Tag Archives: appetizer

Honey Lime Greens Yogurt Dip – Sweet and Healthy Treat to Pair With Fruit

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Looking for a quick, nutritious, and delicious way to enjoy fresh fruit? This Honey Lime Greens Dip is packed with protein, probiotics, and superfoods, thanks to Greek yogurt, a premium greens powder, and a touch of honey for natural sweetness. Fresh lime juice and zest add a refreshing zing, making this dip the perfect complement to berries, grapes, apple slices, and more. Ready in minutes and easy to scale up for a party, this vibrant, healthy snack will keep you fueled and satisfied!

If you’re looking for a fun and functional way to enjoy fresh fruit, my Honey Lime Greens Dip is the answer! This easy-to-make, protein-packed dip is naturally sweet, tangy, and full of benefits from simple, wholesome ingredients. It takes just minutes to mix up, making it perfect for a quick snack, a party platter, or a healthy dessert option.

Why You’ll Love This Yogurt Fruit Dip

This dip isn’t just delicious—it’s packed with nutrients to fuel your body and support overall wellness. Plus, just 81 calories per serving with 1g fat, 11g carbs and 6g protein.  Let’s break down the functional benefits of the ingredients:

  • Greek Yogurt: A powerhouse of protein, probiotics, and calcium, Greek yogurt helps build muscle, improve gut health, and support strong bones. This makes it an excellent base for a healthy fruit dip. I used a 2% milkfat yogurt over full-fat, I felt this compromise gave a more luxurious creamy mouthfeel than using zero-fat.  Plain is what was used in the recipe, but vanilla would also be a nice substitute.
  • Honey: A natural sweetener that provides antioxidants and energy without refined sugar. It adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the tanginess of the yogurt and lime.
  • Greens Powder: This greens blend is packed with digestive enzymes, pre and probiotics, and superfoods to support digestion, immune function, and energy levels. It’s a great way to add more greens to your day while enjoying a simple and delicious superfood dip. I used Smarter Greens Powder for Daily Wellness, it has no added sugar, 125 million probiotic CFUs, the power of 40 superfoods – including 37 fruits and vegetables (literally, I don’t think I could eat this many types of produce in whole food form in a day – and variety is so important for your body)! 
  • Fresh Lime Juice and Zest: The citrus zing cuts the earthiness of the greens powder while providing a dose of vitamin C and antioxidants. Combined with honey, it creates a perfectly balanced honey lime dip that enhances any fruit you pair it with. Get a citrus squeezer and two-way zester to make life easy!

Simple to Make, Easy to Scale

This Honey Lime Greens Dip is as easy as it gets—just mix up the ingredients, drizzle with honey, and enjoy! The recipe serves three, but if you’re hosting a party, it’s effortless to scale up to serve a crowd. Just multiply the ingredients and set out a big bowl with a variety of fruit for dipping—grapes, berries, apple slices, or whatever you love! This easy healthy snack is perfect for entertaining or meal prepping.

This dip is a delicious way to boost your nutrient intake while satisfying your sweet tooth. Whether you enjoy it as a post-workout snack, a refreshing mid-afternoon treat, or a healthy dessert at your next gathering, it’s sure to be a hit!

Note: This post contains affiliate links and products from my Amazon storefront. I earn a small commission from purchase made through link visits. The proceeds help me offset operating costs for The Fit Fork. Thank you!

Looking for a quick, nutritious, and delicious way to enjoy fresh fruit? This Honey Lime Greens Dip is packed with protein, probiotics, and superfoods, thanks to Greek yogurt, a premium greens powder, and a touch of honey for natural sweetness. Fresh lime juice and zest add a refreshing zing, making this dip the perfect complement to berries, grapes, apple slices, and more. Ready in minutes and easy to scale up for a party, this vibrant, healthy snack will keep you fueled and satisfied!
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Honey Lime Greens Yogurt Dip
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

Looking for a quick, nutritious, and delicious way to enjoy fresh fruit? This Honey Lime Greens Dip is packed with protein, probiotics, and superfoods, thanks to Greek yogurt, a premium greens powder, and a touch of honey for natural sweetness. Fresh lime juice and zest add a refreshing zing, making this dip the perfect complement to berries, grapes, apple slices, and more. Ready in minutes and easy to scale up for a party, this vibrant, healthy snack will keep you fueled and satisfied!

Course: Appetizer, party, Snack
Cuisine: healthy, low carb
Keyword: dip, frozen yogurt, greens powder
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 81 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt can sub vanilla, but will change macros
  • 1 scoop Greens Powder
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
  • 2 tsp. lime zest divided
  • 1 ½ Tbsp honey
Instructions
  1. In 8-oz bowl, stir together yogurt, greens powder, lime juice and 1 tsp of the zest until combined.
  2. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with remaining lime zest. Serve with your fruit of choice.
Recipe Notes

Salsa Cottage Cheese Hummus – High Protein Snack

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Clean up your snacking game with my cottage cheese salsa hummus – it’s high in protein and lower in fat and carbs than traditional hummus.

Clean up your snacking game with Cottage Cheese Hummus – a creamy, protein-packed dip without added oil. Serve cold, drizzle with more salsa and enjoy with tortilla chips or veggie sticks. Also delicious heated as a hot dip or hearty ingredient in a burrito bowl, pasta toss or stuffed in

I still keep the traditional ingredient of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), but then I also add some reduced-fat cottage cheese which eliminates the need for olive oil or tahini. You get more protein and less fat, yet still lots of taste – thanks to the salsa of your choice.

Customize this hummus with your go-to salsa – it could be traditional salsa, salsa rojo, salsa verde, or whatever else tickles your tastebuds.

I used Gilly Loco Salsa (the Salsa Rojo) and their delicious tortilla chips that are non-GMO and cooked in coconut oil to be better for you.

Making this salsa hummus cottage cheese may be one of the easiest things you’ve ever done – there are only four ingredients and no cooking. You’ll want to put it in your “what to bring to the party or potluck” rotation this summer and all year long.

TIPS FOR MAKING COTTAGE CHEESE SALSA HUMMUS

  1. I used reduced-fat cottage cheese, but you may substitute full-fat for an even richer outcome.
  2. Again, use the salsa of your choice – mild, medium, hot, red, green, garlicky, you name it!
  3. I find a smaller, personal-sized blender works best for this cottage cheese dip – I have used this inexpensive blender daily and it has held up! Adding the salsa as the first ingredient keeps everything mixing up well from the bottom of the blender. You may need to scrape down the sides a bit to ensure smoothness.
  4. For the full salsa madness effect, add more on top. I made the circular pattern by dragging a spoon through the hummus to make a channel.
  5. Cover leftovers and keep for up to 5 days in the fridge.
  6. This cold cottage cheese dip is also delicious warm! Just pop in the microwave for a minute, stop to stir, and heat again as needed. Warmed up this salsa cottage cheese hummus also makes a protein-packed filling for quesadillas, burritos – or even tossed with pasta or stuffed into a baked potato.
Clean up your snacking game with Cottage Cheese Hummus – a creamy, protein-packed dip without added oil. Serve cold, drizzle with more salsa and enjoy with tortilla chips or veggie sticks. Also delicious heated as a hot dip or hearty ingredient in a burrito bowl, pasta toss or stuffed in
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Salsa Cottage Cheese Hummus – Easy & Healthy
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

Clean up your snacking game with Cottage Cheese Hummus– a creamy, protein-packed dip without added oil. Serve cold, drizzle with more salsa and enjoy with tortilla chips or veggie sticks. Also delicious heatedas a hot dip or hearty ingredient in a burrito bowl, pasta toss or stuffed in

Course: appetizers, Snack
Cuisine: high protein, Mediterranean, vegetarian
Keyword: cottage cheese, fish, black cod, sablefish, merken, spicy, tangerine, 20 minute, salsa
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 85 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup salsa plus more for garnish, I used Gilly’s Loco Salsa Rosa
  • 3/4 cup 2% cottage cheese can substitute full fat, but 0-fat not recommended
  • 1 15- oz can cooked chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 2 tsp lemon or lime juice
Instructions
  1. To blender, add salsa, cottage cheese, chickpeas and lemon/lime juice in that order (for best blending).
  2. Blend for a minute or so, scraping down the sides with a spatula ass needed, until creamy and smooth.
  3. Transfer mixture to a serving dish and smooth the top, making circular grooves to hold the salsa garnish. Use a spoon to drizzle on a couple more tablespoons of salsa.
  4. Add any additional toppings, as desired, such as fresh herbs, seeds/nuts, olive oil, etc. Serve with Gilly’s Loco tortilla chips. May also use as a heated filling or sauce by microwaving for a few minutes and adding to burritos, quesadillas, or tossing with pasta, etc.
Recipe Notes

Makes 6 servings: 85 calories per serving, 2g fat, 7g net carb (4g fiber), 7g protein

Green Chile Cottage Cheese Queso – High Protein

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Good news for cheese lovers! You can have your queso and eat it too! High Protein Green Chile Queso is easy, delicious AND nutritious and will become your new favorite not dip for snacking and meals. Heck, you’ll want to pour it on everything!

Most queso (as we know it in the Southern US) is based on processed American cheese, ewwww – kinda a mystery substance. But my recipe high protein queso shared below features cottage cheese as the hero ingredient.

Cottage cheese in queso might sound strange – but it is cheese, right?! It’s blended smooth for a creamy texture and is incorporated with a bit of grated Pepper Jack for a slightly spicy and richer cheese vibe. You stay away artificial ingredients, preservatives and who knows what – plus, there’s lots of protein and not much fat.

Shredded Pepper Jack melts into blended cottage cheese for the perfect medley! Or, try white cheddar!

And, cottage cheese queso is easy to make, with just four ingredients, an approximate 24-oz microwave-safe dish (or a little larger), and a microwave. So, 1) tastes great, 2) lots of protein, 3) less fat and no fake stuff – WIN-WIN-WIN!

Roast and chop your own green chile peppers, or for convenience, use pre-prepped like frozen, jar or canned.

This would be a great appetizer or snack for football game season – bowl games are coming up! Make it at score big compliments!

Lower in fat, but still ooey-gooey, this high protein green chili queso features blended cottage cheese as the hero. Simple to make in the microwave, only 4 ingredients – delicious and nutritious! 100 calories per serving with 11g protein. A healthy appetizer or topping for your Mexican-inspired meal.

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5 from 5 votes
Lower in fat, but still ooey-gooey, this high protein green chili queso features blended cottage cheese as the hero. Simple to make in the microwave, only 4 ingredients – delicious and nutritious! 100 calories per serving with 11g protein. A healthy appetizer or topping for your Mexican-inspired meal.
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Cottage Cheese Queso with Green Chiles

Lower in fat, but stillooey-gooey, this high protein green chili queso features blended cottage cheeseas the hero. Simple to make in the microwave, only 4 ingredients – delicious andnutritious! 100 calories per serving with 11g protein.  A healthy appetizer or topping for your Mexican-inspiredmeal.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups 2% milkfat cottage cheese not drained
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 4 oz chopped green chiles from can or fresh roasted
  • 4 oz fresh grated Pepper Jack cheese
  • Optional: Pico de Gallo for garnish
Instructions
  1. Add cottage cheese to blender and process until smooth, a minute or so.
  2. By hand, stir in the garlic powder and chopped green chilies. If using chiles from a can, pour off and discard and ½ the juices so dip doesn’t become too watery.
  3. Add mixture to a microwave-bowl.
  4. Heat in microwave for about 2 minutes. Remove and stir in the pepper jack cheese, ½ at a time.
  5. Return to microwave and heat an additional 1-2 minutes until heated through and bubbling. Stir again to make sure the pepper jack cheese is incorporated.
  6. If desired, garnish with Pico de Gallo.
  7. Serve warm with chips or baguette slices to dip in. Or, use a drizzle on fajitas, burrito bowls, nachos, etch.
  8. Store leftovers, covered, in fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, microwave on half-power for 2-3 minutes until able to stir it up. Then, heat again on high for 1-2 minutes until hot and bubbling.
Recipe Notes

Turmeric Deviled Eggs that Look Like Autumn Pumpkins

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It’s going to be an egg-celent Halloween! Tea & Turmeric Spiced Deviled Eggs bring healthy balance to the season’s sugary treats. Plus, the center yolk filling looks like a little pumpkin thanks to the vibrant hue of turmeric and a tiny piece of sage sticking out of the top for a stem. Of course, you can eat these ANY time of year!

These clever deviled eggs look like little autumn pumpkins, but contain no squash – only eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and turmeric for the signature orange hue of the season.  Low in calories, high in protein – a smart snack for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any fall festival.  

These pumpkin deviled eggs (no actual pumpkin in the recipe) are ridiculously easy to make. After eggs are hard boiled, they soak in a black tea- soy sauce mixture. That dark mixture “stains” the cracks and crevices. When peeled, they will look crazed and delightfully rotten. The longer you leave chilled in the tea soak (2-24 hours), the better the markings will come out. I got a little impatient on this batch, lol!

These clever deviled eggs look like little autumn pumpkins, but contain no squash – only eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and turmeric for the signature orange hue of the season.  Low in calories, high in protein – a smart snack for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any fall festival.  
These clever deviled eggs look like little autumn pumpkins, but contain no squash – only eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and turmeric for the signature orange hue of the season.  Low in calories, high in protein – a smart snack for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any fall festival.  

Ground turmeric is the secret ingredient that makes the filling orange and perfect Halloween deviled eggs and Thanksgiving deviled eggs. Bonus, it’s an anti-inflammatory superfood. The health benefits of turmeric are bountiful, and very helpful for an athlete or person pursing an active lifestyle.

Turmeric, which contains the plant compound curcumin has been shown to have analgesic properties and anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is a natural response to exercise and can lead to muscle soreness and fatigue, and incorporating turmeric into your diet may help expedite workout recovery.  P.S. My Turmeric Mashed Potatoes are another favorite turmeric recipe I use to fuel workouts.

After mashing up the yolks with mayo of choice, it’s time to fill the egg white centers. I’ve NEVER been good with a piping bag to make it look pretty – but the best hack ever is to use a spring-loaded melon-baller (or cookie scoop) to gather up the filling and plop nicely on the of the eggs. Another tip to slicing the eggs in half cleanly and nicely is to use a drafted blade knife. Little bits of fresh sage make “stems” for these fall deviled eggs – you could also substitute another herb. This is a fun and festive Halloween snack that comes out cute ever time without having to be a professional food stylist (trust me, I don’t have the patience!).

These clever deviled eggs look like little autumn pumpkins, but contain no squash – only eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and turmeric for the signature orange hue of the season.  Low in calories, high in protein – a smart snack for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any fall festival.  
5 from 5 votes
These clever deviled eggs look like little autumn pumpkins, but contain no squash – only eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and turmeric for the signature orange hue of the season. Low in calories, high in protein – a smart snack for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any fall festival.
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Tea & Turmeric Spiced Deviled Eggs for Halloween and Thanksgiving
Prep Time
8 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 20 mins
 

These clever deviled eggs look like little autumn pumpkins, but contain no squash – only eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and turmeric for the signature orange hue of the season.  Low in calories, high in protein – a smart snack for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any fall festival.  

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Keyword: autumn, eggs, halloween, thanksgiving, tumeric
Servings: 12 pieces
Ingredients
  • 6 hard-boiled eggs unpeeled
  • 4 black tea bags
  • 2 cups water possible more
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup Mayonnaise of choice
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp. yellow mustard
  • Salt and ground pepper to taste
  • Fresh sage snipped into little “stems”
Instructions
  1. Heat about 2 to 2.5 cups water in large, microwave-safe dish and add 4 black tea bags. Add soy sauce and let all steep for 10 minutes or so while you prepare the eggs.
  2. Prepare hard-boiled eggs per your preferred method. I cover eggs just barely with cold water and bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Then I cover and turn off the heat for 12 minutes, followed by removing from pot and into a bowl of cold ice-water.
  3. Crack the shells of the hard-boiled eggs gently with a spoon. Do not remove the shell.
  4. Put the cracked eggs in the tea mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  5. Remove eggs from the refrigerator, peel carefully, and cut eggs in half lengthwise.
  6. Scoop out the egg yolks and transfer to a bowl.
  7. Set the whites aside.
  8. Mash the yolks with the mayonnaise, turmeric, mustard, and salt/pepper. Use a melon-baller to scoop the mixture into the egg white cavities.

  9. Garnish with snipped fresh sage.

Recipe Notes

Small Batch Hummus to Serve One or Two

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Buying a big tub of hummus can seem like such a commitment, especially if you’re snacking solo or with a just friend or two.  My Small Batch Hummus recipe is perfectly proportioned so that you can finish it off in two sittings (or one snack session if super hungry) – or share it with a buddy and have no leftovers clogging up the fridge!   

Small Batch Hummus - Cooking for One

Exciting News:

This small batch dip (or spread) is featured in my upcoming cookbook, Cooking for One for Dummies (which can be pre-ordered now, ships on March 7, 2023)

Plus, when you make homemade hummus, you’re in total control of the ingredients – there’s no weird preservatives, additives, or yucky stuff.  Plus, you get all the benefits of chickpeas, they are abundant in dietary fiber and also a good source of plant protein, iron, folate and other essential nutrients.

It’s fast, it’s easy, there is no cooking – you start with a can of chickpeas. Of course, you can make your own chickpeas, but that adds a lot of time and hassle to what is an easy-peasy snack recipe for one or two.

skin on chickpeas
Gently rub any remaining skins off your chickpeas for smoother hummus.

After draining the chickpeas (a legume sometimes referred to as garbanzo beans), pour them out onto a clean dishcloth or paper towels and lightly rub dry. In addition to drying the chickpeas, the other goal here is to remove any lingering skins. The light patting dry will encourage stragglers to fall off, simply pick the skins out and discard. The skins will do no harm if they end up in your hummus, it will just be not quite as smooth and creamy.  

Then, it’s just a matter of whipping everything up in a food processor or blender. Since this is a small batch appetizer recipe, a mini food processor or personal sized blender will work best.

How to Serve Small Batch Hummus

  • Simply paired with raw veggies like carrots, celery, radishes, squash rounds are my favorite way to eat hummus.
  • Serve with pita wedges for dipping, smear on crackers, or spread on slices of toasted baguette.
  • Elevate sandwiches, wraps and quesadillas by spreading around as part of the filling.
  • Get creative and toss with hot pasta or zoodles for an instant chickpea sauce.
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Leftover Chickpeas in Can? While this homemade hummus for two uses just half a can of chickpeas, don’t throw the remainder out — you have options. First, you could easily double the homemade dip recipe, it scales up beautifully (however, do note the capacity of your mini food processor and use a bigger processor or blender, if needed). I also have another “1/2 can chickpea” recipe — Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas for One which also make a fabulous, heathy snack or salad topper.

Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas for One a=is a quick, easy and healthy snack with lots of dietary fiber plus protein, iron, and folate.

Make both the Small Batch Hummus and the Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas for Ones and kill off the whole can at once making healthy snacks.

This post contains affiliate links.

5 from 9 votes
Small Batch Hummus - Cooking for One
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Small Batch Hummus
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

Make just enough homemade hummus to get your through a couple health snack sessions — or to share with a friend. Easy, healthy, and homemade, a fantastic snack and spread to add to your active lifestyle. Lots of dietary fiber and a good source of plant protein, dietary fiber, iron, folate and other important nutrients.

Course: appetizers, dips, snacks, spreads
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: appetizer, chickepeas, dip, garbanzo beans, snacks, spread
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup canned chickpeas drained and rinsed (about half a 15.5-ounce can)
  • 3 tbsp olive oil plus an additional 1 teaspoon for topping, if desired
  • 1½ tbsp tahini
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp garlic or garlic paste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients in a personal-sized blender or mini food processor; process until smooth. If the consistency seems too pasty or thick, blend in 1 teaspoon of water at a time until desired texture is achieved.
  2. Transfer the hummus to serving bowl and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika.
Recipe Notes

NOTE: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in fridge for up to 4 days.
VARY IT! Extra chickpeas from can be kept in an airtight container in fridge for a few days and added to salads, soups, and wraps

LEARN MORE! This small batch dip (or spread) is featured in my upcoming cookbook, Cooking for One for Dummies (which can be pre-ordered now, ships on March 7, 2023)