Whipped ricotta toast is one of my favorite breakfasts or just snacks. It’s quick and can be made with whatever you have on hand. You can go sweet or savory, and it looks like a fancy treat that didn’t take much effort at all.
For this version, I wanted something to pair with some non-alcoholic Ghia spritzes I was sent. They are so good, by the way. So, I went with a tomato jam, fried basil, and whipped ricotta toast. These are pretty classic Italian flavors with a slight twist using the tomato jam. The recipe for the tomato jam is from my previous post. It’s another recipe that packs a ton of flavor with fairly minimal effort.
Another great part of this recipe, although totally optional, is the fried basil. I love fried basil. Actually, I love anything basil, but that’s for another post. The crispy texture it adds and the intense basil flavor are so good. It’s a classic basil, tomato, cheese combo. Perfect. I also love the texture that the whipped ricotta has; it gets super smooth and airy. But you can certainly use ricotta right out of the container. There’s no need to pipe it out in pretty swirls if you don’t feel like it. It looks cute for sure, but a nice generous smear of ricotta cheese is just fine.
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I also love the texture that the whipped ricotta has; it gets super smooth and airy. But you can certainly use ricotta right out of the container. There's no need to pipe it out in pretty swirls if you don't feel like it. It looks cute for sure, but a nice generous smear of ricotta cheese is just fine.
What is ricotta toast?
To make this ricotta toast, we’re adding the whipped ricotta that I was just talking about onto some pan-fried toast with tomato jam and fried basil. But, ricotta toast at its most basic is just toast topped with ricotta cheese. Crazy, right?!
Ricotta toast is great as a snack, appetizer, or even a light meal. Quick to put together, it looks fairly impressive and tastes delicious.
What is whipped ricotta?
It’s just as it sounds: whipped ricotta cheese. When you whip it, the ricotta gets light and fluffy with the introduction of air into the mixture. This gives the cheese a more spreadable texture and allows you to add in extra flavors too. In this case, we’re adding extra virgin olive oil to give it a rich, savory flavor. This ricotta is whipped in the food processor, breaking down the already fine curds in the cheese to give you an ultra-smooth, airy final product. If you haven’t whipped ricotta before, I highly recommend you try it. It is very, very good.
What do I need to make whipped ricotta toast?
Bread
You want a fairly neutral-flavored bread here, but something that will hold up to the toppings. I like an Italian loaf for this, but ciabatta would work great too. You could probably use sourdough if you really wanted, just nothing that is too strongly flavored.
Tomato Jam
The tomato jam I’m using here is made from Sungold tomatoes, and the recipe can be found here. It’s simply tomatoes and sugar cooked down until you have a delicious sweet and savory jam.
Recipe for Homemade Tomato Jam
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is a fresh, soft cheese made from the whey leftover from the production of other cheeses, such as mozzarella. It has a creamy texture and a slightly sweet flavor, making it suitable for both sweet and savory dishes.
The name “ricotta” means “recooked” in Italian. To make ricotta cheese, the whey (or milk) is reheated, and an acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice, is added to cause the proteins to coagulate, or curdle. These curds are then strained, resulting in ricotta cheese.
If you’re interested in making your own homemade whole milk ricotta, I have a recipe for it here:
Homemade Whole Milk Ricotta
Basil
For this toast, I used the classic Genovese basil, but if you have other varieties available, feel free to use them.
Basil is one of my favorite herbs. It’s a classic Mediterranean herb known for its distinct licorice flavor with a citrus hit.
Olive Oil
You want a good olive oil here. You will be cooking it a bit, so there’s no need to use a finishing oil or super high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Use it to pan fry your bread as well as fry your basil.
Salt
Get some good flaky finishing salt. It makes such a difference when you have that extra bit of seasoning at the end.
Pepper
Fresh ground back pepper please! Used right at the end to finish the dish.
How to make whipped ricotta toast?
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- Pan Fry or Toast Bread
First, toast your bread in a pan with plenty of olive oil until it’s golden brown on both sides. - Whip Ricotta Cheese
You’re going to add your ricotta to the food processor and blend until you have a smooth, aerated mixture. If you plan to pipe a pretty design on the toast, transfer your whipped ricotta to a pastry bag or a plastic bag and then cut the tip off for a make shift piping bag. - Fry Basil
My favorite part of this recipe is the crispy fried basil. You fry the basil leaves in olive oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the color turns to a dark, transparent green. Drain on a paper towel. The basil will become super crisp as it cools. Save any leftover oil; it’s delicious. - Assemble Whipped Ricotta Toast
To assemble your whipped ricotta toast, start with a generous spread of tomato jam. Then, pipe on lots of whipped ricotta. Scatter some fried basil leaves over the top, along with flaky salt, fresh ground black pepper, and a drizzle of the oil you fried the basil in.
- Pan Fry or Toast Bread
What to put on ricotta toast?
What are some other variations of whipped ricotta toast I can make?
Common toppings for ricotta toast include honey, fresh berries, figs, tomatoes, avocado, prosciutto, or a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of salt and pepper. The creamy ricotta pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors, making it a popular choice for a quick and easy meal.
Ricotta Toast with Tomatoes
Either add some sliced tomatoes as a base or go with a pan con tomate vibe and rub some ripe tomato on the warm toasted bread before spreading on your ricotta cheese.
Ricotta Toast with Jam
This is a classic combo. Add a generous smear of your favorite jam and pipe on some whipped ricotta, then top with chopped nuts. I love the combo with blackberry jam, whipped ricotta, and chopped pistachios.
Ricotta Toast with Strawberries
The combo of olive oil and strawberries is delicious. Pan-fry your bread, pipe on some cheese, and then top with lots and lots of sliced ripe strawberries. Yum!
Ricotta Toast with Honey
So simple and so good. Pan-fry your bread with either olive oil or butter. Top with lots of whipped ricotta cheese and then drizzle over honey. Finish with some flaky salt. The sweet and savory combo is perfection.
Whipped Ricotta Toast with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Fried Basil
This is a classic version I did, and the inso for this newer version. It has garlic rubbed toast, a sun-dried tomato pesto, whipped ricotta and fried basil.
The video
@mosthungry So good!! Whipped ricotta toast with sungold tomato jam and fried basil #toast #recipe #cooking #whippedricotta #tomatojam #sungoldtomatoes #friedbasil ♬ Crazy – Louis La Roche
Ricotta Toast
Equipment
- Food Processor optional
Ingredients
- 4 slices Italian bread
- 1/4 C olive oil
- 4 tbsp tomato jam
- 1 handful basil leaves
- 16 oz ricotta cheese
- flakey Salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- First, toast your bread in a pan with plenty of olive oil until it's golden brown on both sides. Once toasted, remove from the heat and let it cool slightly while you prep the rest of your ingredients.
- To make the whipped ricotta, add it to a food processor with salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Process until you have a smooth, aerated mixture. If you plan to pipe a pretty design on the toast, transfer your whipped ricotta to a pastry bag or a plastic bag and cut the tip off. Chill the ricotta while you fry the basil.
- Fry the basil over medium heat in a good amount of olive oil. It should only take about 3 minutes. You'll know it's done when the color turns to a dark, transparent green. Remove the basil from the oil and let it drain on a paper towel. The basil will become super crisp as it cools. Save any leftover oil; it's delicious.
- To assemble your whipped ricotta toast, start with a generous spread of tomato jam. Then, pipe on lots of whipped ricotta. Scatter some fried basil leaves over the top, along with flaky salt, fresh ground black pepper, and a drizzle of the oil you fried the basil in.
