This Whipped Ricotta Dip is ultra-smooth, bright with lemon, and packed with fresh herbs. And this version blends in tangy goat cheese for even deeper flavor and creamy texture.
As a former personal chef trained in French technique, I’ve learned that texture is everything when it comes to creamy dips. Many whipped ricotta recipes end up little grainy. This version adds some goat cheese, which helps with the texture but also adds flavor.
Fresh herbs, lemon zest, and a touch of garlic keep everything vibrant and fresh. You end up with a dip that’s light, scoopable, and perfect for entertaining.
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Why You'll Love This Whipped Ricotta Cheese Dip
- Ultra-smooth texture: Blending ricotta and adding goat cheese creates a silky spread.
- Ready in 5 minutes: Add everything to a food processor and let it do the work. Such an easy appetizer!
- So versatile: Serve with pita chips, crostini, crudité, or dollop on roasted vegetables.
🥗 Ingredients
- Ricotta cheese: Whole milk ricotta will give you the creamiest texture.
- Goat cheese: The plain version is perfect, though you could add even more flavor by choosing a goat cheese with herbs or honey already in it.
- Lemon zest and juice: Using a fresh lemon really makes a difference in flavor!
- Fresh herbs: I love dill and thyme in this dip, but you could also try fresh basil, chives, or another favorite herb. You can replace with dried herbs, though you’ll lose a little of the freshness of this dip.
🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Zest lemon until you have 1 teaspoon. Peel and grate 1 garlic clove. Chop 1 tablespoon fresh dill and 2 teaspoons fresh thyme.
2. Add 15 ounces ricotta cheese, 2 ounces goat cheese, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, herbs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to a food processor.
3. Blend until completely smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
4. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper, as desired. Scrape into a serving bowl and top with additional lemon zest and chopped dill.
Storage Tips
Store this creamy whipped ricotta dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir well before serving.
🧐 Recipe FAQs for Whipped Ricotta Cheese Dip
Yes, this dip is great for make-ahead because that gives the flavors some time to meld. Make it an hour before or up to several days in advance, but wait to garnish the top until you are ready to serve. Store in the refrigerator.
You can, but goat cheese helps with both flavor and texture. If you skip it, you may want to add more lemon juice for flavor.
Yes, you can. Try it in a blender, in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer. Or, you can whip it by hand, but the texture won’t be quite the same.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
Let the goat cheese come to room temperature, so it is easier to blend.
If your ricotta looks wet, you may want to drain it before blending. Just pour it into a fine mesh sieve over a bowl, and let it drain for 20 minutes or so.
If you have time, refrigerate the whipped ricotta for 30–60 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Now that you’ve made this recipe, it’s time to serve. Try drizzling a little olive oil on top, along with more fresh herbs and some flaky sea salt. This dip is also a great base for other flavors. In the summer, my favorite way to serve this is to roast some cherry tomatoes to spoon over the top.
In the fall, try using it to top roasted squash or sweet potatoes, then adding a drizzle of honey or hot honey. You can use this ricotta dip as a spread for crostini, baguette slices, or flatbread, or dollop it into a vegetable tart. It’s also lovely paired with smoked salmon and capers.
More Delicious Dip Recipes
Dips are one of my favorite appetizers, as they are total crowd-pleasers but are so easy to make! Besides this whipped ricotta recipe, here are some of my favorites:
If you try this whipped ricotta cheese recipe, I would love to hear from you! Please rate this easy recipe and leave a comment below—your feedback is invaluable to me.
And please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter. I’d love to inspire you with more delicious, healthy, and seasonal recipes!
📖 Recipe
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Whipped Ricotta Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 ounces goat cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest plus more for garnish
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove grated
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill plus more for garnish
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to food processor, reserving some lemon zest and dill for garnish.
- Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary.
- Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper, as desired.
- Scrape into a serving bowl and garnish with lemon zest and dill.
- Serve with pita chips or your favorite dip delivery device.
Notes
Nutrition
Instagram Users: Now that you've made this whipped ricotta dip recipe, tag me @vanillabeancuisine or #vanillabeancuisine because I’d love to see your results!
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you'll find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love!
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