Cottage cheese is having a moment as a culinary darling, and deservedly so. This dairy staple is versatile and packed with protein, to be used in everything from appetizers to main dishes to unexpectedly scrumptious desserts. These recipes will surely ignite your own creative spark as a chef and diner devoted to healthy eating. Adding cottage cheese to our menus is a no-brainer for those of us over 50 trying to boost our protein intake, which boosts our overall health.
Easy Zucchini Breakfast Bake
I love this breakfast bake because you can easily create your own variation of it by adding different ingredients, whether you use gouda instead of cheddar, add bacon or sausage, or use spinach instead of (or in addition to) zucchini. No matter what, you’re going to get a crowd-pleasing casserole every time.
Serves 4-6
- 8 large eggs
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 1 zucchini squash, *grated or thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (substitute with oat flour to make gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, then grease a 9x11 baking dish with butter, or line with parchment paper. Crack eggs into a bowl, add cottage cheese, salt and pepper. Whisk thoroughly. Add zucchini (if shredded, squeeze excess liquid through cheese cloth), cheese, flour and baking powder. Mix well. Pour mixture into baking dish and spread evenly with a flat wooden spoon or spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes. The casserole should not be jiggly in the middle. Test by inserting a butter knife or fork into the center. When done, it should come out clean.
Cottage Cheese with Blueberries, Toasted Almonds & Honey
Serves 1
A favorite light breakfast or snack when I’m trying to add protein, the combination of blueberries with toasted almonds is delicious and satisfying. Pick up a bag of raw sliced almonds from the store and toast them ahead of time in the toaster oven to have on hand. Toaster oven tip: Spread almonds on tray, then toast on a lighter setting for 2-3 minutes at a time. Keep an eye on them as they can burn quickly. A drizzle of honey is the perfect topping.
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- 1 tablespoon toasted sliced almonds
- 1 tablespoon honey for drizzling
Add cottage cheese to a small bowl or plate. Top with blueberries, almonds and honey. Viola! You could also add chia seeds for extra fiber.
