Hot Ricotta Cheese Dip

Cooking for a Crowd, Recipes, Small Plates & Snacks December 11, 2010

Photo: Leigh Loftus

I love spinach and artichoke dip but unless I know for a fact that everyone is going to dig in immediately I am not a fan of serving it at cocktail parties or gatherings.Even in all of its rich, cheesy, pretending-to-be-healthy-because-it-has-spinach glory, spinach-artichoke dip doesn’t hold very well for grazing. The cheese congeals and as soon as it cools to warm temperature, it loses a lot of its luster.

A ligher alternative to your favorite cheese-heavy appetizer or snack is light, fluffy ricotta dip baked with a touch of parmesan cheese to add a detectable sharpness flavored with fresh herbs. I chop the herbs in the bowl of a food processor to have them as finely chopped as possible.

Photo: Leigh Loftus

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Hot Ricotta Cheese Dip

Author: Adapted from Real Simple

Recipe type: Small Plates & Snacks, Cooking for a Crowd

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

2 15-ounce containers ricotta
¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan (2 ounces)
kosher salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Crackers or endive leaves for serving

Instructions

Heat broiler. In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, parsley, thyme, red pepper, ½ cup of the Parmesan, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
Transfer to a shallow, broilerproof 1-quart baking dish, drizzle with the oil, and sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of Parmesan. Broil until the top begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve warm with endive.

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Written by

Maris Callahan

Maris Callahan has been blogging about cooking, dining and entertaining since 2008. A public relations director by day, Maris is also a brand spokesperson, freelance writer and media relations expert with more than 10 years experience working with consumer brands. She lives in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood with her boyfriend Brad, chihuahua Henry and a very well-stocked pantry.