This creamy, high protein pasta is a delicious way to use up some fresh herbs and throw a meal together in less than 15 minutes. The sauce is made with cottage cheese and loads of fresh herbs, plus it doesn’t require any cooking at all.
Let’s talk about Cottage Cheese ice cream first…
We’ve all seen the viral TikTok Cottage Cheese Ice Cream and all the hype for it. If you haven’t, let’s fill you in. In May 2023, videos started surfacing which involved blending cottage cheese and other mix-ins to make a high-protein ice cream. Most recipes involved adding the base to an ice cream machine, but some just tossed the mixture back into the cottage cheese container and froze it. I saved everyone the trouble of going through this messy process and did it myself – this trend is NOT worth the hype. At least not if you don’t have an ice cream machine. Lucky for you, I have something better you could do with all that cottage cheese you bought. There is one dish cottage cheese is worth 100% of the hype in and that is pasta!
Why Cottage Cheese is Great!
There are many reasons Cottage Cheese makes for a great addition to any meal!
- It’s a low-calorie, high protein cheese, so it can be a great addition to make any meal more filling.
- Packed with nutrients: Vitamin B, calcium, phosphorous, selenium
- VERY versatile: contrary to it’s bad reputation, cottage cheese has a mild flavor that can be incorporated into many recipes making it a super easy way to bump up the protein on any recipe
Food Processor Vs Blender
Both a blender and a food processor work perfectly fine for this recipe. Just use 1-2 tbsp of water as needed if it’s not getting completely smooth or feels gritty.
What You’ll Need
- Pasta: choose your favorite pasta shape and cook to al dente perfection. I like to pick a paste with some ridges like a rigatoni or a squiggly spaghetti.
- Lowfat Cottage Cheese: this is the lowest calorie option, but if you don’t care about that you can also use regular cottage cheese
- Lemon Juice: just a touch to a bright flavor pop to the sauce
- Olive Oil: to help you get that smooth whipped texture when you blend the cottage cheese sauce
- Herbs: add some fresh basil and whatever else you have and want to add!
- Seasonings : Garlic powder, Black pepper, and salt
- Parmesan cheese : cause why not…
How to Make
This recipe is packed with flavor and nutrients that will leave you satiated and full! The process to make this delicious recipe is also super simple. It will only take you as long to make sauce as it takes you to boil some pasta.
- Boil water with salt and then cook pasta to your preferences. Do not throw away your pasta water.
- Meanwhile, grab a blender or food processor and add your cottage cheese, and all your herbs and seasonings. Add 1 tbsp of pasta water at a time until the mixture is a smooth texture.
- Combine your pasta with the sauce and add any additional seasonings.
That’s it! It really is that simple. You don’t even have to reheat the pasta once combined, the heat of the cooked pasta will heat up the sauce and your dish will be ready to serve. This really is a quick, delicious, and nutritious meal that is a MUST-ADD to your recipe repertoire!
Other Cottage Cheese Recipes
Whipped Garlic & Herb Dip with Roasted Tomatoes
Balsamic Mushroom Flatbread Pizza
Goat Cheese Crostini with Sweet Potato & Rosemary
Whipped Feta Dip with Honey & Pistachios
Print
Creamy Herb Cottage Cheese Pasta
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 1 Serving 1x
Description
This creamy, high protein pasta is a delicious way to use up some fresh herbs and throw a meal together in less than 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 oz pasta
- save the pasta water, use for blending the sauce
- 1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 small handful of fresh basil leaves
- 1 small handful of any fresh herb of choice (chives, sage, oregano dill…)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- large pinch of salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a pot, bring water to a boil and add lots of salt. Then, add your pasta and boil until cooked to your preference. DO NOT throw away the pasta water.
- While the pasta is cooking, grab a blender or a food processor and gather your ingredients. Measure and add the cottage cheese, basil, herbs, garlic powder, salt and black pepper to it. Add 1 tbsp of pasta water at a time and blend until completely smooth but not super runny (3 tbsp MAX). Taste and adjust any salt or pepper.
- In a bowl, mix together the boiled pasta with the sauce until well combined. The heat of the pasta should be enough to warm up the sauce slightly. Top with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
- Cook Time: 10