Classic Ricotta Toast Recipe
Ricotta toast is here to stay. It’s creamy, full of protein, and the best base for customizing. Ricotta toast is the perfect way to start your day, as a light lunch, or snack.
What is Ricotta Toast?
It’s as simple as the name: it’s ricotta on toast. I’m not too sure where it came from, it’s just about as simple as butter on toast, but so much more luxurious and better. If it’s your first time having ricotta toast, I recommend a really good slice of bread, toasted until it’s golden with a couple of deeply caramelized spots, topped off with creamy whipped ricotta, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, flaky sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper.
Best Bread for Ricotta Toast
I love all bread but for ricotta toast I recommend a hearty loaf like sourdough. You want something with structure and crunch. There are so many amazing sourdough bakeries out there right now and if you have the time and inclination, you can even make your own – it’s magic! Good sourdough isn’t sour, it’s perfectly balanced, complex, and the best base for topping. If you don’t have access to really good sourdough and don’t want to make your own, try whipped ricotta toast on slices of a crusty country loaf, a hearty whole wheat bread, or even bagels. Whipped ricotta also tastes amazing on pancakes or waffles.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ricotta (full fat preferred)
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- Toppings optional as desired (see post)
What is Ricotta?
Ricotta is a cheese, originally made in Italy but now available worldwide. It’s a soft, creamy cheese with small curds that are mild and slightly sweet. It’s fluffy, fresh, and creamy. You’ll find it in tubs in the refrigerated section and it tastes amazing with pasta, as a base for dips, on pizza, and in desserts.
How to Make Whipped Ricotta
To make whipped ricotta, start with whole milk ricotta and add it to a food processor. Blend until the ricotta is creamy, fluffy, and smooth, about 1-2 minutes. You can season it with salt and pepper right away but I like to leave it plain so I have the option of using it as a base for both sweet and savory toasts. Whipped ricotta will keep in the fridge, tightly covered, for up to 3 days.
Ricotta Toast Variations
- Classic Ricotta Toast
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic (if desired) and finish with flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Honey and Thyme Ricotta Toast
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then drizzle with a generous amount of honey and finish with fresh thyme. Pro tip: a sprinkle of flaky sea salt takes this over the top!
- Avocado Ricotta Toast
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, top with slices of avocado, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, flaky salt, pepper, and herbs, if desired.
- Crispy Pesto Egg
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough. Heat up 2 tablespoons of pesto in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add a cracked egg to the pesto and cook the egg to your desired doneness. Scoop the fried egg and pesto over the ricotta toast.
- Tomatoes and Basil
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then top with sliced or quartered tomatoes, basil, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (and balsamic if desired), flaky salt and black pepper.
- Jam and Whipped Ricotta
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then top with your favorite jam.
- Prosciutto and Peaches
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then arrange thin slices of prosciutto and juicy peaches on top. Finish with extra virgin olive oil and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Cacio e Pepe and Ricotta
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then top with a generous amount of freshly grated parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Carbonara Ricotta
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then top with crispy pancetta (or bacon), a poached egg, and a generous amount of freshly grated parmesan.
- Berries and Ricotta
- Spread a generous amount of whipped ricotta on toasted sourdough, then top with fresh berries, a drizzle of honey, and some fresh mint or thyme.
What to Serve with Ricotta Toast
- The best bacon ever, twisted bacon
- Crispy fried eggs for an extra boost of protein
- Super addictive hot Chinese chili oil
- Garlicky pan seared mushrooms
Helpful Hints:
- Use high-quality sourdough bread for the best results.
- Whip the ricotta until it’s very smooth for a luxurious texture.
- Experiment with different toppings to find your favorite combination.
- Toast the bread until golden with some caramelized spots for extra flavor.
- Store any leftover whipped ricotta in the fridge for up to 3 days.
