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12 Recipes with Ricotta Cheese

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If you love the creamy sweetness of ricotta cheese, you've got to try our favorite recipes with ricotta cheese!

Ricotta is an Italian cheese made from either whey or milk - it's similar in texture to cottage cheese, but has smaller curds.

Ricotta cheese has a light and fresh taste that translates well to pasta, tarts, salads, desserts, and pizza.

We think you'll love these recipes that use ricotta cheese!


Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart

This asparagus tart made from puff pastry and ricotta is a wonderful, tasty recipe. It highlights the grassy flavor of the asparagus and the buttery puff pastry!

An asparagus tart on a piece of parchment paper.

Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Pasta Shells

These spinach artichoke stuffed pasta shells are a delicious, vegetarian recipe. They are cheesy pasta deliciousness at its best!


The Coziest Winter Squash Tart Recipe

This delicata squash tart is the coziest recipe - perfect for chilly nights when you want a flavorful veggie dish.

Delicata squash is a winter squash with a delicate rind that doesn't need to be peeled before use; making it a stunning option for a tart.


Lemon Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies

Summer weekends were made for these bright and flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth Lemon Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies! 


Tomato Ricotta Tart

This tomato ricotta tart is full of fresh summer flavor that'll drag out the end of summer for just a little while!


Ricotta Toasts - Two Ways

These ricotta toast recipes are the best! They are a fabulous brunch or an easy lunch recipe. The savory toast is a delicious combination of ricotta, grilled tomatoes, and avocado. The sweeter toast has ricotta, fresh blueberries, and honey. 

ricotta toasts on a cutting board

Ricotta Berry French Toast Casserole

French Toast Casserole with super easy 5 minute homemade brioche, ricotta cheese, and berries. No canned biscuits! So delicious!


Persimmon Prosciutto Crostinis

This simple recipe for persimmon prosciutto crostinis with homemade ricotta is a wonderful appetizer, snack, or light lunch. The flavors work together wonderfully. 

crostinis on a cutting board

Simple Peach, Basil and Ricotta Flatbread

Simple peach, basil and ricotta flatbreads drizzled with balsamic reduction. A gourmet summer dinner ready in fifteen minutes!


Easy Spinach Ricotta Pasta Recipe

This quick and luxurious Spinach Ricotta Pasta boasts a creamy and garlicky spinach sauce made easy with ricotta cheese.


Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

These Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are some of the best pancakes you’ll ever eat! Just imagine your favorite pancake recipe, now add an Italian flair to it with creamy ricotta and fresh lemon.


Roasted Grape Crostinis

These roasted grape crostinis are an easy and tasty appetizer recipe that is perfect for a dinner party!

roasted grapes on crostinis

Yield: 4 servings

Recipes with Ricotta: Asparagus Ricotta Tart

An asparagus tart on a piece of parchment paper.

Try one of our favorite recipes with ricotta - this asparagus tart made from puff pastry and ricotta cheese is a wonderful, tasty appetizer or lunch.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet of puff pastry
  • 1 bunch of asparagus
  • 8 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
  2. Remove the woody ends from the asparagus (either snap them or chop them off), toss the asparagus with half the olive oil and half the salt and pepper. 
  3. Lay the pastry sheet flat on a rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Cut a ½ inch border around the edges, and then prick the pastry with a fork several times. 
  4. Spread the ricotta out across the pastry and then lay the asparagus spears across it. 
  5. Bake the pastry for 20 to 22 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. 
  6. After the pastry cools for a few minutes, sprinkle the remaining olive oil, salt, and pepper across the top along with the lemon juice. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 180Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 390mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 7g

Can ricotta cheese be frozen?

Ricotta cheese can be frozen, but the consistency will change. You likely will only want to use it in baked recipes and not in recipes that call for fresh ricotta.

Is ricotta cheese vegetarian?

Yes, ricotta cheese is vegetarian. Most soft cheeses do not contain rennet.

Can ricotta cheese be substituted for cottage cheese?

In a baking recipe, ricotta can be a good substitute for cottage cheese (and vice versa), however, ricotta has a much creamier texture than cottage cheese.

If a recipe specifically needs the bulkiness of cottage cheese curds, it's probably best to find cottage cheese instead of substituting it for ricotta.

What You'll Need to Make Your Own Ricotta

Links on some posts are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you decided to make your own ricotta at home - this is our preferred recipe, you'll need the following:

  • Large glass bowl - We like this set because it comes with a liquid measuring cup which is helpful for this recipe as well.
  • Enameled Pot - We love a Le Creuset pot and this one is a perfect size.
  • Mesh sieve - This sieve has a reinforced frame that will allow it to sit on the side of the bowl.
  • Cheesecloth - This is a high-grade cheesecloth that can be reused to make nut milk, yogurt, and cheese.
  • Kosher salt - Diamond Crystal is our favorite kosher salt brand.
  • Good white wine vinegar - This aged vinegar is our favorite to use.

What are your favorite recipes that use ricotta cheese?

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