Ricotta Cheese Dipping Sauce

Cooking & Spirituality

By Lucia Ferarra

This recipe paired with a loaf of crusty artisan bread is great recipe for a snack, a side for lunch, an appetizer or a dish to take to pot luck. It’s even better if the bread is toasted. Even though its cheese and bread, this dipping sauce is surprisingly light and refreshing.

Ricotta Dipping Sauce

• 1 loaf artisan bread, sliced
• ¼ cup each fresh sweet basil and parsley, chopped and mixed together.
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• Herb Season Mix (1 teaspoon each chopped fresh rosemary and oregano; ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper; ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes)
• 3-4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cups Ricotta cheese
• Juice and zest from ½ lemon

Toast your bread

My family likes this dish best with toasted bread and the best way to toast a large batch of toast is using the oven. Slice the bread on thick side (3/4 to an inch thick), baste both sides, lay out on a baking sheet and place in a preheated 375-degree oven. Leave in the oven until GBD (golden brown and delicious) about 10 minutes. Turn the slices hallway through cooking time.

Cooking as Spiritual Practice

The following is excerpted from the prayer “Canticle of Brother Sun, Sister Moon” attributed to St. Francis of Assisi taken from The Notre Dame Book of Prayer (Ave Maria Press, 2010)

Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and You give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which You give Your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

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[Lucia Ferrara, the Director of Hospitality at Precious Blood Renewal Center. Share your thoughts with Lucia or ask her questions using the form below or by sending an email to info@pbrenewalcenter.org.]

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