Five Kidney-Friendly Cheesy Appetizers

Five Kidney-Friendly Cheesy Appetizers
Cheese is a common ingredient in appetizers — almost everyone loves cheese, plus it compliments so many other ingredients. But cheese, a source of sodium and phosphorus, also shows up on the kidney diet list of foods to limit or avoid.
The DaVita.com recipe collection features five cheesy appetizers that meet kidney-friendly standards. Cream cheese, cottage cheese and brie cheese are lowest in phosphorus, so these are included in cheese ball, dip and chutney recipes. Blue cheese in the cheese dip recipe adds a punch of flavor without too much sodium or phosphorus, because only a small amount is included. Serve these cheesy appetizers with confidence at your next party knowing that your kidney diet goals are met with a blast of flavor for all.

Brie and Cranberry Chutney
Diet types:
CKD non-dialysis, Dialysis, Diabetes

Recipe submitted by DaVita dietitian Jennifer from Virginia.
Portions: 10 Serving size: 3/4 ounce Brie, 2 teaspoons chutney and 3 low-sodium crackers
Ingredients
one 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup sugar or substitute 1/2 cup Splenda® granular
1/2 cup brown sugar or substitute 1/4 cup Splenda® brown sugar blend
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
one 8-ounce wheel of Brie cheese
30 low-sodium crackers
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350° F. Wash and drain fresh cranberries.
In a large skillet, heat water on medium for 5 minutes and add fresh cranberries. Heat for no more than 5 minutes, just until the cranberries start to burst.
Add white and brown sugar (or Splenda).
Add spices and stir gently.
Remove from heat. Let chutney cool.
Remove Brie from the wrapper. Leaving a half-inch border of rind on top of the wheel, cut out a circle and lift out rind from the center to expose the Brie inside.
Place Brie on a baking sheet and heat in oven just until the cheese is soft to the touch and the top is slightly melted.
Remove Brie from oven and place on a platter.
Pour warm chutney over Brie and serve with a variety of low-sodium crackers.

Renal and renal diabetic food choices
1 meat
1/2 fruit, low potassium
1 starch
1 high-calorie
1 fat
Carbohydrate choices
2
Helpful hints
Low-sodium crackers are recommended to help keep sodium low.
Splenda substitutions reduce carbohydrate to 19 grams per serving, 1 carbohydrate choice.
Cranberry Chutney can be prepared and refrigerated for three days prior to serving.
Cranberry Chutney is a delicious side dish with turkey, pork or lamb, or spread it on a turkey sandwich for a yummy flavor.

Corn and Cheese Balls
Diet types:
CKD non-dialysis, Dialysis, Diabetes

Recipe created by the mother of DaVita dialysis patient Aditya from California and submitted by DaVita dietitian Shawna from California.
Portions: 8 Serving size: 4 balls
Ingredients
1/2 cup cottage cheese or paneer cheese, crumbled
2 cups frozen yellow corn, thawed
4 white bread slices
1/2 cup all-purpose white flour
1 green chili, finely chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon cilantro powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups vegetable oil for frying
Preparation
In a mixing bowl, mix the cheese and thawed corn.
Soak bread slices in water and squeeze out water so the bread becomes dry. Add this to corn and cheese mixture. Add flour, dry spices and cilantro. Mix it gently.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Using a tablespoon, form small balls from the corn and cheese mixture and drop each ball into the hot oil. Cook until golden brown.
Remove balls from the oil and place on a tray with kitchen napkin to drain excess oil.
Serve hot with Cilantro Chutney.
Renal and renal diabetic food choices
2 starch
1/2 vegetable, medium potassium
2 fats
Carbohydrate choices
2
Helpful hints
Paneer is an unaged cheese made by curdling milk with lemon juice or other acid food. Substitutions include dry curd cottage cheese, farmer’s cheese, queso blanco or queso fresco. Portion is limited since this dairy product contains phosphorus.

Festive Pineapple Cheese Ball
Diet types:
CKD non-dialysis, Dialysis, Diabetes

Recipe submitted by DaVita dietitian Maria from North Carolina.
Portions: 24 Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Ingredients
three 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
one 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, well drained
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Preparation
Place softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
Add remaining ingredients to bowl and mix well to blend. (Be sure the pineapple is thoroughly drained, squeezing liquid by hand, if needed.)
Shape the mixture into a ball. Wrap in wax paper and chill overnight.
Renal and renal diabetic food choices
1/2 milk
1 fat
Carbohydrate choices
0
Helpful hints
Serve with a variety of crackers or pita chips.
Try low-fat cream cheese to reduce the fat content. However, sodium content is higher.

Holiday Cheese Ball
Diet types:
CKD non-dialysis, Dialysis, Diabetes

Recipe submitted by DaVita dietitian Deb.
Portions: 12 Serving size: 1-1/2 tablespoons cheese ball, 2 apple slices and 2 low sodium crackers
Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup Catalina or Russian salad dressing
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/3 cup finely ground walnuts
apple slices
low-sodium crackers
Preparation
Combine cream cheese, salad dressing and onion powder in a medium bowl.
Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.
Form cheese mixture into a ball.
Place ground walnuts on a plate and roll cheese ball to cover.
Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.
Serve cheese ball with low-sodium crackers and apple slices.
Renal and renal diabetic food choices
1/2 milk
1-1/2 fat
Carbohydrate choices
0

Quick 'n’ Easy Cheese Dip
Diet types:
CKD non-dialysis, Dialysis, Diabetes

Recipe submitted by DaVita renal dietitian Kris from Michigan.
Portions: 12 Serving size: 3 tablespoons
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
3 green onions (may reserve top of one onion for garnish, if desired)
2 teaspoons Tabasco® hot sauce
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 cup or 2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
Preparation
Blend cottage cheese, sour cream, green onions, hot sauce and spices in food processor until smooth.
Add blue cheese and process for a few seconds.
Garnish with chopped green onion, if desired.
Renal and renal diabetic food choices
1/2 meat
1/2 fat
Carbohydrate choices
0
Helpful hints
Dip stores well, which enhances cheese and garlic flavors. If storing for more than three days, reduce blue cheese and garlic.
Natural, unprocessed sharp cheddar can substitute for blue cheese. Recipe limits the blue cheese to 1-1/3 teaspoon per serving.
Other spices can be added to taste. Experiment!
This dip is lower in phosphorus and higher in protein than many comparable recipes.
Pair with low-sodium crackers, raw veggies, sliced apples or low-salt tortilla.

http://www.davita.com/recipes/recipe-collections/kidney-friendly-cheesy-appetizers/r/7720