Whipped Ricotta Crostini with Walnuts & Salted Honey: A Perfectly Balanced Appetizer
When it comes to appetizers, there’s nothing quite like the combination of creamy, rich ricotta, crunchy toasted walnuts, and a drizzle of salted honey. This Whipped Ricotta Crostini with Walnuts & Salted Honey is a delightful, elegant dish that will quickly become a favorite at any gathering. The blend of textures and flavors in each bite—smooth ricotta, crispy crostini, crunchy nuts, and the sweet-salty contrast of honey—offers a sophisticated yet simple dish that’s sure to impress guests and satisfy your taste buds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 35 Crostini 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 pound whole milk ricotta: Ricotta cheese is the heart of this dish. Its creamy, soft texture makes it perfect for whipping into a smooth spread. By using whole milk ricotta, you get a rich, indulgent flavor that is the perfect base for this recipe. Make sure to strain the ricotta to remove any excess moisture, which will help achieve the creamy consistency that’s crucial for the whipped ricotta.
- Zest of ½ to 1 lemon: Lemon zest is added to brighten up the creamy ricotta. Its fresh, zesty flavor cuts through the richness of the cheese and adds a citrusy punch that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
- Kosher salt (about 1 teaspoon): Salt is essential for balancing the flavors in the whipped ricotta and enhancing the natural creaminess of the cheese. You can adjust the amount to your preference, but kosher salt is recommended for its ability to dissolve easily and evenly distribute throughout the ricotta.
- 1 baguette (or focaccia): The base for your crostini, the bread is toasted to a golden crisp, providing the perfect vessel for the whipped ricotta. A baguette offers a crunchy texture and a mild flavor that doesn’t compete with the toppings, while focaccia would add a slightly thicker, more flavorful base with a soft interior.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil: Olive oil is used to brush onto the bread slices before toasting. It helps the crostini crisp up in the oven, while adding a subtle depth of flavor that complements the ricotta and honey.
- ½ cup walnuts (chopped): Toasted walnuts provide a satisfying crunch and a slightly earthy flavor. They add a rich, nutty taste that contrasts beautifully with the smooth ricotta and the sweet honey.
- ¼ cup honey: Honey adds a sweet note to the crostini, but the magic happens when it’s drizzled over the whipped ricotta. The sweetness of the honey balances the richness of the cheese and the earthiness of the walnuts. A drizzle of honey also gives a luxurious finishing touch to the dish.
- 3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme: Fresh thyme adds a subtle herbal flavor that complements the other ingredients. Its delicate, savory notes provide depth and enhance the overall balance of flavors.
- Flaky finishing salt: A sprinkle of flaky sea salt at the end is the finishing touch that brings everything together. It adds a final burst of flavor, enhancing the sweetness of the honey and the richness of the ricotta.
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (205°C). This temperature is ideal for toasting the crostini until they’re golden and crispy. The hot oven will help the bread become perfectly crunchy while also allowing the olive oil to infuse the bread with flavor.
Step 2: Make the whipped ricotta
To create the smooth and creamy whipped ricotta, add the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, and kosher salt into a food processor. Process the mixture on high speed for about 1 minute, or until it becomes smooth and creamy. The goal here is to create a light, airy texture that’s easy to pipe onto the crostini. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use an electric hand mixer to whip the ricotta. Once the ricotta is ready, transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a petal decorating tip, if you have one. The piping bag will allow you to elegantly pipe the whipped ricotta onto each crostini, but you can also simply spread it with a knife if you don’t have a piping bag. Refrigerate the whipped ricotta until you’re ready to assemble the crostini.
Step 3: Prepare the baguette slices
Slice the baguette into bite-sized rounds, making sure they’re all roughly the same size for even toasting. Lay the slices out on a baking sheet and use a pastry brush to lightly brush each slice with olive oil. The olive oil helps the crostini achieve a golden, crispy texture. Toast the baguette slices in the preheated oven for about 7 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the bread is crisp. Keep an eye on them to prevent over-browning, as oven temperatures can vary.
Step 4: Toast the walnuts
While the crostini are toasting, toast the walnuts. Place them on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until they’re golden and aromatic. The walnuts will release their oils and become even more flavorful once toasted, giving the crostini a deeper, nuttier taste.
Step 5: Assemble the crostini
Once the crostini and walnuts are ready, it’s time to assemble the dish. Pipe or spread a generous portion of the whipped ricotta onto each crostini. The creamy ricotta should cover the entire surface of the bread, creating a soft, flavorful base for the toppings. Next, sprinkle the toasted walnuts on top of the ricotta, followed by a few fresh thyme leaves. The thyme adds a fragrant, herbaceous note that enhances the flavor profile of the crostini. Finally, drizzle a little honey over each crostini. The honey will slowly run over the ricotta, adding a touch of sweetness that’s beautifully contrasted by the richness of the cheese and the crunch of the walnuts.
Step 6: Finish with flaky sea salt
The final touch is a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. This adds a burst of savory flavor that elevates the entire dish. The salt balances the sweetness of the honey and enhances the creaminess of the ricotta, making each bite more complex and satisfying.
Step 7: Serve and enjoy
Serve the crostini immediately after assembling. The toasted bread is best enjoyed while it’s still warm and crispy, and the combination of whipped ricotta, toasted walnuts, and honey creates a harmonious balance of flavors and textures that’s sure to delight.
Notes
- Ingredient substitutions: If you don’t have walnuts, you can easily substitute them with other nuts such as pecans or hazelnuts. For a slightly different flavor, try using a drizzle of balsamic glaze instead of honey, or top the crostini with caramelized onions for an added depth of flavor.
- Make it vegetarian: This dish is already vegetarian, but you can make it even heartier by adding roasted vegetables such as zucchini or bell peppers on top of the ricotta.
- Serving suggestions: These crostini make an excellent appetizer or light snack. Serve them alongside a fresh green salad or a charcuterie board for a more substantial spread. Pair them with a glass of white wine, such as a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, for a perfect match.