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Ricotta cheese is a star ingredient of many Italian recipes and both sweet and savoury dishes. The smooth yet grainy texture adds a delightful bite to recipes and gives a subtle sour hint with a creamy and mild flavour. Its mild taste makes it go well with a variety of ingredients and you don't even need special expertise to incorporate it in meals your way.
The word ricotta translates to “recooked” in Italian, which gives the idea of how the cheese is made. Ricotta cheese is actually a byproduct of cheese made with the leftover liquid or whey that remains after making cheese. After the leftover liquid is collected, it is recooked until the curds and whey separate. And the curds are cooked again separately to make ricotta. Therefore, ricotta cheese doesn't have a concentrated flavour like other cheeses but comes together with various ingredients.
It is especially good for making fresh springtime meals. From refreshing salads to soothing desserts, know how you can make ricotta delicacies a star of your spring table.
10 Ricotta Cheese Recipes You’ve Got To Make This Spring
1) Ricotta Spring Salad
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This recipe combines all your favourite spring produce in one bowl and makes it delicious with the addition of ricotta cheese. Add in all the seasonal special vegetables like spring radishes, fresh carrots, strawberries, greens, onions, peas and everything you want to add. Drizzle some crumbled ricotta cheese with honey, balsamic vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
2) Ricotta Gnocchi
The soft, pillowy dumplings with the goodness of ricotta infused in every bit give a comforting relief as you eat it. This gnocchi is lighter than potato gnocchi, and it goes well with a variety of ingredients and sauces. From tomato-based sauce to green sauce, you can make your own recipe with this gnocchi for a comforting meal.
3) Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Tomato Gravy
Huge pasta shells filled with creamy ricotta cheese filling mixed with herbs and seasonings is perfect for a large crowd. This summer recipe combines filled shells with flavourful tomato gravy rich with seasonings and herbs.
4) Green Tart with Ricotta
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A tart that celebrates the freshness of all spring greens and enhances it even more with ricotta cheese is an ideal treat to begin the meal with. With delicious green vegetables like spring onion, Perennial Wall-rocket, asparagus, zucchini, green peas, and spinach, this pie becomes irresistible with the addition of parmesan, vinegar and ricotta cheese.
5) Ricotta Baked Crepes
This dish is enough to add vigour to your party table. Tender crepes filled with creamy ricotta filling mixed with mozzarella, pecorino, eggs, basil, and salt are rolled into long cannelloni and placed side by side in a casserole. The cannellonis are then covered with thick tomato gravy with onion and meat, and simmered until well cooked.
6) Spinach Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta
Even though artichokes are available all year round, Spring is the peak season to savour them fresh. It is a perfect opportunity to make a delicious pasta recipe with ricotta cheese and artichokes. When cooked pasta is mixed with sautéed spinach, tender artichoke hearts, and creamy ricotta cheese, it creates a flavorful and comforting recipe.
7) Mini Ricotta Pizzas
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Mini pizzas are a perfect appetiser to add fun to any meal. It's even better when you make it with fresh seasonal produce and include all bright vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, baby corn and greens. Add your favourite proteins as well and top it with mozzarella and ricotta cheese, then bake to perfection to serve hot.
8) Ricotta Cheesecake
Cheesecake tastes even better with creamy ricotta cheese. This light and fluffy dessert when made with ricotta cheese, highlights every other flavour and doesn't have an overpowering sourness coming from cheese. Flavourings like vanilla or lemon zest melt the mute notes with tantalising joy.
9) Ricotta Trifle
Ricotta trifle is a luscious dessert made by layering creamy ricotta cheese with sweetened fruit compote, sponge cake or ladyfingers, and sometimes a splash of liqueur. The layers are stacked in a clear glass dish and chilled, letting the flavours meld together for a delightful and refreshing treat.
10) Ricotta Raspberry Cake
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Ricotta Raspberry cake features freshly harvested raspberries in a comforting springtime dessert. The moist and tender dessert with creamy ricotta cheese mixed into a fluffy cake batter, then studded with juicy raspberries is perfect for any occasion. Sweet and tart flavours create a delightful combination.
These recipes with ricotta cheese are an ode to springtime feast. After you try these recipes, you won't resist making ricotta cheese a staple of your kitchen.
