If you have become a bit tired of avocado toast, you may want to consider swapping out the avocados for ricotta. Don’t get me wrong, no disrespect to avocado toast. I love it, I eat it often, but sometimes I want something a little different. Ricotta is light and airy and perfect with so many different topping.
Ricotta toast is something that I have eaten since I was a kid. Every Italian family keeps ricotta in the fridge. You still get the rich, creamy spread you are used to from avocado toast but a whole new universe of flavors opens up for you. Ricotta can easily be used either in sweet or savory dishes, think lasagna versus cannoli.
In New York, you can find fresh ricotta at many Italian markets. Have you had fresh ricotta? It is so creamy and delicious. I die. Literally. Well, I guess figuratively but still you cannot even at how good it is. I haven’t tried making it at home although I have been told (and this video confirms) that it is really easy to make.
How to Make Fresh Ricotta
I like to use a hearty, rustic bread for the toast. For the toppings on this ricotta toast, I used morel mushrooms which were foraged from the woods near my friend Rachael’s home in Missoula, Montana. I was so excited to get a package from her with bunches of morel mushrooms. What a treat! I made this Pizza with Morel Mushrooms and Green Onions using some of the mushrooms from that same haul.
If Rachael didn’t send you any morels and you couldn’t find them locally, I would swap them out for cremini or button mushrooms. Not quite the panache of morels but still a nice meaty texture to complement the ricotta. I also used some beautiful, medium-sized asparagus chopped into bite-sized pieces to top the Ricotta toast.
Ricotta toast with morel mushrooms and asparagus can really be eaten for any meal. I prefer savory foods in the morning and devoured the toasts on Sunday morning for brunch with coffee. But, served with a green salad or soup, the ricotta toast would also make a perfect light lunch or dinner. Plus, it is so quick and easy to make. Basically, you a few minutes to chop the mushrooms and asparagus, a few minutes to sauté them, and the time it takes to toast the bread. Brilliant when you don’t want to fuss in the kitchen on a weeknight.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 bunch asparagus trimmed and chopped into 2-inch pieces
- 4 ounces small morel mushrooms halved or quartered, if large
- 4 teaspoons flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 large eggs
- 4 slices rustic bread lightly toasted, 1/2thick
Ingredients
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- Stir together ricotta, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pinch of pepper in a bowl; set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and oil; heat until butter has melted.
- Add asparagus, and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
- Stir in mushrooms and cook 2 minutes. Cook until asparagus is tender and bright green, about 2 minutes more.
- Stir in herbs and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper; remove from heat.
- Bring a large shallow saucepan of water to a simmer. Working with 1 egg at time, break into a cup, and slide egg into water. Cook the eggs until whites are set, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Spread ricotta mixture over bread slices, dividing evenly.
- Divide asparagus and mushrooms among slices.
- Top each with a poached egg.
- Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Cremini or button mushrooms can be substituted if you can’t find morel mushrooms. Inspired by this Martha Stewart recipe.
Mayuri Patel
I’ve been looking for an easy way to cook asparagus(never done it at home!). This recipe is perfect for my adventure into asparagus land.
Diane Hartford
Mayuri-
Oh good! I hope it goes well for you. Asparagus is one my favorites.
Diane