Uses for Ricotta

[LEsherick2008]

I love Canolli Fillings with a sweetened ricotta but not so big on the crispy shell and I have about 14 oz of leftover Ricotta from making stuffed shells last night and would love to make it into something sweet.

[rcallner]

If you want to go savory, use it in a lasagna or other baked pasta dish. It's winter.

[emily]

You could just make the cannoli filling and eat it without a shell. That's what I do. Just whip the ricotta a bit with some sugar and chocolate chips (and perhaps some candied orange peel). Delicious!

[sugarcube]

Baci Di Ricotta
http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/baci-di-ricotta-107

Ricotta Cheesecake
http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/italy/tortadi.html#axzz17yC9Tgr0

http://theavidbaker.wordpress.com

[mamachef]

What about as a layer in a breakfast fruit parfait, lightened up with a little plain yogurt and zest, and any number of good cubed winter fruits, with a layer of granola for texture.
In a dessert ravioli, with a fruit sauce atop; you could play around with spicing it up and then bringing into play a fruit that would complement the spices (Moroccan, w/ dried apricot sauce; lemon zest with a blueberry compote; apple pie spice with cubed sauteed apples and a little fresh sage...)
You could also make a sweet Malfatti and play around with saucing as a variation on the ravioli.
And you could use it as the base of a custard cream for an almond tart.

[markabauman]

If you have an ice cream maker, ricotta gelato is delicious.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/ricotta-gelato
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ricotta-Gelato-with-Blackberry-Sauce-12509
Here's one if you don't have an ice cream maker:
http://thesmallpig.wordpress.com/2010...

[NE_Elaine]

I like cream puffs filled with canolli filling, it is a nice change from the crispy shell. I also like ricotta on salad instead of cottage cheese and spread on toast.

[coll]

I hate that little bit that's always left! I've made the Ricotta-Berry muffins and they are great. It's a great sub for any recipe that calls for sour cream or yogurt. Otherwise I use it in ways that are not sweet, if it helps anyone.

My two most common are: I discovered that it makes a great addition to meatloaf, makes it nice and light. Otherwise I aways keep a can or two of white clam sauce in the pantry for a quick meal, my husband has to have a little bowl of ricotta to mix in at the table, as his mother always served it. Won't eat it without! Too bad you can't freeze the stuff, I hate to throw anything out.

[toveggiegirl]

These are a few of my favourite sweet recipes that incorporate ricotta. The ricotta adds a lovely lightness and moist texture to the muffins and cake and the torta is an easy Italian cheesecake-like pie.

Dorie Greenspan's Ricotta-Berry Muffins
http://www.food.com/333975

Rustic Canyon's Cranberry Orange Cornmeal Cake
http://www.food.com/361714

David Rocco's Torta Di Ricotta
http://italian.food.com/129268

[4Snisl]

I too love ricotta drizzled with honey or maple syrup.

One of the easiest desserts you can make is 2 parts ricotta to 1 part chocolate hazelnut spread (like Nutella). Dip in slices of fruit or pretzels, or dollop on vanilla cake.

[toveggiegirl]

I do a similar thing with ricotta, peanut butter, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and almond extract but I will have to try it with nutella sometime.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i think the others have covered most of the sweet options, i'll just add that it makes a terrific filling for crepes or blintzes. if you want to use it all up at once, make cheesecake. if you'd rather try 2 or 3 different things, go for the pancakes and crepes, blintzes or cookies.

but honestly i love it on its own as Novelli suggested - sweetened with a touch of honey, agave or maple syrup, and maybe topped with fruit compote or a dash of spice like cinnamon.

[Novelli]

One of my favorites is a big scoop of ricotta drizzled with some good orange blossom honey.

You could also make a nice lemon marmalade and serve that over ricotta blended with goat's cheese, mascarpone, and a little sugar.

Both very simple and delicio8us.

[chowser]

I love ricotta with honey. In the summer, I'll add fresh berries and/or chocolate chips.

[HillJ]

ricotta cheesecake and the recipe from SK for ricotta pancakes is a regular around my house.

[magiesmom]

Here's a recipe for lemon ricotta pancakes; they are wonderful!
http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/11/lem...
Also, ricotta is great on toast like cottage cheese, asa stuffing ( mixed with egg and oregano) for pasta shells, in lasagne, on pizza, mixed into scrambled eggs.

[jmcarthur8]

You know, magiesmom, that just may be the recipe I used a while back! Now I have to make some for Sunday breakfast. Thanks for the link!

[magiesmom]

I bet it is; it sounds like what you describe. And it is a winner!

[chowser]

Lemon ricotta cookie with lemon glaze were the big hit at a recent cookie exchange:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gi...

[jmcarthur8]

Ricotta pancakes with apple/maple topping.
Yum.

[onceadaylily]

How about baking cake? Google 'ricotta cake' or 'ricotta in cake' and you'll get a decent amount of recipes.