Ricotta is one of those dream ingredients that makes your food taste so much better. It's no wonder the Italians add it to so many of their famous dishes. It enriches pasta sauce making it taste creamy and delicious. Ricotta is also wonderful to bake with. It makes cakes and cookies light and fluffy, and adds a slight tangy flavor. Once you try a traditional Italian ricotta cheesecake, there's no going back. It's the secret ingredient you need to have in your fridge. It even makes a perfect quick snack - ricotta on toast, anyone? Here are creamy ricotta recipes that will convince you of its magnificence.
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Baked Ziti with Sausage
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Rave Review: "I used extra ricotta because the family loves it. This is my new favorite!!! Yum =)" — amberln
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Stuffed Shells
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Rave Review: "Just perfect. So simple and basic, yet so delicious!!!" — CLS1220
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Chef John's Turkey Manicotti
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Rave Review: "Made this manicotti tonight and it was delish and so easy!"— SHRIEKINGVIOLET
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Chef John's Ricotta Meatballs
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Rave Review: "Wonderfully delicious, moist, melt-in-your-mouth meatballs." — Sherri
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Spinach Mushroom and Ricotta Fettuccine
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Rave Review: "I made this tonight , adding garlic, onion and Italian spice. Everyone loved it." — Linda Gibbs
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Italian Cream Cheese and Ricotta Cheesecake
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Rave Review: "Easily the BEST cheesecake I've ever eaten! And with no crust to distract from the creamy "cheese" taste...yum!" — KatMac
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Italian Cheesecake Cookies
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Rave Review: "Love this!! So light, fluffy, and moist!"— Amy
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Blueberry Ricotta Squares
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Rave Review: "This is a keeper!! Fast and so simple. Wonderful and not too sweet. My guests loved it. I will absolutely make it again." — JOAN431
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Cannoli
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Rave Review: "These are amazing. Super easy to make but very time consuming. But, so very worth it!!!" — Rachel Poplaski
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Ricotta Cheese Cookies
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Rave Review: "These cookies are great...wonderfully light and airy!" — Amy
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Chef John's Ricotta Pie
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Rave Review: "The crust is easy and flaky, the filling not sweet but light and would go perfect with a dessert wine or cup of coffee or tea." — SouthwestHiAltCook
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Ricotta and Tomato Sandwich
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Rave Review: "Nice sandwich it was light and fresh. I used tomatoes from the garden with a home made ricotta and fresh basil. It does not get any better than this" — Ren Causley
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Zavioli with Spinach and Ricotta
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Rave Review: "These were delicious and fun to make! Loved that these were healthier and gluten-free friendly too!" — SuzyQ
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Stuffed Tomatoes with Grits and Ricotta
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Rave Review: "This is a true 5-star winner. Very different and interesting combination of grits and cheese. All who tried this recipe were quite impressed." — Ron
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Mushroom and Ricotta Bruschetta
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Rave Review: "This was really nice. Light and bright...the hot flakes gave it zing and the lemon was a surprise on the tongue." — lass
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Fig-Ricotta Cake
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"The exture is moist and slightly dense, and the taste is sweet, buttery, and rich," says lutzflcat.
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Eggplant Parmesan Bites
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"A bite-size version of one of my favorite entrees," says Nashville Nosher. "It's eggplant Parmesan you can eat while standing up! Serve warm or room temperature."
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Pecan-Ricotta Waffles
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"Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with a little crunch from the pecans," says lutzflcat. "Keep waffles warm in the oven as they complete cooking and come off the waffle iron. The ricotta adds tenderness, richness, and great texture to the waffles. Breakfast, brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner never looked better! Serve with butter, maple syrup, and additional pecans, if desired."
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Chef John's Pizza Rustica
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"Some people describe pizza rustica as an Italian meat-filled quiche, but I think this traditional Easter recipe is way closer to a savory cheesecake filled with a massive amount of goodness," says Chef John. "The light, flaky crust holds together an embarrassment of riches--sausage, smoked ham, salami, and pepperoni, plus ricotta, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano cheeses. It's definitely not like pizza!"
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Pasta with Ricotta and Turmeric
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While the pasta cooks, you'll whip up a simple sauce made with creamy fresh ricotta, ground turmeric, and add a touch of ground pepper. "A quick and filling meal for two is just minutes away," says Buckwheat Queen.
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Spinach and Chicken Enchiladas
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"If you like spinach and Mexican food, you'll love these easy chicken enchiladas made with ricotta cheese and spinach," says duboo.
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Creamy Blueberry Coconut Ricotta Bowl
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"This filling breakfast bowl will jumpstart your day and keep you full all morning," says Lexus Oliver. "It is chock full of protein and is super delicious and creamy."