Whipped Ricotta Dip is a creamy, light, elegant appetizer recipe that is a sure crowd pleaser and takes only minutes to make. Keep it savory by adding fresh herbs or add your favorite low-carb honey or sugar-free maple syrup for a sweet version. It’s so delicious and it's made with just a few ingredients. This is bound to be your new go-to appetizer!
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Whipped ricotta cheese dip is most likely the easiest appetizer recipe ever. It’s a simple make-ahead recipe for parties or for healthy weekday snacks.
The cheese is whipped together with lemon, olive oil and salt until silky smooth, then adorned with toppings of choice. It’s a phenomenal flavor combination that is so simple and so, so good.
This recipe is very versatile and is suitable for all types of gatherings as a cheese dip for chips or as a savory veggie dip, like Homemade Guacamole. It’s also high on my list of holiday or Christmas appetizers, like this Blue Cheese Dip. And, it’s so good people will think you must have spent hours prepping.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Fast and easy – making a whipped ricotta appetizer takes just 5 minutes. It’s quick and easy meal prep for healthy snacking or simple party prep.
- Minimal ingredients – this dip recipe takes only 4 basic ingredients. Be sure to see my Variations for more tasty options.
- Crowd pleaser – impress your party guests or take this to your next potluck or picinic – I promise it won’t last long!
- Special diet friendly – this is naturally low-carb keto friendly and makes a great low-FODMAP dip in small servings
Ingredients
- Ricotta cheese – full-fat, whole milk ricotta makes the smoothest, creamiest dip
- Olive oil – adds savoriness and silkiness to the cheese
- Lemon juice – a little acid and pop of citrus are a perfect contrast to the fats in the cheese and oil
- Salt – brings the flavors together
- Toppings of choice – to garnish, I love to drizzle a little sugar-free maple syrup or sugar-free honey, then add fresh herbs like thyme, dill, chives or savory, fresh cracked pepper and flake salt. See below for more garnish ideas under Variations.
What is ricotta?
Ricotta is a fresh Italian cheese made from whey that is leftover from other cheese making processes. It’s very versatile and can be used in sweet or savory dishes. Traditional ricotta has a rich milky flavor, is slightly sweet, moist and has a light, airy texture.
Is ricotta low-FODMAP?
Ricotta cheese can be part of a low-FODMAP diet in small quantities. It has a moderate amount of lactose and is considered low-FODMAP in servings up to 2 tablespoons, or about 40g.
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a food processor.
Process until smooth and silky, about 45-60 seconds.
Expert tips
- If you don't have a food processor, you can whip using a hand mixer or blender
- Some olive oils can develop a bitter taste when blended for more than a few seconds. As an option to mitigate 'damaging' the olive oil, add all of the ingredients except the olive oil and process until smooth. Add the olive oil and process for another 5 seconds, until it's thoroughly incorporated.
How to serve
This recipe makes an impressive party dip, but you can use it many other ways.
- As a cheese dip – ricotta dip recipes make a perfect party appetizer. Serve with sliced bell peppers, endive, cucumber slices and your favorite veggies. It can also make a great cheese dip for chips.
- Whipped ricotta crostini – toast up your favorite baguette slices and spread on top
- Caprese salad – replace the burrata in this Burrata Caprese with dollops of whipped ricotta
- Eggs – add some to scrambled eggs, or use as an omelet filling – yum!
- Pizza topping – put a dollop on your favorite pizza made with a low-carb Pizza Crust
- Whipped ricotta toast – use as a spread on your favorite toasted bread or replace the avocado in this Avocado Toast with Tomato recipe
How to Store
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If any liquid separation happens, simply stir it in and serve.
Variations
- Add garlic – fresh garlic or use garlic infused olive oil
- Add truffles or truffle oil – mix in shaved truffles, replace the olive oil with truffle oil or replace the salt with truffle salt
- Make it spicy – blend in horseradish, cayenne or pepperoncini, or top with a pinch of red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper. Read more about Aleppo pepper in my Aleppo Pepper Ingredient Spotlight.
- Adorn with fancy toppings – sumac adds a beautiful color and tangy citrus flavor. Edible flowers or rose petals are a beautiful touch.
- Toasted nuts – toasted pecans, Homemade Candied Pecans, or pine nuts are sensational
FAQ
Yes, ricotta is low in carbs and you can enjoy it on a keto diet. A ¼ cup serving contains only about 2g net carbs. Opt for the full-fat variety and enjoy!
It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and creamy, thick texture, making it a great option for sweet or savory dishes.
Once opened, it will stay good in the refrigerator for about 7 days. Freezing affects the texture and flavor of ricotta, so eat it fresh if you can.
Ricotta is a relatively low lactose cheese, but is not lactose free. It contains 1-5% lactose, which is higher than hard cheeses, but lower than most cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know how you liked it by giving a star rating and leaving a comment!
📖 Recipe
Whipped Ricotta Dip
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about the juice of 1 lemon)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons toppings of choice (to garnish - see Notes)
- 2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup (or sugar-free honey to garnish)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor (see Notes for Expert Tips).
- Blend until smooth and silky, about 45-60 seconds.
- Place in a serving bowl, drizzle with sugar-free honey or maple syrup, add toppings to garnish, and serve.
Notes
Expert tips
- If you don't have a food processor, you can whip using a hand mixer or blender
- Some olive oils can develop a bitter taste when blended for more than a few seconds. As an option to mitigate 'damaging' the olive oil, add all of the ingredients except the olive oil and process until smooth. Add the olive oil and process for another 5 seconds, until it's thoroughly incorporated.
Variations and optional toppings
- Add garlic – fresh garlic or use garlic infused olive oil
- Add truffles or truffle oil – mix in shaved truffles, replace the olive oil with truffle oil or replace the salt with truffle salt
- Make it spicy – blend in horseradish, cayenne or pepperoncini or top with a pinch of red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper
- Adorn with fancy toppings – sumac adds a beautiful color and tangy citrus flavor. Edible flowers or rose petals are a beautiful touch.
- Toasted nuts – toasted pecans, Homemade Candied Pecans, or pine nuts are sensational
How to store
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If any liquid separation happens, simply stir it in and serve.Nutrition
*Net carbs = carbohydrates - fiber
Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.
jimp says
What the heck is sugar free maple syrup?
Tracey Hatch-Rizzi says
Hi Jimp,
Sugar-free maple syrup is pretty amazing stuff. I'm not sure what happened to the links in my post and recipe card, but I'm putting them back in! I love the Choc Zero maple syrup and their sugar-free honey as well. They're made with monk fruit as the sweetener. There are other brands that make the syrups as well, typically sweetened with erythritol. I highly recommend trying them to see which one you like best. Check the post and recipe card for the links because I couldn't link to them here in the comments section. They might just become your new favorite thing!
Take care,
Tracey