Mediterranean Ricotta Board (Printable version)
Creamy ricotta topped with Mediterranean vegetables, fresh herbs, and olive oil on a beautiful serving board.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dairy
01 - 1 1/2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
→ Vegetables & Fruits
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1/2 cup seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
04 - 1/3 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
05 - 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
06 - 1/4 cup artichoke hearts, quartered
07 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Bread & Crackers
08 - 1 baguette or 12-16 crostini, toasted
→ Herbs & Garnishes
09 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
11 - 1 tbsp fresh oregano or thyme leaves
12 - Zest of 1 lemon
13 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
14 - Flaky sea salt, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Spread the ricotta cheese evenly over a large serving board or platter, creating decorative swirls with the back of a spoon for visual appeal.
02 - Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, roasted red peppers, olives, artichoke hearts, and red onion around and over the ricotta in sections or an artistic decorative pattern.
03 - Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil generously over the ricotta and arranged vegetables.
04 - Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil, oregano or thyme, lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper, and flaky sea salt to finish.
05 - Serve immediately with toasted baguette slices or crostini on the side for scooping and spreading.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- Zero cooking required but tastes like you spent hours preparing something special
- Everyone can customize their own perfect bite combination
02 -
- Let the ricotta come to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving, cold ricotta loses its subtle sweetness and creamy mouthfeel
- The board needs to be assembled within 30 minutes of serving or the vegetables start to weep and the herbs wilt
03 -
- Drizzle balsamic glaze in thin lines across the ricotta just before serving for a stunning visual effect and flavor pop
- Toast the bread until it's quite golden so it stays crisp longer against the creamy vegetables