The Best Festive dip - Ricotta With Green Olives, Almonds & Lemon

​My motto when it comes to Christmas baking, cooking and preparing is the easier the better! Everyone is stressed enough as it is, but when it comes to preparing a delicious appetiser that will get your guests asking for the recipe, this dip is an absolute WIN!
 
What’s not to love? Ripples of creamy ricotta, drowning in olive oil with beautiful green olives, capers and crunchy almonds. It’s pretty much all the best elements of a cheese platter in one bowl of deliciousness!

​Alright, I’ll stop chatting and get to it so you can start making this delectable dish! For this recipe, it is made to serve 4 as a snack, so if you are entertaining for a larger party – double all ingredients, easy!!
 
Ingredients:
 
250g smooth ricotta cheese.
¼ cup slivered almonds.
½ cup green pitted olives. I used countdowns own and they worked a treat!
1 tbsp capers.
1 tbsp dried coriander.
½ good quality olive oil. For this recipe I use Rata Olive Oil
½ lemon, zested.
1 x packet of Lebanese pita bread.
Salt & Pepper to taste.

​Directions:
 
Begin by pre-heating your oven at 180 degrees. Take 3 pita breads and slice them roughly into squares or strips (these will be your crackers). Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place on a lined tray and into the oven for 8-10 minutes until crisp and starting to brown.
 
In a small pan, place your slivered almonds on medium heat, tossing occasionally so they do not burn. Do this for about 4-5 minutes.
 
In a separate bowl, slice your olives in half, add capers, coriander and salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
 
Turn the heat to low then add in the bowl of olive mix. Next, add your olive oil and stir to combine. Once well combined, stir in the lemon zest.
 
Allow all the flavours to infuse for 10 minutes over the low heat. Once aromatic, remove from heat and let cool.
 
While cooling, remove ricotta from the fridge and with a spoon spread over a plate, making sure to create craters in the cheese for the mixture to cradle into.
 
Once cool, spoon the olive mixture over the ricotta. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with your pita chips and wait for your guests to ask for the recipe!

This recipe from start to finish takes 15 minutes. It's quick, easy, delicious and unlike the regular cheese board, it's slightly healthier, packed with protein and is guaranteed to wow your guests.
 
If you do make this, make sure to tag me on Insta as I would love to see your creations!
 
Enjoy!
Ally xoxo