10 Ricotta Recipes for Using Up What's in the Fridge

Ten easy ways to scrape up the last few tablespoons in your fridge.

Updated August 16, 2019

Ricotta cheese is a staple of the Italian kitchen, but it deserves to be used in more places than lasagna. It’s an ingredient that can act as a counterweight to heavy doses of acid, salt, or other strong elements in a dish—so long as that element doesn’t clash with dairy. Ricotta is rarely at the center, and that’s fine. Whether it's store-bought or homemade, it does its best work supporting other flavors. But if you'd like to eat it by the spoonful, more power to you.

Roasted-Beet and Citrus Salad with Ricotta and Pistachio
J. Kenji López-Alt
A creamy ricotta is the perfect companion to the beets in this salad. Without the dairy to counter beets’ bolder notes, they would simply beet too strong. (Sorry!)
Get the recipe for Roasted-Beet and Citrus Salad with Ricotta and Pistachio
Fava Bean & Carrot Ricotta Salad
J. Kenji López-Alt
When you make this salad, make sure to blanch the fava beans still in their shell. This improves their flavor and color. We also recommend several thick slices of crusty bread.
Get the recipe for Fava Bean & Carrot Ricotta Salad
Avocado Toast with Ricotta, Olive Oil, Lemon Zest, and Basil
Vicky Wasik
Ricotta and avocado may seem like an unlikely pair at first, but worry not—there’s no goop on this toast. The avocado remains in thick slices, and the ricotta is drained so it doesn’t sog out the toast.
Get the recipe for Avocado Toast with Ricotta, Olive Oil, Lemon Zest, and Basil
Asparagus Tartine with Ricotta and Mint
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
Asparagus has a distinct, almost grassy flavor which really plays well against a base of ricotta on simple toast. This dish has very few ingredients, so you’ll want to use the best you can find.
Get the recipe for Asparagus Tartine with Ricotta and Mint
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Homemade Ricotta Ravioli
Niki Achitoff-Gray
Instead of an elaborate baking affair for your weekend project, try making homemade ravioli with fresh ricotta. Who doesn’t want to feel like an Italian nonna for an afternoon? And the effort is worth it: tender but firm pouches of pasta, filled with ricotta that's been cut with a little salty and nutty parm, a squeeze of bright lemon juice, and a hint of can't-quite-place-it nutmeg. All they need is a little drizzle of olive oil before serving.
Get the recipe for Homemade Ricotta Ravioli
Spinach & Ricotta Manicotti
J. Kenji López-Alt
Spinach and ricotta are as classic a combination as it gets. Our recipe has a few tricks: fresh manicotti sheets ensure a superior texture, and arugula is mixed with the spinach for extra grassy punch.
Get the recipe for Spinach & Ricotta Manicotti
Ricotta Gnocchi with Asparagus and Prosciutto
J. Kenji López-Alt
This is a great example of how ricotta pairs well with bolder flavors. Ricotta in the gnocchi creates the perfect, pillowy texture, and acts as a perfect canvas for the heavier flavors of the asparagus and prosciutto.
Get the recipe for Ricotta Gnocchi with Asparagus and Prosciutto
Cuccia (Sicilian Wheatberry and Ricotta Porridge)
Vicky Wasik
Cuccia is a sweet porridge made from wheatberries, similar to rice pudding, but with a creamier, thicker texture thanks to the addition of whipped ricotta. With a hint of vanilla and topped with cinnamon and chocolate shavings, it's just as good for breakfast as it is for dessert.
Get the recipe for Cuccia (Sicilian Wheatberry and Ricotta Porridge)
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Lacy Brown Butter and Ricotta Cookies
Vicky Wasik
As any experienced cook knows, accidents often lead to discovery, and the accident that led to this recipe may have been the happiest of all. After Stella Parks whiffed a riff on brown butter-flavored Italian ricotta cookies, she ended up developing these cookies, and they're about as easy to make as they are irresistible. (Say it with me: crispy edges, soft center.)
Get the recipe for Lacy Brown Butter and Ricotta Cookies
French Toast with Quick Blackberry Compote and Lemon Ricotta
J. Kenji López-Alt
Ricotta also works well as a topping. In this case, we mix it with lemon juice and spread it over French toast as a counterpoint to a sweet blackberry compote. It's a comforting way to bump up the quality of a brunch staple.
Get the recipe for French Toast with Quick Blackberry Compote and Lemon Ricotta

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10 Ricotta Recipes for Using Up What's in the Fridge

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