Ricotta Bake has reached near-legendary status as a hero dish during the pureed stage of weight loss surgery recovery with good reason. We get it — texture fatigue is kicking in, and you are ready to leave protein shakes in the past. However, as you recover from your bariatric surgery (whether that’s a gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, or band), your new tummy needs time to heal. It’s crucial to follow the texture progression phases strictly as advised by your medical team.

Baked Ricotta offers a flavour-packed way to make the puree stage more enjoyable, so we are excited to share our protein-rich version with a twist you might not have seen before.

In our recipe, we use a blend of ricotta and cottage cheese to boost the protein content, with fresh basil adding extra flavour. We also provide a few topping variations to keep things interesting.

RICOTTA BAKE RECIPE

Makes 4 x ½ cup serves

Ingredients:

250g ricotta cheese

200g cottage cheese

1 beaten egg

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

¼ cup fresh basil leaves (optional)

¼ teaspoon garlic salt

Pepper to taste

1 scoop high-quality, unflavoured protein powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

2. Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

3. Pour the ricotta mixture into ½ cup ramekins that have been sprayed with olive oil spray.

4. Add your desired topping from the list below.

5. Place the ramekins on a baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the tops are golden and the mixture is set.

6. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Topping Ideas:

• A spoonful of smooth, tomato-based pasta sauce or marinara sauce with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese (mozzarella is a little chewy for the puree phase, so leave this until the soft phase).

• A spoonful of blended Bolognese sauce.

• Sautéed spinach, garlic and feta, blended until smooth.

• Roasted capsicum, blended until smooth

All variations except mozzarella are appropriate for the post-bariatric surgery puree phase.

Nutrition information per ½ cup serve (without topping): 200 calories, 20g protein, 5g carbohydrate, 11g fat.

LOOKING FOR MORE BARIATRIC SPECIFIC RECIPES

If you love this recipe and want access to even more bariatric-friendly ideas for every stage of your WLS journey, Elevate is the perfect next step. Our signature online nutrition support program features a bumper Recipe Hub packed with delicious, bariatric dietitian-designed recipes tailored to your needs.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Elevate offers:

• A comprehensive Learning Vault covering everything from macros to meal plans, troubleshooting, and beyond.

• A private Facebook support group where you can ask questions and connect with Sally and Justine, bariatric dietitians any day of the week.

• Fortnightly live small-group calls with Sally and Justine.

• Monthly masterclasses to help you fine-tune your nutrition and lifestyle.

Elevate gives you everything you need to navigate WLS nutrition and optimise your outcomes for the long term.

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