Cottage Cheese Creamy Pasta (Printable)

Velvety cottage cheese sauce coats pasta, enriched with spinach and cherry tomatoes for a wholesome dish.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz whole wheat or regular pasta (penne, fusilli, or choice)

→ Creamy Cottage Cheese Sauce

02 - 1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
03 - 1/2 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)
04 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 cloves garlic
06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
09 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Vegetables (optional)

10 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
11 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves
13 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# How to Make It:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking liquid, then drain the pasta.
02 - Blend cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until smooth and creamy.
03 - Return pasta to the pot over low heat. Add sauce and toss to coat evenly, incorporating reserved pasta water gradually to adjust consistency.
04 - Stir in spinach and cherry tomatoes, cooking for 1 to 2 minutes until spinach wilts and tomatoes soften slightly.
05 - Plate immediately, garnished with basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's packed with protein but tastes indulgent, not virtuous.
  • Everything comes together in the time it takes to boil water and blend.
  • The sauce clings to every pasta shape without feeling heavy.
02 -
  • Blending the cottage cheese until perfectly smooth is the entire secret; any graininess will stay with you through every bite.
  • Save that pasta water before you drain, because it's your insurance policy for achieving the right sauce consistency.
03 -
  • If your sauce seems too thick after mixing, add pasta water one tablespoon at a time rather than dumping it all in at once.
  • Letting the blended sauce sit for a minute before combining it with pasta allows the flavors to meld slightly, making the final dish taste more intentional.
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