Credit: Ed Anderson Photography
FOR THE CASHEW RICOTTA
Raw, unsalted cashews: 1 qt
Extra virgin olive oil: 2 cups
Filtered water: 1 cup
Garlic: 1/4 cup (minced)
Apple cider vinegar: 1/2 cup
Nutritional yeast: 1/4
Sea salt: 2 tbsp
Black pepper: 1 tbsp
Super firm tofu: 2 lb
FOR THE BAKED RICOTTA
Cashew ricotta (see above): 2 cups
Extra virgin olive oil: for drizzling
Fresh parsley: 1 tbsp (chopped)
FOR SERVING
Grilled ciabatta garlic bread
(From Vegana Italiana by Tara Punzone with Gene Stone. Copyright © 2025. Reprinted by permission of Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC)
“When I was a kid, there were always many people at our dinner table, and my parents served an antipasti course to satisfy them all. The antipasti varied depending on the day and the occasion, but these platters were my favorite part of any meal. They were a fabulous spread of little snacky items—ciabatta, olives, olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, and sometimes carciofi, or marinated artichokes. That meant there were always plenty of vegan treats. Of course, there was also a separate plate filled with cured meats, but I just ignored that part.”
One of the best-selling dishes at Pura Vita, this baked ricotta captures Tara Punzone’s love for abundance and Italian comfort. The cashew-based ricotta turns golden and bubbling in the oven, finished with olive oil and parsley, and served alongside grilled ciabatta—an homage to the antipasti platters that filled her family’s table growing up.
- Soak the cashews in water for at least 4 hours.
- Drain and rinse well.
- Place the soaked cashews, olive oil, filtered water, garlic, vinegar, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and tofu in a high-speed blender.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Place 2 cups of the prepared cashew ricotta in a small, preferably round, baking pan.
- Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until warmed through and lightly bubbling.
- Drizzle with olive oil and top with chopped parsley.
- Arrange grilled ciabatta slices on a serving plate and serve immediately.
