Whipped Ricotta with Roasted Sweet Cherries
The perfect appetizer for summer– whipped ricotta with roasted Northwest sweet cherries! A sweet and savory snack, side dish or small plate for entertaining. Serve as a dip, spread or crostini appetizer.
If you are looking for an easy appetizer for summer–this sweet and savory combination of whipped ricotta and juicy roasted sweet cherries is it!
An unexpected pairing that’s delightful as a dip or served with crusty bread for a crostini. I’m using in-season Northwest sweet cherries for this recipe. You can find them in local grocery stores from now until mid-August.
I highly recommend stocking up and grabbing a few bags– enjoy as many as you can fresh, then freeze for enjoyment all year long.
Ingredients You’ll Need.
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this one:
- Ricotta Cheese
- Fresh Northwest sweet cherries
- Basil leaves
- Honey
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Fresh black pepper
How to Make Roasted Cherries
The star of this appetizer is the roasted Northwest sweet cherries. Once you try this, you’ll want to spoon these roasted cherries on everything! From yogurt to oatmeal to warm grain salads.
Roasting any fruit at a high temperature concentrates the sugars and, therefore, the flavor.
For the roasted sweet cherries, toss together the pitted cherries with olive oil, salt, balsamic vinegar, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. I know it sounds odd to pair black pepper with cherries, but the combination is so good together!
Cook at a high heat of 450 degrees, then remove and let cool slightly. Be warned– you’ll probably want to eat the roasted cherries right off the sheet pan!
How to Make Whipped Ricotta
The whipped ricotta is as easy as it sounds– place in a food processor (affiliate) or blender (affiliate), then puree until very creamy and smooth. You can also use feta cheese or cottage cheese in place of the ricotta. You’ll whip the same way that you do the ricotta; add to a food processor, then puree until creamy.
For my dairy-free friends, you can find whipped vegan ricotta in the grocery store. Or, there are several whipped vegan ricotta recipes online.
Assembling the Whipped Ricotta with Roasted Cherries
Roast the Sweet Cherries
Roast the cherries until juicy and tender, let cool.
Whip the ricotta
Whip ricotta until fluffy, then spoon into a serving bowl or spread on a plate.
Top with the roasted cherries
Spoon the roasted Northwest sweet cherries and their juices on top, then garnish with freshly torn basil leaves and a drizzle of honey. Add more freshly ground black pepper, as desired.
Serve
Enjoy as a spread with crackers or with toasted baguette slices for a dip. You can also make whipped ricotta toast by placing the whipped ricotta and juicy sweet cherries on a thick slice of toasted bread. This makes for an awesome breakfast!
Serving Recommendations
I recommend using whole milk ricotta cheese for the best flavor and texture. For an extra decadent appetizer, try drizzling extra-virgin olive oil on top.
To brighten up the ricotta flavor, it’s also great with a little fresh lemon juice and lemon zest whipped into the ricotta.
I highly recommend using fresh basil as I think it pairs best with roasted sweet cherries. But you can also forgo the fresh herbs together or swap in torn mint leaves.
How to Store Leftovers
This whipped ricotta recipe with roasted cherries tastes best as soon as it’s made. If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
The color of the whipped ricotta dip may alter with the cherry juice after storing it, but the flavor will still taste OK.
Health Benefits of Sweet Cherries
There is so much to love about cherries. One serving of Northwest sweet cherries provides 12% of your daily recommended fiber intake, along with potassium and vitamin C. You all know how I feel about fiber– and wish we all were eating more of it. Just two cups of fruit daily can contribute to healthy weight maintenance, diabetes prevention and improved cardiovascular health.
The vitamin C content along with polyphenols, may help contribute to the ‘cherry glow’– skin benefits that come from consuming a diet rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. These powerful antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties and are supportive of reducing oxidative stress while reducing free radical damage to the skin.
Consuming sweet cherries may also help with better sleep! As one of the few plant sources of melatonin, sweet cherries are a natural and flavorful aid in improving sleep quality. Eating cherries about an hour before bedtime may help stabilize and regulate sleep patterns.
More Sweet Cherry Recipes:
- Sweet Cherry Lime Popsicles
- Vegan Cherry Cobbler
- Sweet Cherry and Farro Salad
- Cherry Caprese Pasta Salad
- Peach, Cherry and Halloumi Salad
If you try this whipped ricotta recipe with roasted cherries, make sure to come back to leave a rating and a review! Your feedback helps other readers and seeing you make my recipes, makes my day!
Whipped Ricotta with Roasted Sweet Cherries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15 ounce container ricotta cheese
- French baguette, or other good quality bread, sliced and toasted.
- 1/2 cup fresh torn basil leaves
- Honey, for topping
Roasted Cherries
- 4 cups pitted and halved Northwest sweet cherries
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degres F.
- Toss the sweet cherries with the olive oil, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool.
- While the cherries are roasting, make the whipped ricotta. Place the ricotta in a food processor and puree for 2-3 minutes until very creamy in texture.
- Spread the whipped ricotta in a bowl or platter. Top with roasted cherries, torn basil leaves and honey, for drizzle.
Nutrition
This post is sponsored by Northwest Sweet Cherries. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Delish Knowledge.