Baked Ricotta

Baked Ricotta is a simple and versatile dish that can be used both as an appetizer and as an ingredient in other recipes. Here is the basic recipe for preparing baked ricotta:

Ingredients

• 500 g of fresh ricotta
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste (optional)
• Aromatic herbs of your choice (such as rosemary, thyme, oregano)
• Extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Prepare the ricotta by draining it well, to remove excess whey. You can do this by placing the ricotta in a colander with a weight on top and leaving it in the refrigerator for a few hours.
3. Transfer the drained ricotta to a bowl and season it with a pinch of salt and, if desired, some ground pepper.
4. Add chopped aromatic herbs to taste and mix gently to distribute the flavors.
5. Grease a baking dish or oven tray with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
6. Place the seasoned ricotta in the baking dish and press it down lightly to give it a compact shape.
7. Drizzle the surface with another stream of extra virgin olive oil.
8. Bake the ricotta and cook it for about 20-30 minutes, until the surface is golden and slightly crisp.
9. Remove the ricotta from the oven and let it cool down.

Once cooked, the baked ricotta can be served either warm or at room temperature. It’s perfect for spreading on crostini or as a filling or topping for baked pasta, lasagna, and savory pies. You can enrich it by adding other ingredients before cooking, such as olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, or spices to taste.

Curiosity

In some Italian regions, baked ricotta is enriched with sugar, cinnamon, and grated lemon, becoming a delicious simple dessert or a base for tartlets and more elaborate sweets.