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Laura Dolson
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Dolsonnew-5976536c03f4020010bc78d6.jpg "Low-Carb Lemon Ricotta Pie Recipe (1)")
Laura Dolson
Laura Dolson is a health and food writer who develops low-carb and gluten-free recipes for home cooks.
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Updated on March 11, 2022
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Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/KristyDelCoro-22b25779bac64ee4bd990887aef6f4ad.jpg "Low-Carb Lemon Ricotta Pie Recipe (2)")
Medically reviewed byKristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN
Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate.
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:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/EasterPie-56a5c2e53df78cf77289c9e7.jpg "Low-Carb Lemon Ricotta Pie Recipe (3)")
(82 ratings)
Total Time: 40 min
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Servings: 8
Nutrition Highlights (per serving)
125 calories
9g fat
3g carbs
8g protein
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 8 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 125 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 9g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol 90mg | 30% |
| Sodium 144mg | 6% |
| Total Carbohydrate 3g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 0g | |
| Includes 0g Added Sugars | 0% |
| Protein 8g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 127mg | 10% |
| Iron 1mg | 6% |
| Potassium 89mg | 2% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet.2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
This is a low-carb, lower-calorie version of a lemon ricotta Italian Easter pie. It is also sometimes called a ricotta cheesecake. This is a crustless "pie"but is very similar in flavor and texture (minus the crust) to traditional versions.
The ricotta cheese in this recipe adds protein and a source of calcium, making it a bone-building ingredient that helps you get your three recommended servings of dairy.
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 pound whole-milk ricotta cheese (a 15-ounce container works fine)
- Juice and grated zest of one medium lemon
- Sugar substitute equivalent of 2/3 cup of sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Dash of salt
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F.
Separate the eggs, and beat the whites until soft peaks form.
Combine the egg yolks and the rest of the ingredients. Taste to see if it's lemony enough. Add more lemon juice to taste, if needed.
Fold egg whites into the mixture and spread in a well-buttered pie pan.
Bake until barely set in the middle (a toothpick will come out clean or almost so)—about 25 minutes. Chill completely before serving (about 90 minutes).
Variations and Substitutions
While the recipe calls for the juice of one medium-sized lemon, you may desire more. The average is about 3 tablespoons of juice for a medium lemon, but some lemons are drier and have less juice. To really boost the lemon flavor, you can also add up to half a teaspoon of lemon extract.
Whole-milk ricotta is preferred as the fat aids texture and flavor. If desired, you can use part-skim ricotta instead, but expect the pie to come out grainier and more crumbly.
Stevia and monk fruit extract both work well as no-sugar sweeteners in this recipe.
Ready to try something new? Consider making this citrus ricotta pie with limes instead of lemons.
Cooking and Serving Tips
- Be sure to chill completely before cutting. Pie can be served chilled or just below room temperature.
- Serve plain or with a topping such as no-sugar-added fruit preserves or mixed berry syrup.
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1 Source
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Rozenberg S, Body JJ, Bruyère O, et al. Effects of Dairy Products Consumption on Health: Benefits and Beliefs--A Commentary from the Belgian Bone Club and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases.Calcif Tissue Int. 2016;98(1):1-17. doi:10.1007/s00223-015-0062-x
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Dolsonnew-5976536c03f4020010bc78d6.jpg "Low-Carb Lemon Ricotta Pie Recipe (4)")
By Laura Dolson
Laura Dolson is a health and food writer who develops low-carb and gluten-free recipes for home cooks.
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