Fresh Homemade Ricotta with Confit Cherry Tomatoes, Black Olive Crumb & Basil

Silky, freshly made ricotta served with slow-confit cherry tomatoes, crisp black olive crumb and fragrant basil—an elegant, produce-led dish that celebrates balance, texture and purity of flavour.

INGREDIENTS

     +    
Equipment

Weighing scales

Large saucepan (minimum 4-litre capacity)

1m² muslin cloth

Large colander with bowl to catch whey

Large ladle

Chopping board and knife

Small metal trays

Tin foil

     +    
Fresh Ricotta

2.2 litres whole milk

1.25 litres double cream

35g Maldon salt

75g lemon juice

50g cider vinegar

     +    
To Finish

30ml aged balsamic vinegar

50ml olive oil

     +    
Confit Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine

1 small bunch cherry tomatoes on the vine, halved lengthways

2 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1 tsp picked thyme

30ml olive oil

1 tsp icing sugar

6g coarse sea salt

2g finely crushed black pepper

     +    
Dried Black Olive Crumb

150g high-quality black olives in olive oil

     +    
Assembly

Fresh basil leaves, torn

Dried black olive crumb

Confit cherry tomatoes

Mixed sliced heritage tomatoes

Method

     +    
Fresh Ricotta

Lightly wet the base of a large pan to prevent the milk from sticking.

Add the milk, cream and salt and bring gently to a low simmer, whisking occasionally to avoid scorching.

Once simmering, whisk in the lemon juice and cider vinegar, remove immediately from the heat and leave to cool at room temperature for approximately 2 hours.

Line a colander with a double layer of muslin and place over a bowl.

Using a ladle, carefully lift the curds into the muslin. Reserve a small amount of whey in case the ricotta needs loosening later.

Fold the muslin over, cover with cling film and drain overnight in the fridge until thick and creamy.

     +    
Confit Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine

Lay the tomatoes cut-side up on a foil-lined tray.

Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, scatter over thyme and lightly dust with icing sugar.

Cook in a fan oven at 90°C for 2–2½ hours, until semi-dried and intensely flavoured.

     +    
Dried Black Olive Crumb

Rinse the olives under hot water and drain well.

Spread onto a tray and dry in the oven at 90°C for approximately 3 hours, until crisp.

Cool, then blitz in a blender to a coarse crumb.

     +    
Assembly

Spoon the ricotta into a shallow serving dish and create a well in the centre.

Pour in 30ml olive oil and 30ml aged balsamic vinegar.

Arrange the sliced heritage tomatoes around the ricotta.

Scatter over the olive crumb and add 5–7 confit cherry tomatoes.

Finish with torn basil leaves and serve.

Fresh Homemade Ricotta with Confit Cherry Tomatoes, Black Olive Crumb & Basil

Silky, freshly made ricotta served with slow-confit cherry tomatoes, crisp black olive crumb and fragrant basil—an elegant, produce-led dish that celebrates balance, texture and purity of flavour.

INGREDIENTS

   +  &nbsp
Equipment

Weighing scales

Large saucepan (minimum 4-litre capacity)

1m² muslin cloth

Large colander with bowl to catch whey

Large ladle

Chopping board and knife

Small metal trays

Tin foil

   +   
Fresh Ricotta

2.2 litres whole milk

1.25 litres double cream

35g Maldon salt

75g lemon juice

50g cider vinegar

   +   
To Finish

30ml aged balsamic vinegar

50ml olive oil

   +  &nbsp
Confit Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine

1 small bunch cherry tomatoes on the vine, halved lengthways

2 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1 tsp picked thyme

30ml olive oil

1 tsp icing sugar

6g coarse sea salt

2g finely crushed black pepper

   +   
Dried Black Olive Crumb

150g high-quality black olives in olive oil

   +   
Assembly

Fresh basil leaves, torn

Dried black olive crumb

Confit cherry tomatoes

Mixed sliced heritage tomatoes

Method

   +   
Fresh Ricotta

Lightly wet the base of a large pan to prevent the milk from sticking.

Add the milk, cream and salt and bring gently to a low simmer, whisking occasionally to avoid scorching.

Once simmering, whisk in the lemon juice and cider vinegar, remove immediately from the heat and leave to cool at room temperature for approximately 2 hours.

Line a colander with a double layer of muslin and place over a bowl.

Using a ladle, carefully lift the curds into the muslin. Reserve a small amount of whey in case the ricotta needs loosening later.

Fold the muslin over, cover with cling film and drain overnight in the fridge until thick and creamy.

   +   
Confit Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine

Lay the tomatoes cut-side up on a foil-lined tray.

Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, scatter over thyme and lightly dust with icing sugar.

Cook in a fan oven at 90°C for 2–2½ hours, until semi-dried and intensely flavoured.

   +   
Dried Black Olive Crumb

Rinse the olives under hot water and drain well.

Spread onto a tray and dry in the oven at 90°C for approximately 3 hours, until crisp.

Cool, then blitz in a blender to a coarse crumb.

   +   
Assembly

Spoon the ricotta into a shallow serving dish and create a well in the centre.

Pour in 30ml olive oil and 30ml aged balsamic vinegar.

Arrange the sliced heritage tomatoes around the ricotta.

Scatter over the olive crumb and add 5–7 confit cherry tomatoes.

Finish with torn basil leaves and serve.

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