Mediterranean Ricotta Board (Printable)
Creamy ricotta served with Mediterranean vegetables, olives, and fresh herbs on toasted bread.
# What You 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:
01 - Spread the ricotta cheese evenly over a large serving board or platter, creating decorative swirls with the back of a spoon for texture.
02 - Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, roasted red peppers, olives, artichoke hearts, and red onion around and over the ricotta in sections or a decorative pattern.
03 - Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil generously over the ricotta and arranged vegetables.
04 - Sprinkle with chopped basil, fresh oregano or thyme, lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper, and flaky sea salt.
05 - Serve immediately with toasted baguette slices or crostini for scooping and spreading.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You can assemble everything in under twenty minutes while holding a glass of wine and chatting with guests
- The combination of cool creamy ricotta against bright vegetables and salty olives hits every flavor note worth chasing
02 -
- Let the ricotta sit at room temperature for at least thirty minutes before serving so it becomes soft and spreadable instead of cold and stiff
- Toasting your bread until golden creates a sturdy vessel that won't collapse under the weight of all those toppings
03 -
- A drizzle of good honey over a corner of the ricotta creates a sweet surprise that people will talk about for weeks
- Microgreens or delicate herb flowers sprinkled over the top at the end make this look like something from a restaurant menu