Cottage Cheese is one of the most underrated snacks, high in protein and a great source of Calcium, B vitamins, and more. There are countless recipes that incorporate cottage cheese in one way or another to make some of your favorite foods even more delicious. My parents both bought a quart of cottage cheese accidentally so there was a lot of cottage cheese to use, and these are 7 recipes that use cottage cheese! Some were delicious and others were called “interesting” or even “disgusting” by my friends and family but you can try any of these recipes and make your own judgments. The seven things that I made from cottage cheese were:
- Bagels
- Waffles
- Chips
- Brownies
- Pizza
- Wraps
- Scrambled eggs
The first recipe that I tried out was one of my favorites: cottage cheese flatbread. Combine 1 cup of cottage cheese, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons of flour, and a tablespoon of Italian seasoning in a food processor. Then, spread the mixture onto parchment paper and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. Once it is golden brown, you remove it from the oven and spread on any toppings- I used marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese and I also made one with asparagus which was very good. Put back into the oven for 5-10 minutes and then remove from heat and enjoy! I was very impressed with this dish and I will definitely be making this again.
The next recipe I attempted was one of the less successful ones, though this was probably due to the recipe I used. Cottage cheese and protein powder waffles sound a lot better in theory then they actually tasted. Mixing one and a half scoops of whey protein powder, half a cup of cottage cheese, one egg, vanilla extract, and cinnamon together in a food processor, you then put the mixture into a waffle maker and then take it out once its done. When I made these, they became hollow on the inside and were described by my sister’s friend as the “skin of a waffle” because although it had the shape of a waffle it was paper thin and very crispy. I would maybe make this again because even though it was no substitute for a real waffle, it was still a nice crispy treat.
The third recipe was cottage cheese chips. These were very good! All it was was about 12 spoonful’s of cottage cheese spaced out on parchment paper and then sprinkled with cheddar cheese and ranch seasoning. I burnt them by accident, but I could tell the idea was there! I cooked them for about 25 minutes at 375 degrees and that was too much. Though they were burnt, they were still nice and crispy and had a nice flavor to them, I would recommend these ones.
The fourth recipe was cottage cheese scrambled eggs, a simple classic meal perfect for a nutrient-dense breakfast. My version is half a cup of egg whites, one large egg, and half a cup of cottage cheese stirred together and then cooked on the stove. I also mixed some seasoning and salts to taste and that definitely improved it. This meal could also be improved by adding some toast or a bagel or mixing in some greens to get some more vitamins in the meal.
The fifth was a surprising one, the cottage cheese bagel! This one was a very pleasant surprise as though it was very easy to make, the end result was really delicious and a nice way to add some extra protein into your daily diet without even realizing it! All it takes to make is one cup of flour, one cup of cottage cheese, ¼ tablespoon of salt, and ½ a tablespoon of baking soda. Once they are all combined then form a dough and place it on a baking sheet and shape into a nice bagel shape. Take one egg and use that to create an egg wash on the bagel and finish up by sprinkling some Everything But The Bagel Seasoning on top. Cook in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20-25 minutes and remove from the oven when they are golden brown. They ended up being moist and had a very nice crispy exterior, the cottage cheese was honestly undetectable in the bagel but the secret protein in there made it a much more nutritious way to start the morning!
Number 6 was a not-so-surprising disappointment: the cottage cheese brownie. This was probably also my fault because I stopped following the recipe about halfway through and ended up with a very interesting texture. In a blender I mixed in a cup of cottage cheese, one egg, two tablespoons of sugar, a tablespoon of baking powder, half a cup of cocoa powder, and some salt. I baked it at 350 degrees for about 22 minutes and then let it cool down. With some modifications, this could be good, maybe with some more sugar or adding flour. Though this did not create a great brownie, it was still a nice chocolate treat.
Seventh, using the same recipe as the pizza, I made a wrap! For this version, I spread it thinner before I baked it and it turned out very well. I put some hummus, spinach, bell peppers, and some other veggies in the wrap, but you could put anything you wanted to inside! This was a great lunch option and one of my favorites!
Overall, I learned a lot from this cottage cheese experiment and it was very fun! Some highlights were the cottage cheese bagels, the flatbread, and the scrambled eggs. Some that I maybe would not have again without adding some other ingredients would be the clear waffel, the burnt chips, and the soggy brownie. I would honestly recommend a couple of these and I think if any of you tried these, even the not-so-great ones could be so nice with some modifications! Cottage cheese is a great way to add protein to a meal, especially if you blend it up if you are not a fan of the texture.
