Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Mazola® Corn Oil. All opinions are mine alone. #SimpleSwap #CollectiveBias
Get your day started with this better for you breakfast recipe! Grapefruit season is here and this Broiled Grapefruit with Honey Ricotta and Pistachios is a light and fresh way to change up your normal breakfast routine, plus it is fancy enough for weekend brunch!
I’ve talked a lot since the beginning of the year about setting goals and working to achieve them. For me this has been small goals, like reading more books, to bigger and harder to achieve goals, like career goals. One New Year goal that is often on everyone’s list, is to be more active and eat better. For me, this doesn’t mean crash diets or extreme workouts, but simple swaps and making better choices when it comes to ingredients and meals. For breakfast, I am eating this Broiled Grapefruit with Honey Ricotta and Pistachios. I am also making sure I use wholesome and heart-healthy ingredients in my recipes, like corn oil. In fact, a recent study has found that adding Mazola® Corn Oil to one’s diet resulted in lower cholesterol levels than Coconut Oil. A previous study found that corn oil can also help lower cholesterol more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about the study, see Mazola.com.
In my opinion, it’s all the small little changes that help me achieve my ultimate goals. For instance, since I really want to read more this year and have made it a goal to read at least two books a month, I have been turning off the TV at night 20 to 30 minutes earlier than normal, so that I can spend that time reading. I’ve also wanted to be more active, so I’ve been listening to audiobooks while I take a brisk 30-minute walk at lunch. Not only is this helping me reach my goal of “reading” more, but helps me to look forward to my 30 minutes of activity every day.
When it comes to eating better, it’s small little changes and simple swaps that help me achieve these goals as well. I’ve been working hard to menu plan each week, that way we aren’t faced with the dreaded question “What’s for dinner tonight?” and are tempted to eat out.
I also strive to eat lean cuts of meat or swap out our favorite foods and ingredients with better choices like using brown rice instead of white rice and using no sodium or low sodium varieties when it comes to canned goods, like beans and broths. I also typically reduce the amount of sugar, salt, etc. called for in recipes to make the final product a little bit more guilt free.
But one of the biggest swaps I try to make in the kitchen, is using Mazola Corn Oil since it is made of 100% pure oil with no additives and is cholesterol free. Not only that, Mazola Corn Oil is an all-purpose cooking oil that is a smart, heart-healthy choice and can be used in a variety of ways including baking, grilling, sautéing, stir frying, or mixing up a marinade or dressing. And, since Mazola Corn Oil has a neutral taste that won’t negatively impact the taste of other ingredients, it lets the natural flavor of your food stand out!
Today’s recipe, Broiled Grapefruit with Honey Ricotta and Pistachios, is a prime example of how I try to lighten up my meals with “better for you” ingredient swaps. Instead of using melted butter to brush the top of my broiled grapefruit, I use Mazola Corn Oil. And for my creamy honey ricotta topping, I’ve used part skim ricotta instead of the full fat variety (you could also use non-fat ricotta) and used all-natural honey (instead of granulated sugar) to help balance out the tanginess of the ricotta. And yes, while I still used a little brown sugar to help get that nice broiled top on my grapefruit, I reduced the amount of brown sugar called for in my recipe and used brown sugar instead of regular granulated sugar. Finally, the pistachios add a nice little crunch to this brunch recipe, and not only that, pistachios are high in protein and are loaded with antioxidants and nutrients.
Broiled grapefruit is such a trendy breakfast and brunch idea right now, but not only is my version a little bit fancier and dressed up, it is better for you too with my simple swaps! What simple swaps do you make to your recipes to make them lighter and better for you? Please share in the comments below! And for more better for you recipe ideas and inspiration, click here or follow Mazola on Facebook!
Helpful Tips and Information:
Cooking Tip: Corn oil has a smoke point higher than most cooking oils at 450°F and performs well in a variety of cooking applications, including stir-frying, sautéing, grilling and even baking. Many home cooks may not realize that all cooking oils have a smoke point that, once exceeded, not only negatively affect the food’s flavor and nutritional value, can cause the food and/or oil to burn.
Serving Suggestion: For a light breakfast option, serve this Broiled Grapefruit with Honey Ricotta and Pistachios as is; or to make it more of a complete meal, serve it with hard boiled eggs, turkey bacon and/or whole grain toast.
- Broiled Grapefruit:
- 2 large grapefruit
- 1 tablespoon Mazola® Corn Oil
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- --
- Honey Ricotta:
- 1/3 cup part skim milk ricotta cheese
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon non-fat Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios
- Preheat oven broiler to high. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Set aside.
Cut each grapefruit in half crosswise. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each grapefruit half, if necessary, so that it will stand upright.
- Using a paring knife, loosen the grapefruit segments in each half by first carefully cutting between the fruit and the peel. Then cut along each side of each segment to free it from the membrane, leaving the segments in the shell of the peel. Repeat this process with the remaining grapefruit halves.
Using a silicone pastry brush, brush the top of the grapefruit halves with the Mazola® Corn Oil. Place the grapefruit halves upright on prepared sheet pans.
In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the grapefruit halves. Place the grapefruit halves under the preheated broiler, about 4 inches from the heat source, and broil for 2-3 minutes or until the sugar is bubbly.
Meanwhile, place ricotta cheese, honey, Greek yogurt and lemon juice in a small food processor or blender. Process until smooth and creamy, adding additional honey or Greek yogurt to reach desired taste and consistency.
When grapefruit are ready, serve immediately topped with 1-2 tablespoons of the whipped honey ricotta and 1 tablespoon chopped pistachios.
This is a lovely option. I first tasted broiled grapefruit here in Florida in a very famous restaurant specialized in old Southern favorites and I just loved it. They served it as an appetizer before dinner. Thanks for your participation on this shop.