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Vegetarian Recipes

Orange Pan-glazed Tempeh

http://feeds.101cookbooks.com/~r/101Cookbooks/~3/-n4Tjg7c-tY/

This might be the best tempeh recipe I’ve highlighted to date. It features a simple ginger and garlic-spiked orange glaze that plays off the nutty, earthiness of pan-fried tempeh beautifully. Unlike many other tempeh recipes, there is no need for a long marinade time with this one, making it great for a last-minute weeknight meal.
Orange Pan-glazed Tempeh
The recipe comes with a bit of a story, originates in a book I suspect many of you haven’t seen yet, and started with an email I received one morning last September from Australian cookbook author (and natural foods enthusiast) Jude Blereau. It read,

Dear Heidi, My name is Jude Blereau and I’m a Natural Foods Chef and author from Western Australia. I’m currently in San Francisco, having a fabulous time(…) I’d love the opportunity to have a chat with you and meet you. We do similar work I think, though with our own different slant. Hoping we can meet…

The name sounded quite familiar to me, I did a quick scan of my cookbooks, and spotted her book immediately. It was a thoughtfully composed volume of natural food recipes that I had tucked into my suitcase on my journey back from New Zealand a couple years ago. The minute I discovered Wholefood in a bookstore in Wellington, I knew I was reading along with a cook I had much in common with. Flash forward a couple years (and emails) later and we are chatting over coffee and croissants at Tartine Bakery here in San Francisco.
Orange Pan-glazed Tempeh
We talked about all sorts of things, and I asked Jude if she’d let me highlight one of her recipes here on the site. She told me she had a new book just published in Australia, and that she’d send the new one to me upon her return. Today’s tempeh recipe is from Jude’s new book – Coming Home to Eat: Wholefood for the Family published by Murdoch Books. It is beautifully written, delicately designed, brimming with great recipes, and punctuated by a handful of photographs (by Geoff Fisher and Michelle Aboud) that help set the aesthetic tone of the book perfectly.
Orange Pan-glazed Tempeh
My hope is that Coming Home to Eat will get U.S. distribution sometime in the near future, but as far as I know, that could take some time. Meanwhile, you can follow Jude through her site or her blog. And if you find yourself in Perth looking for a cooking class experience or natural chef training program – Jude’s the one to track down.

And thank you for reaching out Jude, I look forward to visiting you in Perth someday. You books an inspiring, and your enthusiasm infectious. I hope our paths cross again soon. -h

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Vegetarian Recipes

Ricotta Toast 4 Ways

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!

Overhead view of ricotta toast 4 ways.

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!

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 many different 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.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with roasted grapes, thyme and bacon.

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.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with blistered tomatoes, basil, and balsamic reduction.

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.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with sliced strawberries, mint, and honey.

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.

Overhead view of ricotta toast with mushrooms, garlic, wilted spinach, and red pepper.

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:

Print

Ricotta Toast Recipe

Upgrade your breakfast game with this quick and easy Ricotta Toast recipe. It’s delicious as-is, but we’ve also included four tasty variations to try!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($7.36 recipe / $0.92 serving)
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 to 10 slices
Calories 262kcal
Author Jess Rice

Equipment

  • Hand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 15 oz tub of whole milk ricotta (just shy of 2 cups) $2.67
  • 2 tsp lemon zest* $0.50
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil $0.19
  • ¼ tsp salt $0.01
  • 1 lb loaf 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.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*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!

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 10g | Sodium: 459mg | Fiber: 1g

how to make Ricotta Toast – step by step photos

Ricotta, olive oil, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl.

Combine 15 oz ricotta cheese, 2 tsp lemon zest, 1 Tbsp olive oil, and ¼ tsp salt in a medium mixing bowl.

A hand mixer whipping ricotta in a mixing bowl.

Using a hand mixer, whip the ingredients together until they are smooth and creamy.

A loaf of sourdough bread cut into slices on a wooden cutting board.

Slice a 1 lb loaf of sourdough into thick slices and toast.

A hand spreading whipped ricotta on slices of sourdough 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.

Ricotta toast 4 ways on a wooden serving platter, one topped with strawberries and mint, the next with roasted grapes and bacon, another with blistered tomatoes and basil, and the last with mushrooms and wilted spinach.

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.

Ricotta toast 4 ways on a wooden serving platter, one topped with strawberries and mint, the next with roasted grapes and bacon, another with blistered tomatoes and basil, and the last with mushrooms and wilted spinach.

More Easy Toast Recipes

The post Ricotta Toast 4 Ways appeared first on Budget Bytes.

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