Spinach Ricotta Breakfast Bake
This protein packed spinach ricotta bake can be eaten warm or cold, cut into on-the-go squares.~ by Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD
{Disclosure: As a co-owner of The Recipe ReDux, I was compensated to manage this contest. I am not eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. Thoughts and opinions are my own.}
Oatmeal made with milk is pretty much my go-to breakfast. (My tip: Bring milk to a boil WITH the oats vs. adding oats AFTER boiling = extra thick & creamy oatmeal.)
So, when the The National Dairy Council and the Quaker Oats Center For Excellence came to Regan, Serena & me to host a "Oats & Dairy: A Powerful Combination" recipe challenge for our Recipe ReDux members, it was a no-brainer for me.
Coming from three generations of dairy farmers and working for my local dairy council for several years, I'm no stranger to the benefits of milk, cheese and yogurt. My fridge is typically stocked with fat-free and/or 1% milk, a variety of aged cheeses, fresh mozzarella and Greek yogurt - staples for many meals.
And while a big container of oats is always in my pantry, I admit that I pretty much use them only for breakfast oatmeal (every kind of oatmeal - overnight oats, oatmeal with peanut butter, honey nut oatmeal, you get the picture) or for snacks like these Baked Oatmeal Squares or variations of Fig & Pecan No Bake Bites.
So, this contest inspired me to get out of my "oats in sweet recipes only" mode and I decided to do a savory riff on Baked Ricotta.
Think quiche meets omelet meet the inside of a stuffed shell and you got this Spinach Ricotta Breakfast Bake.
My trick is to pulverize those oats until you basically have oat flour and then the possibilities are really endless on what you can do with it.
I have to say, this was easy to make and really really YUMMY. But even more importantly, it kept me full right up until lunchtime because it's protein PACKED as in 22 grams of protein per 310 calorie serving. Not to mention each serving provides a hefty dose of calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, fiber....and more.
But did I mention how yummy it was? After all, THAT'S what really counts in the end when it comes to nutritious cooking.
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Spinach Ricotta Breakfast Bake
- Yield: 4 servings. 1x
Description
Power pack breakfast with oats and dairy in this savory Spinach Ricotta Breakfast Bake using ground up oats! Eat warm or cold, cut into on-the-go squares.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 cups baby spinach
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup oats
- 16 ounces skim milk ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add in spinach and nutmeg; sauté for about 5 minutes until spinach is wilted, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, cool slightly.
- Using a blender or food processor, pulse oats until they become a fine powder. In a large bowl, mix together cooked spinach, grounded oats, ricotta, eggs, black pepper and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Pour into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray.
- Cook for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan and cook another 5 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and cool slightly before serving.
What's your favorite dairy + oats combo? Have you ever used oats in a savory dish? Check out all the Recipe ReDuxers oat + dairy protein packed recipes below!
I love that along with all the goodness this breakfast bake provides it also has 22 grams of protein!
I know! This kept me totally full all through the morning when I usually need a mid-morning snack 🙂
At first I could not figure out how the oats would play in- I love what you did with them!
The oats are definitely snuck in to this recipe 🙂
What a GREAT idea. Seriously. I'm totally making this one. I struggle for protein at breakfast. Anytime you endorse something as yummy, though, I know it's worth making 😀
Deanna.... I have a brunch coming up and this looks like centre stage perfection. YUM!
Ooh fun - let me know if you make it 🙂
Great creative use of the oats and dairy - just pinned this! 🙂
Thanks for the pin - let me know if you make it!
Quiches are one of my favorite foods, I love this! Very creative and definitely delicious! I pinned it!
And I pinned your bake too - oats in savory dishes are da bomb!
This looks great... I'm trying to think of new things for breakfast, especially incorporating protein, so I will have to pin this for later!
This sounds flippin' fantastic, Deanna! Good luck in the contest! 🙂
Thanks for the kudos Becca - I hope you get to try it out soon 🙂
Ricotta cheese is a favorite of mine! I always forget about it until I see something yummy like this! Love the oats and dairy combo use 🙂
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Me too - I love ricotta and I don't use it nearly enough 🙂
I haven't tried a savory oatmeal dish, but after this oatmeal contest I totally want to try! This looks delicious!
I love quiche and making one without a crust makes the quiche even better (and healthier) in my opinion. Love spinach and ricotta cheese together. Looks fantastic.
this is definitely my idea of breakfast and light lunch.
I'd really like to know how much fiber and carbohydrates are in this, please? I am looking for different breakfast options low in carbs because I often get low blood sugar and get shaky in the mornings when eating too many carbs, like in GrapeNuts cereal...
There are approximately 310 calories, 21 grams carbohydrate, 22 grams protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving in this recipe (which serves 4.)
Thanks, Deanna!! Can't wait to try this!