Fresh from the garden Roma tomatoes combined with creamy ricotta cheese and spicy basil turn a tube of polenta into a healthy summer appetizer.
It's 5 Ingredient Friday and with summer in full swing, it's past time to make an appetizer with the sweetest most fragrant tomatoes I can find.
Back in my Weight Watchers Days tubes of polenta were a bargain when it came to Weight Watchers points. While times have changed and points are calculated differently to keep up with the latest nutrition recommendations, I still enjoy polenta as a base for appetizer recipes.
Polenta (a dough made from cornmeal) is creamy, low in calories and fat, with a bit of fiber and protein thrown in. Not to mention a serving contains minimal amounts of sugar - something we're all trying to reduce in our diets.
While you can make polenta from scratch, I find the tubes to be convenient and affordable. When sliced, they're perfect as a base for this summery appetizer.
Purple basil, a new find for me, mixed with creamy ricotta cheese and garlic tops slices of rosy red Roma tomatoes along with salty parmesan cheese. After a bake in the oven (you could easily grill these too if summer is roasting you out of the house), these healthy summer appetizers are ready to plate.
As you can see, I can make a meal out of any appetizer, and at just 53 calories for each cheesy, tomato fresh bite I'm a happy camper!
Shake It Up!Skip the oven and top slices of beefsteak tomatoes with the ricotta mixture and crumbles of mozzarella cheese. Top with slivered basil and a drizzle of olive oil to make a hearty tomato salad.
FYI - You'll find a silicone baking mat a worth the money. I rarely use cooking spray these days as the mat keeps almost any food from sticking. Amazon has silicone baking mats on sale right now for 3 mats at half off for under $17 - definitely a bargain. I have one and have used it for years.