Are you on the hunt for the ideal party starter that looks effortlessly elegant but can be whipped up in just a few moments? Your search is over. We’ve crafted the ultimate crowd-pleasing dish that perfectly marries creamy, sweet, and spicy flavours in one delightful bowl. This Ricotta Dip With Hot Honey Recipe is a genuine game-changer, perfect for lively gatherings, cosy evenings, or any occasion in between. Picture a fluffy, cloud-like whip of fresh ricotta cheese, given a little zing with lemon and garlic, then lavishly drizzled with a sweet-and-spicy hot honey and topped with a sprinkle of crunchy pistachios. It’s a truly sophisticated, utterly delectable, and wonderfully simple appetizer that is sure to have all your guests asking for the recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A Symphony of Flavours: The cool, gentle sweetness of the whipped ricotta acts as the perfect base for the fiery kick of the spicy honey. When combined with the tang of lemon, aromatic thyme, and nutty pistachios, it creates a wonderful harmony of textures and tastes with every mouthful.
• Astonishingly Quick to Make: This beautiful dip can be ready in fewer than 15 minutes. No cooking is required; just a brief whizz in a food processor or a quick mix with an electric whisk. It’s our favourite recipe for when we have last-minute visitors or need a chic starter without any stress.
• Simple, Premium Ingredients: You only need a small selection of everyday ingredients to put together this masterpiece. The secret is to use the best quality you can source, especially a good whole-milk ricotta, as it truly elevates the final creamy texture.
• Wonderfully Versatile: You can serve it with toasted sourdough, seeded crackers, fresh vegetable crudités, or even slices of apple and pear. Feel free to customise the toppings with different nuts, fresh herbs, or a dash of sumac. It’s an ideal centrepiece for any sharing board.

Ingredients

• 500g fresh, full-fat ricotta cheese
• 60ml (1/4 cup) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 1 small clove of garlic, minced (optional, but recommended)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 60ml (1/4 cup) hot honey (store-bought or homemade)
• 30g (1/4 cup) roasted pistachios, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• Crusty bread, crackers, or vegetable sticks, for serving

A Note on the Key Components

The charm of this ricotta dip is its simplicity, which allows the quality of every single ingredient to shine through. Let’s delve into the main players.

The Ricotta: We cannot overstate this: please use a high-quality, full-fat ricotta. The lower-fat varieties often contain additives and can have a slightly grainy texture that simply won’t work here. Our goal is a sublimely smooth and velvety consistency. If you find your ricotta is a bit wet, we recommend letting it drain in a cheesecloth-lined sieve for around 30 minutes before starting. This little trick ensures your dip is wonderfully thick and not at all watery.

The Hot Honey: This sweet and spicy element is what transforms the dip from great to absolutely unforgettable. You can now find pre-made hot honey in most large supermarkets. However, it’s remarkably easy to make your own! To create a small batch, gently heat 60ml of runny honey in a saucepan over a low flame. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of dried chilli flakes (or a little more if you prefer extra heat) and a drop of apple cider vinegar to cut through the sweetness. Allow it to infuse for ten minutes before using. You can always make extra and keep it in a sealed jar for future use.

Instructions

1. Prepare the Ricotta: If the ricotta appears to have excess water, drain it through a sieve for 20-30 minutes to remove the liquid. This is the key to achieving a thick, creamy dip.
2. Whip the Base: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the drained ricotta, 60ml of extra virgin olive oil, the zest from the entire lemon, juice from half the lemon, minced garlic (if using), sea salt, and black pepper.
3. Blend Until Smooth: Process the mixture on a high setting for about 1-2 minutes. Pause to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then blend once more until the ricotta is perfectly smooth, light, and airy, resembling a thick, whipped cream. A stand mixer with a whisk attachment or an electric hand mixer will also work well.
4. Taste and Adjust: Sample the whipped ricotta. Does it need a pinch more salt? A little more lemon to brighten it up? Fine-tune the seasonings now until the flavour is just right for you.
5. Plate the Dip: Transfer the whipped ricotta into a shallow serving dish or onto a platter. With the back of a spoon, create attractive swirls across the surface. This looks lovely and also makes little pockets for the toppings to gather in.
6. Add the Toppings: Drizzle the hot honey generously over the ricotta, allowing it to pool in the swirls you’ve made.
7. Garnish and Serve: Scatter the chopped pistachios and fresh thyme leaves over the top. Add one last drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Serve straight away with your chosen dippers.

Serving Suggestions

This dip is incredibly sociable; it pairs beautifully with almost anything. Our preferred way to present it is as the highlight of a colourful grazing board. Arrange a variety of textures and flavours around the bowl for dipping.

• Breads: Warm, crusty sourdough, toasted ciabatta fingers, soft focaccia, or warmed pitta breads are all excellent companions.
• Crackers: Offer a mix of simple water biscuits, rustic multi-seed crackers, or crunchy flatbreads.
• Vegetables: For a healthier, fresher choice, provide a selection of vibrant vegetable batons, such as carrot, cucumber, celery, and colourful bell peppers.

This serves as a wonderful light appetiser before a more substantial main. We enjoy serving it before a comforting dish like our Cheeseburger Lasagna Recipe. As part of a larger party spread, it complements savoury options like our Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders by providing a cool, creamy element.

Frequently Asked Questions

And there you have it—a truly impressive dip that delivers maximum impact with very little effort. This Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey is sure to become a firm favourite in your collection of entertaining recipes. It’s chic, highly adaptable, and above all, incredibly tasty. It just goes to show that sometimes the most memorable dishes are created from the simplest of ingredients, working together in perfect harmony.

We’re quite sure that after you’ve made it once, you’ll be finding any excuse to make it again. If you decide to prepare this recipe for your next event, we would love to know how it went! Please leave us a comment and a rating below—we always enjoy hearing from you and seeing your wonderful culinary creations. And if you’re in need of a sweet follow-up, why not give our indulgent Peach Crumb Cheesecake a try?

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 500g fresh, full-fat ricotta cheese
• 60ml (1/4 cup) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 1 small clove of garlic, minced (optional, but recommended)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 60ml (1/4 cup) hot honey (store-bought or homemade)
• 30g (1/4 cup) roasted pistachios, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• Crusty bread, crackers, or vegetable sticks, for serving

Instructions

1. Prepare the Ricotta: If your ricotta looks watery, drain it in a sieve for at least 20-30 minutes to remove excess liquid. This is the secret to a thick, creamy dip.
2. Whip the Base: Place the drained ricotta, 60ml of extra virgin olive oil, the zest of one full lemon, the juice of half a lemon, the minced garlic (if using), sea salt, and black pepper into the bowl of a food processor.
3. Blend Until Smooth: Blitz the mixture on high for 1-2 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl, then blend again until the ricotta is completely smooth, airy, and light. It should look like a thick, luxurious cream. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use an electric hand mixer or even a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.
4. Taste and Adjust: Have a taste of the whipped ricotta. Does it need more salt? A little more lemon juice for brightness? Adjust the seasonings now until you are perfectly happy with the base flavour.
5. Plate the Dip: Spoon the whipped ricotta into a shallow serving bowl or onto a platter. Use the back of a spoon to create elegant swirls and wells on the surface. This not only looks beautiful but also creates little pools to catch the delicious toppings.
6. Add the Toppings: Generously drizzle the hot honey all over the surface of the ricotta, letting it fall into the swirls you created.
7. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the roughly chopped pistachios and fresh thyme leaves over the top. Finish with a final, light drizzle of your best extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately with an assortment of dippers.

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