Go Back
Herbed ricotta dip with a cutting board covered with carrots, radishes, fava beans
Print Recipe
5 / 4 votes

Herbed Ricotta Dip with Spring Vegetables

Herbed ricotta dip with spring vegetables is easy as can be to make with just a few ingredients, including garlic, chives, parsley, mint, and lemon zest. And it's inspired at least one 5-year-old to eat an entire bag of carrots in a single sitting. Just ask his mom.
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Calories: 297

Ingredients

For the herbed ricotta dip

  • 1 pound absolute best-quality fresh ricotta*, (the caliber of this single ingredient will make or break your dip)
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed or grated
  • 1 tablespoon snipped chives
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint leaves
  • 1 lemon, both the grated zest and a good squeeze of lemon
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the dippers (a few suggestions, although anything will work!)

  • Raw sugar snap peas, topped and tailed
  • Raw favas, peeled
  • Radishes, whether French breakfast or otherwise, scrubbed
  • Baby carrots, scrubbed
  • Cherry tomatoes, in any hue
  • Black olives
  • 1 loaf artisanal bread, such as ciabatta, thinly sliced and, if desired, toasted
US - Metric

Instructions

Make the herbed ricotta dip

  • In a bowl, use a fork or the back of a wooden spoon to mash together all of the ingredients. Taste and adjust the seasonings accordingly. Cover and refrigerate just long enough to chill the dip and allow the flavors to meld and no more than a few hours.

Prepare the dippers

  • Arrange the vegetables on a cutting board, platter, or individual plates. Cover and refrigerate for up to several hours.

Serve the dip and dippers

  • Allow the dip to sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour prior to serving. Set it out alongside the vegetables. And then just sit back and accept accolades.

Notes

*Where To Find Fresh Ricotta

Truly fresh ricotta can sometimes be a little tricky to find but trust us, it’s worth seeking out for this—or any–recipe. You’ll find it at Italian delis, most cheese shops, and some specialty grocery stores. The stuff sold in tubs in the supermarket just doesn’t compare to tangy, sweet-smelling, ever-so-slightly crumbly fresh ricotta.

Nutrition

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g