Strawberries & Whipped Ricotta

Yields: 3-4 servings

Time: 15 minutes

I was first introduced to ricotta as a sweet ingredient through cannoli. Mixed with powdered sugar it becomes luscious, creamy, and slightly airy- a great addition to pound cakes, cheesecakes, and more! To change up the classic chocolate covered strawberry, I use whipped ricotta flavored with honey and lemon zest to fill juicy strawberries. Topped with honey, a drizzle of chocolate, and walnuts, these strawberries are the perfect dessert for your Valentine!

Ingredients:

• 1 qt. fresh strawberries, green tops removed

• 8 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese

• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar

• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

• 1 tsp. lemon zest

• Honey, to taste

• 1 bar bittersweet chocolate

• 1 tsp. coconut oil (optional)

• Chopped walnuts

Special Equipment:

• Electric stand or hand mixer with whisk attachment

Directions

Step One:

Core each strawberry using a demitasse or similarly sized spoon, scooping out enough flesh to have a small cavity for the filling.

Step Two:

In a stand mixer, whisk together ricotta, powdered sugar, salt, and lemon zest on high until ricotta becomes light and airy. Taste for sweetness. Reduce speed to low and slowly drizzle in honey, just enough for the flavor to come through but not be overly sweet, 1-3 teaspoons.

Scrape ricotta into a piping or plastic bag.

Step Three:

Trim corner of plastic bag. Fill each strawberry with enough ricotta so it comes slightly out the top of the berry. Refrigerate until chocolate is ready.

Step Four:

Using a double boiler, heat chocolate until fully melted. Option to add 1 tsp. of coconut oil for shine but it is not needed. Remove strawberries from fridge. Immediately drizzle chocolate over strawberries using a spoon or fork. Get creative; we love a splatter paint moment!

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Note: If you don’t have a way to make a double boiler you can melt the chocolate using the microwave. Simply melt in 10 second bursts, mixing well between each, as chocolate can burn very easily in a microwave.

Step Five:

To serve, spread a few tablespoons of remaining ricotta on a plate. Nestle 4-5 strawberries in ricotta. Top with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of chopped walnuts.

For a Crowd!

This ricotta is an awesome appetizer for a crowd. Use it as a dip to accompany a fruit plate or even savory dippers like hard pretzels or crackers. Mix up using honey for a different sweetener to compliment whatever you’re serving it with. Agave, maple syrup, or even Nutella bring their own unique flavors and textures that all pair well with ricotta!