Buttery toasts topped with whipped ricotta, honey, pistachios and lemon zest — elegant Italian starter in minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Bread
01 - 8 slices rustic baguette or sourdough
→ Cheese
02 - 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese (8 fl oz)
→ Dairy
03 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream
→ Toppings
04 - 2 tablespoons honey
05 - 1/4 cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
06 - Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
07 - Flaky sea salt, to taste
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish (optional)
09 - Fresh mint leaves
# How To:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake 8–10 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp.
02 - While the bread toasts, combine ricotta and heavy cream in a food processor or bowl; whip 1–2 minutes until very smooth and airy.
03 - Spread a generous spoonful of whipped ricotta onto each warm toast using a spatula for an even layer.
04 - Drizzle each toast with honey and sprinkle with chopped pistachios and lemon zest, if using.
05 - Finish with a light sprinkling of flaky sea salt and a turn of freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Top with fresh mint leaves if desired and serve immediately while the toasts remain crisp.