Spring Whipped Ricotta Dip with Honey & Pistachios

Make this Spring Whipped Ricotta Dip when you want a quick, fresh and delightful appetizer.

Creamy ricotta is topped with crunchy pistachios, a touch of honey, fresh basil and bright lemon zest for a packed bite of flavour.

This quick whipped ricotta dip is definitely a crowd pleaser you’ll want to serve again and again!

While I love my holiday-inspired whipped ricotta dip with hot honey, this Spring whipped feta is the easiest appetizer for warmer days!

If you want to make a delicious appetizer with fresh flavours this is the dip for you!

why you’ll love this whipped ricotta recipe

• It’s a delicious dip you can make in just 10 mnutes!
• All you need are a couple of simple ingredients to make this easy whipped ricotta dip
• This dip is made for easy dipping with crostini, crackers or even warm bread like focaccia!
• It’s a light appetizer for the Spring season that’s sure to delight any dinner party guest.

ingredients needed to make this dip

Fresh ricotta cheese: all you need is store-bought ricotta but make sure it’s whole milk ricotta cheese; a local grocery store generally carries ricotta

Lemon: this recipe uses the zest AND fresh lemon juice from a lemon for a nice bright punch of flavour

Seasonings: salt and a pinch of black pepper is all you need for seasonings in the whipped ricotta

Olive oil: use 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to help make this a super creamy dip which whipped in the food processor

Honey: a nice drizzle of honey on top of this whipped ricotta dip adds a lovely touch of sweetness

Pistachios: crunchy, salty pistachios add a lovely salty crunch to this recipe

Fresh herbs: a couple tablespoons of minced fresh basil adds a nice pop of freshness to round out the flavours of this dip

how to make this spring whipped ricotta dip

Step 1: In a food processor add the ricotta, lemon juice, lemon zest from half a lemon, salt, pepper and olive oil.  Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy texture, about 1-2 minutes. Spread the whipped ricotta in a shallow serving bowl and set aside.

Step 2:  Drizzle the honey over the whipped ricotta and then top with chopped pistachios, minced basil and zest from the rest of the lemon.

Step 3: Serve with crackers, toasted baguette bread or pita chips and enjoy!

expert tips to make this creamy whipped ricotta dip

• You can make the whipped ricotta ahead of time and store in the fridge without the toppings in an airtight container for up to 1 day. When ready to serve, remove the Spring whipped ricotta dip from the fridge, give it a good stir, top with the toppings and serve immediately.
• Make sure to use fresh basil to top this appetizer; I do not suggest substituting with dried basil as it does not give a pop of freshness like fresh basil will
• Mix things up and serve as crostini instead of a dip! Make the whipped ricotta mixture and spread on individual crostini. Then, drizzle each crostini with the honey, chopped pistachios and minced basil. Finally add some lemon zest on top of all of the crostini.
• Make your own crostini: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush the baguette slices with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until toasted. Set aside.
• If you don’t use salted pistachios make sure to add a dash of flaky sea salt on top of the dip.

common questions

Do I have to use a food processor to whip the ricotta?
I’ve tested this recipe with a food processor but you can also use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer with the whisk attachment. Note, you may need to whip the ricotta a minute or two longer compared to using a food processor to make sure you get a smooth texture. It will however turn out just as delicious but it may need a bit more time to become creamy!

Can I use another type of nut instead of pistachios?
If you don’t want to use pistachios try another satled nut like chopped almonds, cashews or walnuts. Alternatively, if there is a nut allergy you could try a bit of granola as a topping to add some crunch – the dip will still be extremely delicious!

Can I make this gluten free?
Easily make this gluten-free by serving this whipped ricotta appetizer with a favourite gluten-free cracker or make crostini with a gluten-free baguette.

storage

This whipped ricotta dip is best enjoyed on the day it’s made. However, if have leftovers store the whipped ricotta in an airtight container for 1 day When ready to enjoy give the whipped ricotta a stir, add a bit more fresh basil on top and then enjoy with your favorite crackers, crostini or even with fresh focaccia bread!

more easy appetizer recipes to love from the blog

The Best Green Goddess Whipped Feta Dip Appetizer

Quick Whipped Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey Appetizer

Strawberry Basil Goat Cheese Dip