Baked Ricotta with Grapes and Black Olives

April 20, 2011

When it comes to cheeses.. I am the most boring person ..as I have very little knowledge about them ... my all time favourite would be English Cheddar... the only cheese I would consumed during my years in the UK... for a simple reason~ I wasn't the adventurous type...
Things change over the period of time... I started to explore, frequent and spend longer time at the 'Cheese sections' in the supermarket... again for a simple reason ~ Mr H Jr loves Cheese...

When we were living in Kuala Lumpur, his choices were limited to Kraft slices... sometimes cheddar and gouda, depending on the cost and its 'freshness'... there weren't many to choose from. Yet he was a happy, contented boy.
Perth, has changed his love for cheese into a passion... and has been on Cheese eating spree since... if he could, he wanted to sample every single Cheese on display. 
He is happier with the varieties ... right from the most common Tasty cheese... to the exquisite selection... and he would go for any type but Blue Cheese. And no more Kraft Slice Cheese for him!!!

And when I saw Karen Martini whipped up this Baked Ricotta Cheese with Grapes and Black olives...on Better Homes and Garden... that's it~ I had to bake this for him Us  ~ otherwise my drama queen will make a fuss and accuse me of favouritism.... so yeah ... bake for all of US!
Furthermore, I was intrigued with the combination of Grapes, Black Olives and Ricotta.

I was so excited ...and once Ricotta is ready .... out of the oven... and after the 'Photo Session'... I grabbed the crackers nearby... and started to chomp away...
It tasted GOOD... superb combination ~ sweetness from the grapes... saltiness from the black olives... with a hint of lemon thyme....  yum.. still not drooling yet???

If you are entertaining families and friends... this Easter... perhaps you may want to give this easy Ricotta bake a try?? ...



I am submitting this to Aspiring Bakers #6: say cheese (april 2011) hosted by Jean of Need More Noms

Baked Ricotta with Grapes and Black Olives 

(adapted from Karen Martini of Better Homes and Garden)
500g fresh ricotta
2 handful of seedless grapes
1/4 cup of sliced Kalamata Olives
olive oil
sprigs of thyme
salt and pepper
  1. Slice the ricotta and arrange in a baking dish.
  2. Crush the grapes in a bowl.
  3. Sprinkle crushed grapes, thyme and olives over the ricotta, and add in grapes juice.
  4. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Drizzle olive oil.
  6. Pre heat the oven to 180C and baked for 35-40 minutes until ricotta is firm and slightly brown on the edges.
  7. Serve with water crackers.
note : Karen Martini added fresh oregano too... I didn't .... ~ I have no more fresh oregano in my garden as they did not survive the HOT summer

Have a Good EASTER holiday ...

psss....I have been good this Easter... I have yet to succumb to the great TEMPTATION of feasting on Easter Egg CHOCOLATES!!!
‹ Next Recipe
Next Recipe
Previous Recipe ›

Comments

  1. Saraswathi GaneshanApril 20, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    Me to have very less knowledge with cheese, but ricotta is always my choice..your versions looks healthy & inviting..

    ReplyDelete
  2. mycookinghutApril 21, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    I knew very little about cheeses until I met other half. Now I really love them but not big fan of blue cheese too! :p

    ReplyDelete
  3. tigerfishApril 21, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    We love cheese too but we hardly have them....it is strange ...this sets me thinking too! Brie is a regular as we just have to spread them over crackers and enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awayofmind Bakery HouseApril 21, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    Lisa, the colour of this dish looks inviting!! The ricotta go with the salty olive and sweet grapes must be yummylicious!

    ReplyDelete
  5. FlowerApril 21, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    We love our cheeses. I like my brie and grapes sandwich. My girl loves her soft cheeses and my boy, smoked cheese with his pepperoni n crackers and dear hb prefer his hard cheeses or cheese flavoured with chilli n etc.

    I had fondue many many years ago in 'The Chalet' in Equatorial Hotel, KL and we just bought a new fondue bowl to try making it this winter. Cicah dengan roti or boiled potatoes. Yum yum.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa HoApril 21, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    Saras,
    Thank you :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lisa HoApril 21, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    Leemei,
    I pun sama... I remembered my 1st encounter with Parmesan Cheese... it reminded me of something ... (tak payah mention here la) :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lisa HoApril 21, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    tigerfish,
    I guess... its not part of our everyday staple? and cheeses were hard to come by in those growing up years :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lisa HoApril 21, 2011 at 8:10 PM

    Ah Tze,
    It was GOOD...You should give it a go... can reduce the quantity of ricotta ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lisa HoApril 21, 2011 at 8:13 PM

    Flower,
    My 1st time eating Fondue was on my 21st b-day at the Swiss Centre in Soho, London. It was OK ish... because I tak reti makan at that time...:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. FlowerApril 22, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    My love for cheeses was ignited by my late mama. Dia amatlah suka cheese tapi can't stand cheese cake.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Angie's RecipesApril 22, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Excellent clicks as always! A light and cheesy treat, just perfect for any time!

    ReplyDelete
  13. mycookinghutApril 23, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    hehe, lisa.. you pernah try Pont L'eveque?? wahh, memang the smell.. is very strong!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lisa HoApril 24, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    Flower,
    Perhaps she loved savoury rather than sweets ...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lisa HoApril 24, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    Angie,
    Have a good Easter holiday :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lisa HoApril 24, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    Leemei,
    Pont L'eveque? Ada bau ka? Will look for it... kalau ada bau yang kuat dan tak menyenangkan... oooh I lari kuat2... :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. OliviaApril 24, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    Now look at what you’ve done … you have me seriously craving for a piece of this....Happy Easter

    ReplyDelete
  18. Xiaolu @ 6 BittersweetsApril 25, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    I've never had baked ricotta but I imagine it tasting similar to paneer for some reason. Love the flavors and presentation here.

    ReplyDelete
  19. ICook4FunApril 25, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    I still can't take strong cheese but my husband just loves it. He can eat it everyday with bread. Like you I wlll stay far far away from him if he is eating what I call stinky cheese :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lisa HoApril 25, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Olivia,
    ooops.. sorry... :D

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lisa HoApril 25, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Xiaolu,
    Thank you.
    And I have yet to taste paneer ;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lisa HoApril 25, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Gert,
    hahaha...
    stinky cheese to us = durian to ang moh ;)

    ReplyDelete
  23. MikaApril 26, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    This is a wonderful recipe!!! I love the idea to bake this instead of making a simple salad...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lisa HoApril 27, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    Mika,
    Agree :D

    ReplyDelete

New comments are not allowed.