Maman's Kale Pea & Ricotta Spread

When it comes to hosting, it’s always the appetizers that give me the most trouble. Let me explain my dilemma: while the main course is, by all accounts, the pièce de résistance of most any gathering, it’s the appetizers that help it shine. Their purpose is to whet guests’ appetites, tiding them over while the host puts the finishing touches on whatever dish is to come. A pre-dinner snack, if you will. So the biggest faux-pas an appetizer can make? Being too heavy or too easy to fill up on. (I’m alluding to my love-hate relationship with artichoke dip.) That’s why, when Elisa Marshall served this kale pea & ricotta spread at an intimate dinner in her NYC loft last month, I knew I’d found it: the perfect appetizer.

The argument for its perfection is well-supported. Not only does this kale pea & ricotta spread present beautifully no matter how you plate it (I’m taking inspiration from Elisa’s garden-of-earthly-delights-in-a-glass arrangement), but it’s the perfect dipper for any crunchy, snappy crudités you’d like to serve. The individual champagne coupe glasses pictured give this kale pea & ricotta spread an elevated appeal, but trust: leftovers make for the perfect afternoon snack—enjoyed straight from the Tupperware. (I wouldn’t judge if you dive in with just a spoon.)

Thankfully, this is also one of those genius appetizers that makes the most of my favorite kitchen appliance: my beloved food processor. It does all the chopping and mixing for you—so all that’s left is to simply enjoy to your stomach’s content. (With room for the main course to spare.)

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Fresh, creamy, and oh-so-green, this simple spread is the perfect way to add color to your table—and it’s the ideal addition to your favorite crudités.

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Reprinted with permission from Maman: The Cookbook by Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte with Lauren Salkeld. Copyright ©2021. Photographs by Linda Xiao. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House