Mascarpone cheese is a soft Italian cream cheese which hails from the Lombardy region. It has a sweeter and butterier flavor than American cream cheese and is recognized as a prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale when made according to Italian standards. The combination of cool, creamy mascarpone cheese enhances the flavor of roasted summer fruit while transforming it from a sweet treat to a main event. This easy, delicious, and refreshing dessert can do double duty as a snack or on brunch/breakfast tables.
Recipe from the Diabetes Desserts Cookbook For Dummies by Amy Riolo.
Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 25 min Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Amy Riolo Selections or other good quality olive oil, divided
4 ripe plums, pitted and halved
4 teaspoons sugar
3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup mascarpone
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons honey, divided
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
- Oil a large baking dish with ½ Tablespoon olive oil and place plums, cut side up, inside the dish, and sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over each. Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes.
- While plums are baking, stir together yogurt, mascarpone, basil, remaining 1 ½ Tablespoons EVOO and 1 teaspoon honey.
- Divide 1/2 of yogurt mixture onto bottom of each of 4 plates, or a large serving platter.
- When plums are finished baking, remove from oven and place 2 halves over yogurt on each plate. Fill holes with yogurt mixture and serve warm.
Per serving: Calories 207 (From Fat 133); Fat 15g (Saturated 7g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 19mg; Carbohydrate16Xg (Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 6g. Sugars 14g
Tip: After completing step 4, spoon the remaining cream mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip for an elegant presentation.
Note: Be sure to make this recipe when plums are in season. Plums are a rich source of fiber and are a low GI fruit, making them an ideal fruit for people with diabetes and heart disease.
Vary It! Swap out peaches for plums if desired.
