When it comes to quick and flavorful recipes worth sharing with a crowd, it seriously doesn’t get easier than this whipped ricotta dip recipe. All you need is a handful of ingredients, including ricotta, lemon, and honey, and you’re in business in a matter of minutes.
I’ve made a LOT of recipes over the years as a food blogger, and as someone with an Italian-immigrant grandmother, I have a particular fondness for recipes that use Italian ingredients. Now, unless you’re new here, you know that I don’t like promising you that a recipe will come together in “FIVE MINUTES OR LESS!!!” but with this one, it takes me longer to clean up than to make it. 🤣
Seriously, within minutes you’ll have a dip that’s ready for sharing, whether you’re dunking homemade crostini crackers into it or serving it with fresh chopped veggies. Heck, you can even use it to top easy bread flour pizza dough for a white pizza! Pair it with Italian cocktails like a classic Aperol spritz or homemade limoncello spritz and you’re all set for a cocktail hour that channels la dolce vita!
why this creamy ricotta dip recipe works:
🍋 fresh & flavorful. Lemon juice and lemon zest help brighten up the dimensional ricotta, while honey adds a gentle layer of sweetness.
⏱️ quick & easy. I’m more of a “it takes however long it takes” kinda cook, but there is no denying that this recipe is QUICK. Literally all you need to do is combine ingredients and blitz it in a food processor.
🎛️ customizable. This dip is super simple in flavor, allowing the ricotta to really shine, but you can easily adjust the flavor by adding your favorite herbs and spices!
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Place ricotta cheese in the bowl of a food processor.
2: Add the lemon zest and juice.
3: Drizzle in honey.
4: Add in the olive oil.
5: Blend the ricotta mixture for 1-2 minutes and scrape the bowl down.
6: Then pulse again until you see that the curds of ricotta have broken up and the dip is smooth.
7: Season with salt and pepper.
8: Place the dip into a bowl, then top with an extra drizzle of olive oil, honey, lemon zest, and flakey sea salt.
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
- to start a meal – serve this dip with some freshly toasted sourdough rounds and herbed mozzarella balls for an Italian-inspired appetizer spread! You can also top this dip with slow-roasted shallots for an extra pop of flavor!
- as a pizza sauce – I love using this whipped ricotta as a pizza sauce on fresh pizza dough! It works so well for the base of a white pizza, whether you’re making a deep dish pizza or smaller appetizer-sized mini pizzas!
- pair with cocktails or mocktails – this whipped ricotta partners perfectly with Italian lemon cocktails like a limoncello spritz or homemade limoncello liqueur! If you prefer to have a non-alcoholic drink, you can make a big batch of this sparkling Italian lemonade!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- thin or watery ricotta – if you are using FRESH ricotta, you might need to drain it for up to an hour in a mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a tea towel.
- grainy or gritty dip – keep blending your ricotta until it get smooth. You can also add in a bit more olive oil while it’s blending, in a slooooow drizzle until you see it start to smooth out. Don’t add too much oil or it will get too thinned out!
🔆 top tip
For ultra-creamy whipped ricotta, blend for the full 1-2 minutes. This longer processing time transforms those grainy curds into a silky-smooth dip. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl at least once during blending for even results.
♻️ customize your ricotta dip!
- herbs & spices – add fresh herbs like basil, thyme, or rosemary, or try red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- roasted garlic – blend in 2-3 cloves of roasted garlic to add deep garlic flavor!
- swap the citrus – substitute orange or lime zest and juice for the lemon for a different citrus flavor!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 how to store whipped ricotta
This dip is best enjoyed within 24 hours after making it, but you can store it! Store any leftover dip in an airtight storage container for 2-3 days.
💬 q+a
Why is my ricotta dip grainy or lumpy?
This usually happens when you don’t process the ricotta long enough. Make sure to blend for the full 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Using cold ricotta straight from the fridge can also make it harder to achieve a smooth texture, so set your cheese out for up to 30 minutes before blending.
Why does my ricotta dip taste bland?
If your dip lacks flavor, make sure you’re using enough salt and fresh lemon. The salt especially helps bring out the natural flavors of the ricotta. You can also try adding extra honey to deepen the taste.
Can I make this dip ahead of time?
Yup! You can make this dip up to 24 hours in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving, and give it a quick stir to refresh the texture. Don’t forget to top with a drizzle of honey and lemon zest!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
Whipped Ricotta Dip (Creamy Ricotta Dip with Honey and Lemon)
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Equipment
- 1 food processor
- 1 spatula
- 1 microplane grater
- 1 kitchen scale or other measuring tools
Ingredients
- 15 ounces ricotta whole milk
- 21 g honey 1 TBSP
- 19 g olive oil about 1.5 TBSP
- 5 g lemon juice freshly squeezed, about 1 tsp
- 2 g lemon zest 1 tsp, plus more for garnish
- 2 g salt 1/2 tsp
- pepper pinch, to taste
Instructions
- Put ricotta in food processor. Place 15 ounces of ricotta cheese in the bowl of a food processor.
- Zest lemon. Add the zest from one lemon, about 2 grams or 1 tsp total.
- Juice lemon. Squeeze the juice from half of the lemon into the food processor, to get a teaspoon of juice. It’s okay if you add a little more than 1 tsp.
- Add honey. Drizzle in 1 TBSP of honey.
- Season. Add the salt and pepper into the food processor.
- Add oil. Add in 1.5 tbsp of olive oil. This will help emulsify the dip!
- Purée. Run the food processor for 1-2 minutes, until you see that the curds of ricotta have broken up and the dip is smooth.
- Serve. Place the dip into a bowl, then top with an extra drizzle of honey, lemon zest, and flakey sea salt.
- Store. Store any leftover dip in the fridge for up to 48 hours in an airtight container.
Notes
Troubleshooting Tips
- thin or watery ricotta – if you are using FRESH ricotta, you might need to drain it for up to an hour in a mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a tea towel.
- grainy or gritty dip – keep blending your ricotta until it get smooth. You can also add in a bit more olive oil while it’s blending, in a slooooow drizzle until you see it start to smooth out. Don’t add too much oil or it will get too thinned out!
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
This dip is creamy, light, and so easy to make. I served it with home baked pita chips and veggies, and it was a hit! The drizzle of honey and lemon zest is a must!!! Perfect dip for any gathering, I’m definitely making this again!
I’m so glad you loved this dip, Marnie! Sounds like you had the perfect spread! 😉 Thanks for your review!