Cottage Cheese Smoothie
6 min
|
easy
|
clean eating,
gluten-free,
Mediterranean diet
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
This cottage cheese smoothie blends silky like a milkshake, gives cheesecake vibes, and packs serious protein and fiber without a sugar crash.
Perfect for breakfast, post-workout, or a late-night snack, it stands out from yogurt smoothies with extra creaminess, berries that balance the tang, and chia that keeps it thick and satisfying.
Ingredients (1 serving)
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Ingredients:
- ½ cup whole-milk cottage cheese whole-milk cottage cheese 3.85 oz
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk unsweetened almond milk 8 fl oz
- ½ banana, frozen banana 0.5 ct
- ½ cup frozen mixed berries frozen mixed berries 2.5 oz
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds chia seeds 0.43 oz
- ½ scoop vanilla protein powder (optional) vanilla protein powder 0.56 oz
How to Make Cottage Cheese Smoothie
-
Set up and chill
Chill a tall glass so the smoothie stays frosty and luxurious.
Measure everything and keep the frozen fruit ready to go because speed matters for texture.
-
Bloom the chia quickly
Stir chia seeds into the almond milk and let stand 3 to 5 minutes to lightly gel, which gives body and reduces grit.
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Blend base until silky
Add cottage cheese and the chia-almond milk to the blender and blend until completely smooth and glossy.
Scrape the sides so there are zero curd flecks left behind.
-
Add fruit and protein
Add frozen banana, frozen mixed berries, and protein powder if using, then blend on high until thick and creamy.
If your blender struggles, pulse a few times before going full speed.
-
Dial in thickness and season
Adjust with a splash more almond milk for a looser sip or a few ice cubes for thicker body.
A tiny pinch of salt and a dash of vanilla make the berries taste brighter without added sugar.
-
Serve
Pour into the chilled glass and drink immediately while it is slushy and cold.
This recipe is clean eating and high protein, so you get that feel-good fuel with serious flavor.
Substitutions
- Replace cottage cheese with silken tofu
- Silken tofu keeps the smoothie dairy free while staying creamy and high protein, with a neutral flavor that lets the berries pop.
- Replace almond milk with unsweetened soy milk
- Soy milk adds a touch more body and bumps protein, giving a thicker, milkshake-like texture without extra sweetness.
- Replace frozen banana with frozen cauliflower rice
- Frozen cauliflower rice cuts sugars while keeping frosty thickness and a clean flavor that hides behind the berries.
Tips
- Blend in stages for ultra-smooth texture
- Liquids and cottage cheese first, frozen fruit second; this sequence prevents chalkiness and protects that glossy finish.
- Use a pinch of salt and vanilla
- A tiny pinch of salt wakes up sweetness and a splash of vanilla rounds any tang from the cottage cheese without added sugar.
- Freeze fruit hard
- Keep bananas and berries rock solid to avoid watery results so you get a thick shake vibe without packing in ice.
- Pre-portion smoothie packs
- Bag the banana, berries, and chia in freezer packs so mornings are dump, blend, done in under a minute.
- Glass over plastic
- Blend and store in glass jars to keep flavors clean and avoid off-notes, then shake before sipping if it sits.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 268 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 16 | g |
| Total Fat | 9 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 32 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 8 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- How do I avoid a grainy or curdled texture?
- Blend cottage cheese with the liquid first until perfectly smooth, bloom the chia a few minutes, and use a high-speed blend on the final pass.
- It is too thick or too thin, how do I fix it?
- For too thick, add almond or soy milk 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time and reblend; for too thin, add a few ice cubes or a handful more frozen berries.
- Can I make this dairy free?
- Yes, swap cottage cheese for silken tofu and use soy milk; the protein stays high and the texture stays creamy.
- How can I boost protein without powder?
- Increase cottage cheese to 3/4 cup, switch to soy milk, and add 1 tablespoon hemp hearts for an extra protein bump.
- The cottage cheese tastes tangy, how do I balance it?
- Add a dash of vanilla, a pinch of salt, and an extra slice of banana or one medjool date to mellow the tang naturally.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Blend and refrigerate up to 24 hours in a sealed glass jar, then shake hard and splash in a bit of milk before drinking since the chia thickens over time.
Serving Suggestions
Cold brew twist with attitude: replace half the almond milk with cold brew and add a dash of cinnamon for a mocha-berry protein pick-me-up.
For a post-workout power move, top with hemp hearts or cacao nibs and pair with a slice of seeded toast so you stay full without messing with that clean, high-protein groove.
Reviews
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Amber Diaz, Chicago: Great balance of flavors, and the cottage cheese does so much for the texture. Solid five stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
: Really glad you enjoyed the flavors and texture, Amber! 😊
Made this recipe? How did it go?
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