread perfect for appetizers or snacks. Enhanced with lemon zest, honey, fresh thyme, and a hint of pepper, it is a versatile and elegant dish that pairs beautifully with crostini or toasted pita bread.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup, serves 4 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole milk ricotta
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (additional for topping)
- 1 tablespoon honey or hot honey (additional for topping)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (additional for topping)
- 1 large pinch salt
- 1–2 cracks of fresh black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: Add the ricotta, heavy cream, lemon zest, honey, fresh thyme, salt, and freshly cracked pepper into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Whip the mixture: Using a hand mixer fitted with beaters, beat the ingredients on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture becomes smooth, creamy, and light in texture.
- Prepare for serving: Transfer the whipped ricotta into a serving dish. Drizzle the top with additional honey, sprinkle with extra lemon zest, fresh thyme leaves, and if desired, a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
- Serve: Enjoy the whipped ricotta spread with crostini, toasted pita bread, or your choice of crackers for a delightful appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Use whole milk ricotta for the creamiest texture; part-skim varieties may yield a drier result.
- Adjust the honey quantity according to your preferred sweetness level or try spicy hot honey for a flavorful twist.
- Fresh thyme adds a bright herbal note, but you can substitute with other fresh herbs like basil or oregano.
- Optional red pepper flakes add a mild heat; omit if you prefer a purely sweet and savory profile.
- This spread can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to two days; stir gently before serving.
Keywords: Whipped ricotta, ricotta spread, creamy ricotta, ricotta appetizer, crostini spread, easy ricotta recipe, Italian appetizer
