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Whipped ricotta dip might be my easiest appetizer yet! Seriously, all you have to do is blend ricotta and olive oil in a food processor and zhoosh it up with toppings–it takes minutes! 

The best part is that this ricotta dip is highly versatile: you can keep it simple with homemade (or store-bought) crostini, add it to your breakfast toast, or serve it on a cheese board with other cheeses, meats, and fresh produce. The possibilities are endless!

For other dip ideas, check out my Baked Brie Pull Apart Bread, Bread Dipping Oil, Whipped Brie Dip, Dirty Martini Dip, and Honey Whipped Goat Cheese Dip.

What Is Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta, born on the Italian peninsula sometime around the 9th century, is a soft, fresh cheese typically made with cow’s milk. Here, “fresh” simply means that the cheese is not pressed or aged, which is what gives it its fluffy, spongy texture and mild, creamy flavor. 

Ricotta is traditionally made from whey, which is the liquid waste that separates from the milk solids (curds) during cheese and yogurt production. It’s then re-heated so the proteins coagulate and form curds. These curds are then strained, and voila! There is actually another kind of ricotta that goes a step further: it’s called ricotta salata and it’s essentially just ricotta that is salted and pressed into a block, resulting in a crumbly, savory Italian version of feta or cotija. 

I chose ricotta for this dip because it’s already a wet cheese which requires minimal mix-ins to get the right consistency. The curds are also already quite fine and fluffy, so when you whip it in the food processor you’re just breaking them down further and injecting air into the mix, which makes it ultra silky and smooth. Plus, the flavor is so mild that it goes well with just about any mix-in or topping you can dream up!

Some alternative cheeses that will work for whipping are:

• Mascarpone: This is a much denser, richer cheese that definitely leans sweeter. You likely won’t get a ton of volume after whipping because it’s already quite smooth! (In case you didn’t know, mascarpone is what’s whipped with cream to make the filling in tiramisu!)
• Chevre (goat cheese): This is a less wet cheese and might need a little more olive oil or water to get it to the right texture, but similarly versatile flavor-wise. (Try my Whipped Goat Cheese recipe!)
• Burrata (without the brine): Even though burrata is a pretty wet cheese, it’s also a more formed cheese and thus might take longer to whip and won’t yield a texture quite as smooth. It also leans more savory. (Try my Whipped Burrata recipe!)

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How To Make Whipped Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey

Ingredients

• 16 ounces whole milk ricotta
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
• 3 tablespoons spicy honey (I like Mike’s Hot Honey)
• Coarse sea salt
• Chili flakes
• Fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

• In the base of a food processor, combine ricotta and 2 tablespoons olive oil until smooth.
• Meanwhile, lightly grease a small, microwave-safe bowl with olive oil. Add honey to bowl and microwave until warmed.
• Transfer whipped ricotta to a shallow serving bowl and smooth into an even layer. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, then top with warmed honey.
• Sprinkle with salt, chili flakes, and chopped parsley, to taste.
• Serve with crostini (see my instructions for homemade crostini) or your favorite bread. Enjoy!

Whipped Ricotta Dip: Video Tutorial

@ainttooproudtomeg

Favorite app! #learnfromme #learnontiktok #tiktokpartner #foodtok #whippedricotta

♬ So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings – Caroline Polachek

Hot Honey: What Is It?

In the case of this recipe, hot applies in two ways: the honey is not only spicy but also warmed up to make it super drizzly. But what is hot honey exactly? It’s quite literally just honey that’s been infused with hot peppers to give it that one-two punch of spicy and sweet.

I absolutely love hot honey! I use it as a condiment for pizza and sandwiches and regularly serve it on cheese and charcuterie boards. I used it in this recipe because ricotta is already somewhat sweet, so regular honey would have made it more dessert-forward. The hot honey adds depth of flavor along with a spicy little kick! (Don’t worry–the super creamy ricotta tones down the bite.)

It’s also incredibly easy to make hot honey at home, which also makes it uber-customizable (and you know how I love to customize!). You only need 3 ingredients: honey, apple cider vinegar, and a pepper of your choosing. After bringing them to a simmer over a hot stove, all you have to do is let the flavors infuse off-heat for 10 to 15 minutes.

Feel free to use your favorite kind of pepper–the flavors and heat level will differ based on what you choose! Try:

• Guajillo chiles
• Chili flakes
• Jalapeños
• Habanero 
• Fresno chiles

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What to Dip in Whipped Ricotta

Other than crostini, try using some of these!

• Fresh or roasted strawberries
• Apple slices
• Grilled flatbread
• Seedy crackers
• Pita chips
• Sweet bell peppers
• Cucumbers
• Carrots

Ricotta Dip Flavor Alternatives

Whether you blend them into the dip or serve on top, here are some alternative flavor options if hot honey isn’t your jam: 

• Regular Honey (not spicy)
• Fruit jam of choice (see how I topped my cream cheese dip!) 
• Garlic confit
• Balsamic glaze
• Fresh rosemary 
• Fresh thyme
• Lemon zest
• Black pepper
• Fresh basil
• Pistachios

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What To Drink With Hot Honey-Whipped Ricotta Dip

I serve this dip as an appetizer, so I like to pair it with appetizer-friendly drinks! It’s also a super versatile dip flavor-wise: the ricotta is mild and creamy and the hot honey adds just a hint of tangy heat. It will pair well with just about anything, but here are my favorite options:

Alcoholic

• Aperol Spritz
• Dry white wine (like a Sauvignon Blanc or Sancerre)
• Sparkling wine
• Lambrusco or Pet Nat
• Beer (like a lager or pale ale)
• Lambic
• St-Germain Spritz
• Gin Fizz 
• Ranch Water

 Non-Alcoholic

• Topo Chico
• Lemonade
• Sweet tea
• Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks (like Limonata and Aranciata)
• Seltzer water (I like citrus flavors for this!)
• Ghia Original Apéritif (non-alcoholic)
• Hop Wtr

Show Me Your Whipped Ricotta Dips

I hope this post inspires you to make this whipped ricotta with hot honey. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the beautiful snacks & apps you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share! 

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.

Photos by my friends at Salt Worth Creative, who also shot The Cheese Board Deck.