World’s Best Healthy Ricotta Cheesecake
(Torta di Ricotta)
Besides being delicious and nutritious, it’s so easy to make (requiring little clean-up)
This can be served the same day it’s made!
Do like the Italians and use natural ricotta cheese to make this European-style cheesecake–no one will even know it’s actually good-for-you. It’s healthier than traditional American cheesecake because it is not made with processed cream cheese. Cream cheese is full of fat, especially saturated fat and contains gum stabilizers.
It’s called “World’s Best” because it was featured on Super Bowl Sunday. The guests loved it and the Broncos won!
Choose organic ingredients when available:
- 15-ounces part skim ricotta cheese (avoid brands with added gums)
- 12 graham cracker squares, crushed into crumbs (or 1/4-cup crumbs)
- 6 ounces plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1/4-cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1/3-cup organic sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3 large egg whites
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) berries
- Non-stick cooking spray
Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray. Press graham cracker crumbs into bottom of prepared baking dish and set aside.
In a blender, combine ricotta, yogurt, flour and sugar on medium speed until smooth (about 1 minute). Add egg, egg whites and vanilla and blend on low speed for about 1-minute. Turn batter into prepared baking dish and set the dish on a cookie sheet to catch any leakage while baking.
Bake in preheated oven until filling is set in center, about 60-70 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cake in the oven for an additional 20 minutes.
Allow the cake to cool, then carefully run knife around inside of baking pan. Top with washed fresh berries or thawed berries of your choice.
Serves 12.
Nutrition Facts per serving (109 grams): 166 calories, 4.7 grams fat, 148 milligrams sodium, 138 milligrams potassium, 22.7 grams carbohydrates (12 grams sugar), 8.3 grams protein, 12 percent daily value calcium, 24 percent daily value vitamin C (from the berries).
For more healthy recipes inspired by European Secrets, pick up a copy of my book: Beyond The Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets Of The Super-Healthy. Bon Appetit!