The thing that no one talks about in food blogging is that you develop some really weird eating patterns. The question of the day isn’t “what am I having for breakfast or lunch,” it’s “what are we working on and can it be considered a meal?”
In December, testing cookierecipes every day was a bit of a sugar rush. After that, balance was restored while testing/creating this healthy nourishing veggie noodle miso soup recipe. I think I ate this soup four times in a row last week – so what you’re looking at is my unintentional soup cleanse. Now, I don’t “cleanse” for health purposes, but I did really enjoy eating this soup over and over again :).
This soup is bright in color and in flavor. If you’re trying to eat lighter in the new year – but still want to eat something delicious – give this soup a try! Its brothy base is a simple dashi stock, the nourishing base of many soups in Japanese cooking. Make the dashi by gentling simmering kombu in water. Then, whisk in the miso paste to thicken the broth and give it much of its flavor (don’t skip it here!). Be careful to keep your soup at a low simmer after the miso is added, as high heat can destroy the healthy enzymes in miso.
I round this soup out with scallions, ginger, turmeric, carrots, and bok choy, and I add tofu for extra protein. Instead of filling the soup with lots and lots of noodles, I used half rice noodles and half zucchini noodles. This way, you still get that satisfying feeling that comes with eating a bowl of noodles. The soup is finished with a pop of lemon & lime and a bit of sriracha. It’s like a healthy veggie hot and sour soup. It’s a little punchy, a little earthy, and a little spicy. I hope you enjoy!
2 baby bok choy, stalks thinly sliced, leaves torn
¼ teaspoon sea salt, optional
Fresh mint or cilantro, optional for serving
Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
In a medium pot, combine the water and the kombu. Simmer gently, without boiling, for 10 minutes. Remove the kombu. Add the scallions, carrots, ginger, and garlic and simmer until the carrots are soft, about 20 minutes.
Scoop ½ cup of the hot broth into a small bowl with the miso paste. Stir until combined and return it to the soup pot. Add the turmeric, black pepper, lemon and lime juice, coconut oil, tamari, sriracha, tofu, noodles, and bok choy. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season to taste with ¼ teaspoon sea salt, if desired, and serve with fresh herbs, if desired.
I love a slice of avocado toast as much as the next person, but have you ever tried Ricotta Toast? Now, that’s what I call a breakfast upgrade! I whip creamy ricotta cheese with lemon zest, olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt to create a luxurious (but budget-friendly!) tangy spread that stores well in the fridge and tastes AMAZING on a slice of crispy sourdough toast. But my favorite part? There are endless ways to dress up ricotta toast, and I’ve shared four delicious variations below!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this whipped ricotta toast recipe:
Whole Milk Ricotta: This is a creamy, slightly sweet, soft cheese made from the whey leftovers from making other types of cheese, like mozzarella. I recommend using whole milk ricotta to get the creamiest texture and best flavor for your toast.
Sourdough: You can use any type of bread you’d usually use to make toast. But, in my opinion, the best bread for ricotta toast is one that’s sturdy with a chewy crumb and crisp crust—like sourdough! I buy a whole loaf and slice it myself to get nice, thick slices. Other good options include whole grain, ciabatta, French bread, or bagels!
Lemon Zest: I zest a whole lemon and mix it with the creamy cheese. This adds the most delicious citrusy zing to the spread. Budget-friendly tip: Store the zested lemon in your fridge to make lemon water, lemonade, or to use in other recipes (like our homemade lemon curd!)
Olive Oil: Adds flavor and helps the cheese to whip up smooth and creamy.
Salt: It doesn’t matter if I’m making sweet or savory ricotta on toast; I always add a pinch of salt to make the flavors pop.
Tips & Suggestions!
I highly recommend using whole milk ricotta. The higher fat content helps the cheese to whip up smooth and creamy with a cloud-like texture. Plus, the flavor is unbeatable! Lower fat options can be too watery and won’t whip to the same consistency. BUT if that’s all you have on hand, please don’t waste it! The texture won’t be the same as what’s shown in my process photos below, but it’ll still work as a topping for toast.
Don’t have a hand mixer? Try your food processor! You could also whip it by hand, but it’ll take a lot longer and require some serious arm strength.
It’s pretty common for ricotta to have a small amount of liquid (whey) on top when you open the container. Whenever that happens, I just stir it in before measuring my cheese.
This creamy spread isn’t just for toast! I love it as a dip for fresh vegetables, mixed with pasta for a quick sauce, smothered on a sliced baguette as an appetizer, or as a spread on sandwiches. It’s really versatile and stores well in the fridge for a few days.
Make it Ahead
I love a breakfast I can prep ahead, so you already know this ricotta toast recipe is in my meal prep rotation! Make the whipped ricotta as directed in the recipe card, and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. I usually give it a quick mix to reincorporate any liquid that may have separated before using. Then, all I do is toast my sourdough and add any toppings I fancy that day. It’s almost as easy as my overnight oats for breakfast meal prep. 😉
Ricotta Toast Variations
I think this whipped ricotta toast base recipe is delicious as-is, but it’s even better with toppings! I’ve tested manydifferent topping combinations, but here are four stand-out favorites:
Roasted Grapes, Thyme, and Bacon
This topping is perfect for when you can’t decide between savory or sweet. Toss your grapes in a light coating of olive oil and roast in a 400°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until they become wrinkled and soft. You can cook the bacon however you’d like, but I recommend cooking it in the oven, as it’s already on and hot! Chop the cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces, layer your roasted grapes on top of the ricotta, and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves.
Tomatoes, Basil, and Balsamic Reduction
Tomatoes, basil, and balsamic are ALWAYS a winning combination. Any kind of tomatoes work for this topping! Add a drizzle of balsamic reduction on top and fresh basil leaves, and you’re basically eating bruschetta for breakfast! YUM.
Strawberry, Mint, and Honey
This whipped ricotta toast topping makes me dream of summer mornings. Bonus points if you grow your own mint and strawberries (season-dependent, of course!). Simply slice fresh strawberries, layer them on top of the toast, and sprinkle with torn mint leaves and a drizzle of honey. The flavors are so light and refreshing, and it really couldn’t be easier to make. You could also use other types of berries, like raspberries or blueberries.
Mushrooms, Garlic, Wilted Spinach, and Red Pepper Flakes
For this one-pan topping, sauté sliced mushrooms (any type) in olive oil with a sprinkle of salt for about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute or so, then mix in fresh spinach until wilted. Season to taste before adding to your whipped ricotta with a pinch of red pepper flakes. The juicy mushrooms are irresistible, and the wilted spinach is a great way to sneak in some green veggies for breakfast, too.
More Topping Ideas!
I honestly can’t think of a single savory or sweet ingredient that wouldn’t work well with this creamy, tangy lemon ricotta toast base recipe. Here are a few more ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
15oztub of whole milk ricotta (just shy of 2 cups)$2.67
2tsplemon zest*$0.50
1Tbspolive oil$0.19
¼tspsalt$0.01
1lbloaf of sourdough**$3.99
Instructions
Combine ricotta cheese, lemon zest, olive oil and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
Using a hand mixer, whip the ingredients together until they are smooth and creamy.
Slice sourdough into thick slices and toast.
Using a spatula or a butter knife, generously top the toasted sourdough. You can save any extra ricotta in the fridge and use it for easy meal prep throughout the week. The best part about this base recipe is that the ricotta mixture lends itself to both sweet and savory toppings.
Top the ricotta with any flavor combinations you love or just enjoy it as-is with a sprinkle of salt and a crank or two of freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy immediately for the best texture.
*I zested one whole lemon for this recipe and then saved the rest of the lemon in a ziplock baggie in the fridge for another recipe that requires lemon juice. I don’t recommend adding the lemon juice to the ricotta for this one, as the mixture will be too wet instead of being light and creamy.
**The bake-at-home sourdough loaves from Kroger are a nice option, but they don’t yield as many slices as a pre-sliced loaf, so use whatever you like best!
Combine 15 oz ricotta cheese, 2 tsp lemon zest, 1 Tbsp olive oil, and ¼ tsp salt in a medium mixing bowl.
Using a hand mixer, whip the ingredients together until they are smooth and creamy.
Slice a 1 lb loaf of sourdough into thick slices and toast.
Using a spatula or a butter knife, generously top the toasted sourdough. You can save any extra ricotta in the fridge and use it for easy meal prep throughout the week. The best part about this base recipe is that the ricotta mixture lends itself to both sweet and savory toppings.
Top the ricotta with any flavor combinations you love or just enjoy it as-is with a sprinkle of salt and a crank or two of freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy immediately for the best texture.
