Discover a quick and creamy Mediterranean Whipped Ricotta Dip with an added healthy twist- protein-packed cottage cheese. Perfect for snacking, appetizers, or parties! Whip it up in minutes!
Thank you to Pure Flavor® for sponsoring this blog post. All opinions are my own, as always.
The holiday season is right around the corner, and you know what that means – a calendar full of parties and festivities! One of my favorite tips for enjoying these events with our health goals in mind is to offer to bring a nourishing dish! That’s where this beautiful dip comes into play. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also lightened up with a few healthy twists.
Whipped cottage cheese is the secret ingredient that takes this dip to the next level. Its natural creaminess not only lightens up the dip but also adds a substantial boost of protein.
This easy whipped ricotta dip is elevated to a whole new level with the addition of Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes On-the-Vine. These tomatoes are not just a burst of sweet and tangy flavor; they also come with a host of nutritional benefits. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they make this dip not only a tasty treat but a nutritious one too.
Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes On-the-Vine are a source of vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system- a definite perk during the cold and flu season.
Maintaining your health goals during the holidays doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste!
Here are a few tips on how to enjoy holiday parties without straying too far from your health goals:
Plan Ahead: Before heading to a holiday gathering, have a small, balanced meal or snack to help curb your appetite. This can help prevent you from overeating when you arrive.
Portion Control: Choose smaller portions of your favorite dishes. This way, you can sample a variety without enjoying too much.
Hydrate: Drink plenty of water throughout the event to help control your appetite and stay hydrated.
Choose Wisely: Opt for healthier options when available, such as vegetables and lean proteins.
Mindful Eating: Savor each bite and engage in conversations to slow down your eating pace. This can help prevent overeating.
Share Desserts: Share desserts with a friend or family member to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Bring a Dish: With the best Mediterranean whipped ricotta dip in your recipe box, you can offer to bring a healthier dish to the holiday table, ensuring there’s at least one option that aligns with your nutritional goals.
What You’ll Need to Make Mediterranean Whipped Ricotta Dip with Tomatoes
Ingredients:
- Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes On-the-Vine– these cherry tomatoes are the star of the show- perfectly sweet and slightly tangy!
- Green olives
- Garlic cloves
- Thyme sprigs
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Whole milk ricotta cheese– don’t skimp on the fat here. This will help keep the dip light and creamy.
- Low-fat cottage cheese– this will add some protein to this simple whipped ricotta dip.
- Lemon juice- you can use fresh lemon juice if you have lemons on hand. I love keeping 100% lemon juice in my fridge to keep things easy.
- Za’atar seasoning– this is optional. If you’d like to add a little more flavor and you don’t have za’atar seasoning, you can leave it out or sub for ⅛ teaspoon of dried thyme and ⅛ tsp oregano.
How to Make Whipped Ricotta Dip
- Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place the cherry tomatoes, olives, sliced garlic, and thyme sprigs on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine.
- Roast until tomatoes are soft and begin to burst, about 10 minutes. Switch the oven to the broil setting and broil until tomatoes are blistered and charred, about 3 minutes. Keep an eye on the tomatoes throughout the broiling time to ensure they don’t burn. I like to set a timer in 1-minute increments, so I don’t accidently forget them.
- While the tomatoes roast, combine 1 cup of ricotta cheese, 1 cup of cottage cheese, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and ¼ teaspoon of za’atar seasoning (optional) in the bowl of a food processor or high-powered blender. Blend until smooth.
4. Spread mixture onto a large shallow serving plate and place in refrigerator to chill while the tomatoes finish cooking.
- Top the whipped ricotta with the warm roasted cherry tomatoes and olives. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve with crackers, veggies, and/ or toasted baguette slices.
Variations
This dip can be made so many different ways. I added cottage cheese to mine to amp up the protein, but you could also swap the cottage cheese for Greek yogurt. You can also mix up the ricotta with feta or goat cheese for a different flavor.
How to Serve
Top the whipped ricotta with the warm roasted cherry tomatoes and olives. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve with crackers, veggies, and/ or toasted baguette slices.
How else can I use whipped ricotta?
This easy whipped ricotta dip is the perfect appetizer! But it can also be used as a spread for sandwiches, topping for toast, or even as the base for roasted veggies and chickpeas. You can also use it as a dip for meat.
How to Store and Reheat (or Make Ahead)
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Serve chilled, straight from the fridge.
Can you make whipped ricotta in advance?
Absolutely! Make the whipped ricotta and the roasted tomatoes. Store each component separately and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, reheat the tomatoes in the microwave, then spoon over the chilled whipped ricotta.
FAQs:
What is whipped ricotta made of?
This whipped ricotta recipe has a healthy twist. It’s made with whole milk ricotta cheese blended with low-fat cottage cheese, lemon juice, and olive oil. The cottage cheese helps to boost the protein in the dip.
Why is my whipped ricotta grainy?
Over-whipping: Whipping ricotta for too long or at too high a speed can cause it to become grainy. For best results, blend for just 1-3 minutes or until combined.
Temperature: Using cold ricotta straight from the refrigerator can result in a grainy texture. Allow the ricotta to come to room temperature before whipping to achieve a smoother consistency.
Why is my whipped ricotta runny?
Aging: Ricotta cheese, especially homemade or artisanal varieties, can change in texture as it ages. Fresher ricotta tends to be creamier, while older ricotta may develop a grainier or runnier texture.
Moisture Content: Some ricottas contain more moisture than others, which can lead to a runny texture when whipped. If you find your ricotta is more liquid, strain it using cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer to remove excess moisture before whipping.
Mediterranean Whipped Ricotta Dip
Equipment
- food processor or high powered blender
Ingredients
Roasted Tomatoes
- 1 package of Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes On-the-Vine
- 1 cup green olives pitted
- 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 6 thyme sprigs*
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Whipped Ricotta Dip
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon za’atar seasoning optional*
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place the cherry tomatoes, olives, sliced garlic, and thyme sprigs on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine.
- Roast until tomatoes are soft and begin to burst about 10 minutes. Switch the oven to the broil setting and broil until tomatoes are blistered and charred, about 3 minutes. Keep an eye on the tomatoes throughout the broiling time to ensure they don’t burn. I like to set a timer in 1-minute increments, so I don’t accidentally forget them.
- While the tomatoes roast, combine 1 cup of ricotta cheese, 1 cup of cottage cheese, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and ¼ teaspoon of za’atar seasoning (optional) in the bowl of a food processor or high-powered blender. Blend until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Spread mixture onto a large shallow serving plate and place in refrigerator to chill while the tomatoes finish cooking.
- Top the whipped ricotta with the warm roasted cherry tomatoes and olives. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve with crackers, veggies, and/ or toasted baguette slices.
Notes
Other Recipes You’ll Love
2 Ingredient Smoked Cream Cheese
Air Fryer Sweetpotato Chips with Whipped Feta Greek Yogurt Dip
PIN IT
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
I’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to leave a comment and give it a star rating below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. I would love to hear about your experience making it too! If you snapped some shots, share them on Instagram and tag @chelsealeblancrdn so I can repost them in my stories!
