Equipment
Ingredients
Macerated Berries
- 250 g fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 100 g fresh raspberries, whole
- 15 g caster sugar
- 10 ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Whipped Ricotta
- 400 g whole milk ricotta, drained of excess liquid
- 60 ml heavy cream, cold
- 40 g powdered sugar, sifted
- 5 ml vanilla bean paste
- 1 lemon zest, finely grated
Garnish
- 30 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), solid block for shaving
Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.
Full nutrition
- Calories
- 332 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 34 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
- Sugar
- 22 g
- Sodium
- 117 mg
- Saturated Fat
- 11 g
- Trans Fat
- 1 g
- Monounsaturated Fat
- 4 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat
- 1 g
- Cholesterol
- 67 mg
- Potassium
- 398 mg
- Calcium
- 241 mg
- Iron
- 0.8 mg
- Magnesium
- 43 mg
- Phosphorus
- 195 mg
- Zinc
- 0.9 mg
- Vitamin A
- 183 mcg
- Vitamin C
- 45 mg
- Vitamin D
- 0.4 mcg
- Vitamin E
- 0.7 mg
- Vitamin K
- 5 mcg
- Vitamin B6
- 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B12
- 0.9 mcg
- Thiamin
- 0.04 mg
- Riboflavin
- 0.38 mg
- Niacin
- 0.6 mg
- Folate
- 26 mcg
- Water
- 164 g
- Alcohol
- 0 g
- Caffeine
- 63 mg
Sources: USDA FoodData Central
Method
Combine the strawberries, raspberries, caster sugar, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Gently toss to coat the berries and set aside to macerate while you prepare the ricotta.
Place the drained ricotta, heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, and lemon zest into a food processor.
Process the ricotta mixture until it is completely smooth, light, and aerated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once halfway through.
Spoon or pipe a generous layer of the whipped ricotta into the bottom of four serving glasses.
Spoon a layer of the macerated berries along with some of their released juices directly over the ricotta layer.
Repeat the layering process once more, finishing each glass with a final small dollop of ricotta and a few select berries.
Using a microplane or fine grater, shave the dark chocolate generously over the top of each parfait.
Transfer the assembled desserts to the refrigerator to chill briefly. This allows the flavors to meld and the ricotta to firm up slightly before serving.
Chef's Notes
- If your ricotta is visibly wet in the container, line a fine mesh sieve with cheesecloth or a paper towel, place it over a bowl, and let the ricotta drain in the fridge for 1-2 hours before whipping.
- Using a food processor is the secret to erasing ricotta's naturally grainy texture. A stand mixer with a whisk attachment works, but may leave a slight texture.
- For the cleanest presentation, transfer your whipped ricotta into a piping bag or a large zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. This prevents smearing the sides of your serving glasses.
- The quality of the chocolate matters immensely here. A fruity, slightly bitter 70 percent dark chocolate cuts through the richness of the dairy perfectly.
Storage
Refrigerator: 1 day — Best eaten the day it is made, as the berries will release juice and thin the ricotta over time.
Troubleshooting
Ricotta mixture is grainy or lumpy
Cause: Using low-fat ricotta or not processing the mixture for long enough
Fix: Continue processing in the food processor for an additional 1-2 minutes. Adding an extra splash of heavy cream can help emulsify stubborn curds.
Prevention: Always use full-fat whole milk ricotta and process until visibly silky
Dessert is watery at the bottom of the glass
Cause: Ricotta was not adequately drained or the dessert sat for too many hours after assembling
Fix: Cannot be fixed once assembled, but still safe and delicious to eat.
Prevention: Strain ricotta in a cheesecloth-lined sieve for 30 minutes before use, and assemble right before the chilling period
Cultural Context
Whipped ricotta has roots in traditional Southern Italian desserts, particularly as the classic filling for Sicilian cannoli and cassata cake. By deconstructing these flavors and pairing them with fresh, macerated fruit rather than pastry, the dish transforms into a modern, lighter alternative that highlights seasonal summer produce while retaining its authentic Italian soul.
