20 ways with ricotta

This highly decadent and indulgent chocolate ricotta pudding recipe is drizzled with homemade chocolate sauce. Serve hot for dessert with scoops of ice cream for a real treat!

A ricotta loaf is a must for your next antipasto platter. This recipe sees creamy ricotta spiked with lemon zest and garlic and served alongside crackers, olives and sundried tomatoes

Soft, light and golden, Nici Wickes’ lemon ricotta fritters recipe makes a heavenly dessert served warm with fresh berries and ice cream

This hearty Italian baked pasta dish is perfect for a hungry family on a cool Winter’s evening. Or, make for two and enjoy the leftovers the following day. The combination of tomato, sausage and pasta is beautiful enjoyed fresh out of the oven, especially when topped with melted, oozy ricotta cheese.

When chocolate and orange collide, magic happens! Try Nici Wickes’ chocolate pastry tart and discover the wonderful combination of creamy ricotta, dark chocolate and vibrant citrus

An exotic rocket, pear & ricotta fritter salad that is packed to the brim with delicious flavours and textures.

Pepato is an Italian sheep’s milk cheese, most often pecorino, studded with peppercorns. It is available from some delicatessens and specialty cheese shops. If you can’t find it, use pecorino or parmesan cheese with a good grinding of black pepper. Note

A light but not overly sweetened cake including ricotta which adds that rich goodness needed to treat yourself.

This recipe is dependent on good quality glacé fruits. The pale fruit on top of the cassata here is cedro, which looks like a large lumpy lemon with a very thick pith and little pulp inside, making it perfect for candying.

Soft Italian cheeses (ricotta, mascarpone, mozzarella) are simply irresistible to cook Nici Wickes! It’s fun to dabble in making them at home and while most require a certain degree of skill or equipment, ricotta is a cinch, she says

Delicious vegetarian pittas, simple and easy for the work lunchbox.

This beautifully flavoured ricotta and spinach gnocchi with arrabbiata sauce is the perfect low-carb family meal to serve this week. It’s so delicious that you won’t even miss those carbs!

This moist loaf is divine served warm with a spread of butter or a drizzle of honey.

Fruit loaf of choice may be used. Note

The easiest way to crush biscuits is to whiz them quickly in a food processor, or place them in a resealable plastic bag. Seal and pat with a rolling pin.. Note

The winning combo of pumpkin and ricotta come together sensationally in this cheesy vegetarian lasagne. Seasoned with nutmeg and sage, this recipe is packed with subtle flavours your family will love

Stuffing cannelloni can be a fiddly business. Instead, this Nici Wickes recipe uses sheets of store-bought fresh lasagne, rolling it around tasty fillings and baking it to cheesy, gooey gorgeousness

These brandy snaps are so delicate and lace-like. Filled with creamy ricotta and orange, this recipe makes the perfect sweet treat at the end of a meal

This quick and tasty pasta bake recipe is perfect when you need a comforting family meal in a snap. Fill with ham, spinach and creamy ricotta and serve alongside a fresh green salad