This recipe for baked ricotta cheese is incredibly easy and is delicious spread on a baguette. Serve alone or with olives and/or salami on the side.
Baked Ricotta Recipe serves two
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh herb - parsley, thyme and basil are all tasty
- pinch of salt, or more to taste
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Preparation:
*Drain water off ricotta if needed. Preheat oven to 425. Mix the fresh herb and salt into the ricotta. Fill a small baking dish with the ricotta. Drizzle the olive oil on top. Bake for twenty minutes. If the top doesn't brown, finish the dish by placing it under a broiler for a few minutes so it's browned and bubbly.
*Handmade ricotta sold in some cheese shops is richer and has less moisture. However, most ricotta sold in grocery stores has a fair amount of water in it. So that the ricotta will become slightly firm when baked, it's best to drain some of this water off. The most efficient way to do this is to wrap the ricotta in cheese cloth and let it drain over a bowl for several hours. If you don't have cheese cloth, stick a coffee filter in the mouth of a jar. Secure the filter in place by folding the top over the rim of the jar and placing a rubber band around rim. Fill the coffee filter with ricotta and let drain for 1-2 hours. Usually at least a tablespoon of liquid will drain out.
