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

Ricotta bake is just one way to make the puree stage more enjoyable. If you’re looking for more bariatric-friendly ideas, check out our blog: 3 Delicious Bariatric Puree Recipes You’ll Actually Enjoy.

And if you’d like a complete collection of recipes and guidance for every stage after weight loss surgery, grab a copy of Sally’s book, Your Complete Guide to Nutrition for Weight Loss Surgery. All the details are here and you can get it delivered to your door.