Whipped Ricotta: Creamy, Versatile, and Brilliant: The Basic Recipe You Need to Know
Food lovers, get ready to say goodbye to the usual desserts and savories, because today I’m revealing a trick that will open up a world of possibilities: whipped ricotta! Forget about cream, heavy creams, or elaborate sauces. Whipped ricotta is a brilliant idea, a base recipe that, with a few simple steps, turns into a cloud of creaminess, ready to be used for both sweet and savory preparations. Its light and airy texture, similar to a mousse, makes it the perfect alternative to whipped cream, but with the great advantage of being lighter, fresher, and with a delicate taste.
It perfectly demonstrates that you can achieve incredible results with simple ingredients and a bit of creativity. Whipped ricotta is the ideal solution for bringing something special to the table, without stress.
From Sweet to Savory: Ricotta, Queen of Versatility
The real secret to this recipe is whipping the ricotta while warm and then cooling it very well. To achieve a perfect consistency, it’s essential to use fresh and quality ricotta, whether sheep, buffalo, cow, or mixed. But what is it for, you may ask? The possibilities are endless! For sweet recipes, whipped ricotta can be used to fill cakes, as a topping for a light cheesecake, to accompany fresh fruit, or simply served in a cup with a drizzle of honey and chocolate chips. Its neutral and slightly sweet flavor makes it the perfect base.
For savory recipes, it becomes a delicious cream for dressing pasta, a filling for ravioli or cannelloni, or a base for tasty crostini. Imagine a plate of pasta with whipped ricotta instead of cream, enriched with seasonal vegetables and black pepper. A true explosion of flavor and lightness that you will fall in love with!
Below are other basic recipes used in cooking:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 131.53 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 10.52 (g) of which sugars 7.68 (g)
- Proteins 7.13 (g)
- Fat 6.54 (g) of which saturated 4.14 (g)of which unsaturated 2.07 (g)
- Fibers 0.13 (g)
- Sodium 348.55 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 120 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 8.8 oz ricotta (fresh)
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper (ground)
Tools
- Immersion Blender Moulinex DD4521 Easychef – 2-in-1 Immersion Blender with 800 ml Beaker and 500 ml Chopper Accessory, 2 Speeds, Easy to Clean, 450 W Power
- Saucepan Lagostina Gioiosa Deep Casserole in Stainless Steel 18/10 Ø 5.5 in, Induction, Gas and Oven Pot up to 482°F, External Gloss Finish and Internal Satin, with Bakelite Handle
Whipped Ricotta Steps
Pour the ricotta and its whey into a saucepan and place it over the heat. Stir well with a whisk and heat for about 5 minutes. Add powdered sugar and vanilla for a sweet version, or salt and pepper for a savory one. Immediately whip the hot ricotta with the immersion blender for 3 minutes; you will see it will take on a creamy and velvety consistency.
Cover with cling film in contact and refrigerate to cool, at least a couple of hours. You will see it will take on the consistency of whipped cream and you can use it as a substitute for the latter in your sweet or savory recipes.
Tips, Notes, Variations for Whipped Ricotta
Ideas for Using Whipped Ricotta (Instead of Cream!)
For sweets:
Topping: Use it to decorate cakes or cupcakes instead of classic whipped cream.
Filling: Fill cream puffs, cannoli, or tarts.
Summer cup: Serve it in a cup with fresh fruit, honey, and chopped pistachios.
For savory:
Pasta dressing: Dress the pasta with whipped ricotta, a drizzle of oil, pepper, and fresh parsley.
Crostini: Spread whipped ricotta on bread crostini and add cherry tomatoes, olives, or smoked salmon.
Filling: Use it as a base for ravioli, cannelloni, or savory pies, enriched with spinach or aromatic herbs.
