It’s time for one more no-recipe recipe that’s a lot greater than the sum of its (5-ingredient) components. This one is a triple-threat combo of Instagram-gorgeous, mouthwateringly scrumptious, and really easy it comes collectively in simply 5 minutes. Meet my easy Ricotta Board with Pears and Honey-Toasted Pistachios. Creamy ricotta is unfold throughout a serving board, then topped with sliced winter pear, chopped honey-roasted pistachios (or hazelnuts, or almonds), a sprinkle of mint, and a drizzle of honey. Let’s get into it.
Whereas most of us rapidly bored with the butter board pattern, I’m a believer that the ricotta board is right here to remain. For me, a bathtub of high-quality complete milk ricotta is the little black gown of your cheese drawer—it really works for any event and all the time feels elegant. And in case you don’t have any ricotta available, it’s nearly simply as simple to make your personal with simply milk, cream, salt, and lemon juice.
I really began making some model of this appetizer a pair summers in the past at our seaside home. I’d come dwelling from the farm stand with extra peaches, persimmons, and tomatoes than I knew what to do with, so we’d slice it up, add a handful of herbs and a few EVOO, then serve with creamy ricotta and a few grilled sourdough. (Observe that this additionally works very well with burrata.) For this model, I winterized the successful combo with sliced pears and honeyed pistachios, and let’s simply say we devoured this in document time.
Right here’s the best way to make my ricotta board with pears and honeyed pistachios…
Put together the ricotta
It’s important that you just use the very best high quality complete milk ricotta that yow will discover. You need it creamy and luscious, and if all yow will discover is the low-fat selection within the dairy aisle, then properly, you’d be higher off making your personal. (I promise, it’s simple!)
Step one is transferring your ricotta to a small mixing bowl, seasoning properly with kosher salt and freshly floor black pepper, and typically I add a bit of honey if I would like extra sweetness. Then, take a fork or a whisk and blend vigorously to lighten it up and make the ricotta spreadable.
Unfold it on the board
Be at liberty to get a bit of creative right here. I begin by dolloping the ricotta evenly round my handcrafted wooden serving board, leaving a border of an inch or two. Then I exploit the again of a spoon to unfold it round in order that it’s evenly distributed, however with some fairly swirls and texture.
Add pears and pistachios
I slice up my firm-but-ripe pear, and fan out the slices in an aesthetic method over the cheese. What sort of pear is greatest? I like several agency winter pears (pink or inexperienced) which have a pure sweetness—Anjou, Bartlett, Bosc, or Seckel all work nice.
Then, I add chopped honeyed pistachios for that satisfying crunch that’s important to this board. With a recipe this easy, we’re actually going for all of the totally different textures to make this really feel attention-grabbing and multi-layered. I really purchased Honey-Roasted Pistachios to make it very easy on myself, however you would caramelize your personal pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, or almonds and swap them in right here.
Add your last toppings
My ending touches on this ricotta board included contemporary mint leaves, and drizzles of extra-virgin olive oil and honey. Plus a pinch of flaky salt and freshly floor black pepper, after all. Serve with heat baguette slices for scooping up, and also you’ve received what simply could be the world’s most excellent appetizer. Or at the least, it’s the one I’ll be making for the foreseeable future.
Scroll on for the recipe, and in case you make this, remember to price and overview under.