Recipe
Toasted Broccoli and Ricotta Bites
Inspired to eat healthy but don’t want to labor through tasteless, off-green mush? This recipe, although featuring broccoli, is a winner in terms of flavor and maximizing health benefits. My mother was originally inspired to cook this dish after watching an episode of Giada De Laurentiis - although Giada’s ingredients and kitchen belong in a Renaissance mansion, her recipes are easily adaptable to normal cookware. The recipe below combines roasted broccoli (which brings out the sweetness inside the florets) and porous ricotta cheese – an unlikely but smashing duo.
Toasted Broccoli and Ricotta Bites
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Servings: 3
Ingredients
- One bag broccoli florets
- One five-grain loaf
- Olive oil
- Pepper
- Ricotta cheese
- Walnuts
- Garlic power
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
#SpoonTip: you can toast the bread in the oven or use a toaster (which is much faster!)
Step 4
#SpoonTip: you can also roast the walnuts at 375° for two minutes for additional flavor. Their nutty, earthy aroma pairs well with the crispy broccoli flavor.
Eating these appetizers is like biting into a crunchy, creamy backyard garden. Surprisingly, the broccoli morphs into a sweetened morsel that has the same crispy consistency as a French fry. Paired with walnuts and neutral ricotta, the roasted qualities of the veggie blend perfectly with the toasted bread. For a less "broccoli-centric" recipe, try drizzling local honey over the toasted bread and ricotta base (no broccoli) – it instantly transforms from an appetizer into a dessert!
#SpoonTip: My mom turned this appetizer into a full meal by pairing it with a butter lettuce salad and kiwis!