Ricotta toast nice alternative to avocado

Ricotta toast seems to be having a moment right now. It keeps cropping up on my Instagram feed, on restaurant menus and, frankly, in my own thoughts when I ponder what I am hankering for at breakfast time or for an afternoon snack.

There are so many possibilities that can be launched from the simple base of creamy ricotta cheese smeared onto toasted bread, ideally just-toasted so the residual heat of it warms the cheese a little. You could use any bread you like, but the one I dream about when I’m in a ricotta toast revelry is dark and chewy with visible kernels of grain, nuts and seeds.

In this summery recipe, the ricotta gets a layer of ripe peach slices, a drizzle of honey, a sprinkle of pistachios, some fresh thyme leaves and a finishing pinch of flaky salt. It’s a mouthwatering, sweet-savory combination that’s a welcomed break from the usual avocado toast, but similarly nourishing. No wonder I can’t get it off my mind.

Ricotta Toasts With Peaches and Pistachios

4 servings

Here, creamy ricotta is smeared luxuriously onto whole grain toast, then topped with sliced peaches, pistachios, a drizzle of honey, fresh thyme leaves and a finishing sprinkle of sea salt for a nourishing, sweet-savory breakfast or snack.

3 tablespoons unsalted shelled pistachios

4 slices crusty, textured, whole grain bread, such as from a “health” loaf ( 1/2 -inch thick slices, about 1 1/4 ounce each)

3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1 ripe peach, pitted and sliced

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or flaky sea salt

In a small dry skillet over a medium-high heat, toast the pistachios, tossing frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a cutting board to cool, then finely chop.

Toast the bread. Spread about 3 tablespoons of the ricotta over each piece, then arrange 3 to 4 peach slices peach on top on each toast. Drizzle each with 1/2 teaspoon of honey, then sprinkle each with about 2 teaspoons of the pistachios, 1/4 teaspoon of the thyme and a sprinkle of salt. Cut each toast in half and serve right away.

Nutrition | Per serving: 200 calories, 10 g protein, 25 g carbohydrates, 7 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 280 mg sodium, 3 g dietary fiber, 7 g sugar