Quick and easy ricotta toast combines creamy ricotta, herbs, and juicy tomatoes for a 15 minute, café-worthy lunch that looks as fancy as it tastes.
Savory Ricotta Toast
- Flavor: Creamy ricotta, juicy tomatoes, and fresh basil on perfectly toasted bread is simple, bright, and totally crave-worthy.
- Skill Level: Tomato basil ricotta toast is beginner friendly with no cooking skills required. Simply mix the ricotta spread, spread over toasted bread, and top.
- Serving Suggestions: Perfect as a quick lunch, a refreshing summer snack, or an easy appetizer for guests. I love setting up a ‘toast bar’ with a selection of bread, fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh herbs, condiments, and nuts or seeds to sprinkle on top.
Best Ricotta Toast Ingredients
- Bread: Any bread works for ricotta toast. Sourdough, rye, pumpernickel, whole wheat, Irish soda bread, or a freshly baked baguette are all great options. Make mini ricotta toasts with crostini for a quick appetizer.
- Cheese: You can purchase, or make your own mild and nutty, smooth and spreadable, ricotta cheese. Swap for whipped cream cheese or small curd cottage cheese (be sure it’s drained).
- Seasonings: Besides garlic, salt, and pepper, try everything bagel, Italian, or a little bit of ranch seasoning. Even a bit of fresh lemon or orange zest can add bright flavor to ricotta cheese toast.
- Toppings: Cherry or grape tomatoes make the perfect topping. Or make an avocado ricotta toast with sliced avocado.
- Drizzles: Olive oil, a balsamic glaze, regular or hot honey, and maple syrup help to marry all the flavors. Try adding a dollop of cranberry orange sauce for a festive ricotta toast.
Variations
- Serve ricotta toast al fresco as a warm weather main dish. Top with proteins like bacon crumbles, fried prosciutto, salami, bay shrimp, smoked salmon, or lox.
- Experimenting with savory and sweet toppings can be fun. Try tomato jam, sliced cucumbers, zucchini, or sautéed mushrooms. On a more sweet side try sliced strawberries, pears, peaches, apples, bananas, blueberries, or blackberries. Your favorite fruit preserves are also delicious if fresh fruit isn’t available.
- Make a stuffed ricotta toast. Slice the bread halfway through, stuff the pocket with seasoned cheese and fruit or veggies, then toast under the broiler before drizzling with oil and vinegar.
How to Make Ricotta Toast
- Mix ricotta, some basil, green onions, garlic, and seasonings (full recipe below).
- Toast bread and spread cheese on each slice. Top with tomato halves, sprinkle with the rest of the basil, and drizzle with oil and balsamic glaze (if using).
Toast Troubleshooting Tips
- Toast the bread a little darker than you think you need, since the ricotta will soften it quickly. For extra flavor fast, rub the toasted bread with the cut side of a garlic clove before adding ricotta.
- Drain or blot ricotta first if it looks watery.
- Season in layers. Lightly salt the ricotta mixture, then finish with a tiny pinch on top after assembly.
- Add most of the basil into the spread, then save a little for garnish right before serving.
- For easy meal prep, mix ricotta spread earlier in the day, then toast and assemble right before eating.
Save It For Later
Store ricotta cheese separately from the bread and other ingredients in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing isn’t recommended for this recipe, but since ricotta toast is so easy to make, just start fresh!
More Tasty Toast Toppers
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Ricotta Toast
Ricotta toast with basil, green onion, and garlic is piled onto crisp toast and topped with juicy tomatoes, olive oil, and optional balsamic glaze for a quick café-style bite.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 slices French bread or sourdough bread, or your favorite bread
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- 3 Tablespoons basil chiffonade or chopped, divided
- 1 Tablespoon green onion or chives, sliced
- 1 clove garlic minced (or ½ teaspoon garlic powder)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste, plus more for garnish
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste, plus more for garnish
- ½ pint grape tomatoes halved, or cherry tomatoes (and/or 1 avocado, thinly sliced)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic glaze optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 2 Tablespoons basil, green onions, garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper until well combined.
- Meanwhile, toast bread lightly.
- Spread about 2 Tablespoons of the ricotta cheese mixture on each slice of toast (divide evenly). Add 7-8 grape tomato halves to each slice. Sprinkle with the rest of the basil. Drizzle with olive oil (and balsamic glaze if using).
- Lightly sprinkle with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftover ricotta cheese spread for up to two days.
- Do not freeze.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 264 | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 502mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 484IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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A family favorite! Candace’s husband
So yummy and healthy. Candace’s Husband.