Whipped Honeyed Jalapeno Ricotta

When you whip ricotta with garlic, onion, oregano, and sour cream, not only is the flavour incredible, but the texture is silky smooth. Topped with homemade Jalapeno Honey, this dip is cool and spicy at the same time. Serve with your favourite crackers and bread.

If at any given time you happen to be in my neighbourhood, you should drop by just to put to the test what I’m about to tell you. That is, without a doubt, our fridge will always have the following three things in it – a container each of mascarpone, bocconcini, and ricotta. Also, our pantry will always have lots of honey, as well as dried herbs and different seasonings. That is why putting together this Whipped Honeyed Jalapeno Ricotta appetizer was as easy as pie!

Earlier this year, I shared my Hot Jalapeno Honey recipe with you. It is so delicious! If you’re afraid of the spice level, don’t worry, because the sweetness of the honey balances it out quite well. It still has some kick to it, but it doesn’t cause panic or anything of that nature. I love it with chicken! Speaking of chicken, I’ve had it with these vegan chicken nuggets, which are the only nuggets I eat now, because, yes, they’re that good! I highly encourage you to try them!

There are many types and flavours of cheese that lend themselves well to being whipped with other ingredients to take on new and exciting flavour combinations. For example, I have two recipes that might be of interest to you if ricotta is not your thing. This creamy whipped feta has pine nuts on top. It’s so good! And this whipped goat cheese appetizer has honey and cream. It’s easy to recreate any of these and put your own spin on it!

I’m going to tell you all about this appetizer and how you can make it in your home this holiday season, but first, I want to tell you about what you can expect from Lord Byron’s Kitchen this Christmas. I know we’re just kicking off the month of November, but I have a lot of Christmas-themed recipes to share with you this year, so I’ve got to get started early. So, before we get to a list of ingredients and instructions for this recipe, let me tell you about this series and more!

LORD BYRON’S 12 CHRISTMAS APPETIZERS SERIES

Another holiday series, Lord Byron? Yes – why not!? Welcome, Dear Reader, to the second of my annual holiday recipe series for this season! I’m calling this one Lord Byron’s 12 Christmas Appetizers. This series will focus on easy-to-make appetizers that are both delicious and festive.

I will try to keep the recipes in this series quick and easy too. Most of them will require some baking, but they won’t be so complex that you can’t whip them up just before your guests arrive. Some are just assembly-type recipes, while others can be prepared in advance.

Just like every other holiday series that I’ve shared over the years, this series will see a new recipe shared every day for the next 12 days – even on Saturday and Sunday! You might be asking yourself, how many Christmas recipes could one possibly have or need? Well, I say you can never have too much of a good thing. And, I love having lots of choices. Who wants to prepare the same holiday appetizers year after year?

SUBSCRIBE NOW SO THAT YOU NEVER MISS OUT ON NEW RECIPES!

So, welcome, Dear Reader, to Lord Byron’s 12 Christmas Appetizers series! Even though this is the second series for this holiday season, you can always take a look back at previous years if you just cannot wait until the next recipe is published. Some of my favourites from previous years are my 12 Edible Wreaths of Christmas, my 12 Bars and Squares of Christmas series, and my 30 No-Bake Christmas Recipes post.

You really don’t want to miss one of these recipes, so if you have not yet subscribed to Lord Byron’s Kitchen, I encourage you to do so. That way, a new recipe will be emailed to you every day. You won’t have to bother to come looking for it! Like in previous holiday recipe countdowns, I like to mix up the recipes in the series so that there is something for everyone. Are you ready!!??

WHAT’S A PARTY WITHOUT DIP?

As much as I love to cook and bake, I also love a great-tasting recipe that comes together in just a few minutes without the need to dirty up a series of pots and pans. Whipped Honeyed Jalapeno Ricotta is one such recipe. Once you gather together the ingredients you can serve this appetizing dish to your family or guests in about fifteen to twenty minutes.

In our home, dip is like a way of life. We love it. Sometimes, it’s just for snacking, but other times, it is the main of an entire meal. This particular dip is not only perfect for entertaining guests, but it’s also a really great option for family game nights or staying in on a rainy day to watch movies.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Ricotta – A light and creamy cheese made from various milk sources, it is often used in both savoury and sweet recipes.
• Sour Cream – This adds tang and saltiness. To help ensure a thick ricotta mixture, use full-fat or premium sour cream. It is thicker and has less moisture content than fat-free or low-fat sour cream.
• Garlic Powder – Do not use granulated garlic; it is much stronger than garlic powder.
• Onion Powder
• Oregano – Use a little bit of dried oregano to season the cheese, but I love to add some fresh oregano leaves on top just before serving.
• Ground Black Pepper
• Dried Red Chili Flakes – If you are worried that the dip might be too hot, you can omit these and just stick to the honeyed jalapenos.
• Jalapeno Honey – You can learn how to make your own right here.

HOW TO MAKE WHIPPED HONEYED JALAPENO RICOTTA

Add the ricotta, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, ground black pepper, and dried red chilies to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Please note that some readers have reported back that the ricotta mixture was rather runny after blending it. Other readers have not had any issues. If you are worried, use a fork to mash and mix until smooth. Transfer the mixture from the blender to a serving bowl. Using the back of a teaspoon, smooth out the mixture, leaving swooping lines and crevices.

Spoon the jalapeno honey over the ricotta, intentionally filling the crevices left by the teaspoon. Top with a sprinkling of dried red chili flakes and ground black pepper, if desired. Garnish with fresh oregano leaves. Serve with warm bread or your favourite crackers.

HOW TO USE YOUR LEFTOVER JALAPENO HONEY

1. Drizzle it over Chicken, which is probably the most obvious choice! Fried chicken, rotisserie chicken, or baked chicken will do. It’s so good with chicken fingers too!
2. Smear it on freshly baked cornbread or these Jalapeno Corn Muffins!
3. Top mashed potatoes with it instead of melted butter.
4. Serve on a charcuterie board stirred into whipped feta or drizzled over goat cheese.
5. Top your summer fresh grilled or smoked corn with it!
6. Use it as a salad dressing! Whisk hot honey with some lemon or lime juice!
7. Spoon it over desserts like brownies or ice cream!
8. Dip pizza crust or mozzarella sticks into it!
9. Substitute maple syrup with it, like in the case of these roasted veggies!
10. Pair it with breakfast foods like bacon, eggs, french toast, and waffles!
11. BONUS: Seafood like tilapia, cod, and salmon pair so well with honey! Drizzle it over these recipes too!

QUESTIONS?

If I have not answered all of your questions in the text above, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can contact me by sending me a message in the comments section further down the page. I will try my best to answer as soon as possible! You might reach me even faster by following me on Facebook and sending me a private message. Scroll down below the recipe card to find my Follow Me on Social Media box and never miss another recipe!

Finally, as I stated previously, every day I will be posting a new recipe. If you miss one, don’t fret. You can find my entire collection of Christmas Recipes right here! There are over 200 Christmas recipes and counting. There’s something for everyone! Cheers!