Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce
10 min
|
easy
|
gluten-free,
keto-friendly,
Mediterranean diet
Recipe by Eunice
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | 5 min | 10 min |
Introduction
This creamy cottage cheese pasta sauce is silky, tangy, and surprisingly light, thanks to blended cottage cheese and lemon.
It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want a comforting, cheesy bowl of pasta without feeling weighed down.
Garlic, Parmesan, and black pepper give it classic Alfredo vibes, but with extra protein and a fresher, brighter flavor.
Ingredients (2 servings)
Ingredients:
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How to Make Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce
-
Prep the ingredients
Gather all ingredients, mince the garlic finely, and grate the Parmesan so everything is ready before you start cooking.
-
Gently cook the garlic
Warm the olive oil in a small skillet over low heat until it shimmers, then add the minced garlic.
Cook, stirring, until the garlic smells fragrant and just turns golden at the edges, about 1 to 2 minutes.
-
Blend the creamy sauce
Spoon the cottage cheese, sautéed garlic with its oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and Parmesan into a blender or food processor.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed so no curds remain.
-
Adjust and serve with pasta
If the sauce seems very thick, thin it with a tablespoon or two of warm water until it coats a spoon.
Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your preference.
Toss the warm sauce with freshly cooked pasta, using a splash of pasta water if needed to keep it silky.
This amount of sauce nicely coats about eight ounces of cooked pasta for two generous servings.
Substitutions
- Use ricotta instead of cottage cheese
- Whole-milk ricotta blends into a very smooth, rich sauce with a slightly sweeter, milder flavor than cottage cheese.
- Swap Parmesan with Pecorino Romano
- Pecorino Romano adds a saltier, sharper bite, which makes the sauce taste bolder and more savory with the same creamy texture.
- Use roasted garlic instead of sautéed garlic
- Roasted garlic gives the sauce a deeper, sweeter flavor and a mellow aroma while still keeping the texture silky and smooth.
Tips
- Blend long enough for true creaminess
- Run the blender for at least 45 seconds so the curds fully break down and the sauce becomes restaurant-smooth.
- Choose small-curd cottage cheese
- Use small-curd cottage cheese, which blends more easily and gives a silkier texture than large-curd versions.
- Warm the dairy gently
- Warm the cottage cheese slightly before blending so it combines more easily with the hot garlic and oil.
- Save plenty of pasta water
- Reserve at least half a cup of pasta water so you can loosen the sauce gradually until it coats every noodle.
- Store sauce separate from pasta
- Store leftover sauce separately from pasta, then thin with warm water or milk when reheating for the creamiest texture.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 228 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 17 | g |
| Total Fat | 14 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 9 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- Why does my cottage cheese sauce taste grainy instead of smooth?
- You likely did not blend long enough or used very cold, large-curd cottage cheese, so the curds stayed intact. Blend again until warm and completely smooth, or strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a velvety finish.
- Can I use low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese for this sauce?
- Yes, but the sauce will taste less rich and may seem thinner, so add a bit less pasta water. You can also add an extra spoonful of Parmesan to boost flavor and body.
- How far in advance can I make this cottage cheese pasta sauce?
- You can blend the sauce up to two days ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on low, thinning with warm water as needed, and avoid boiling to keep the texture smooth.
- What kind of pasta works best with this creamy cottage cheese sauce?
- Long shapes like spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine hold the sauce nicely, but short tubes like rigatoni also work well. Choose ridged or textured pasta if you want every bite to carry extra creamy sauce.
Serving Suggestions
This velvety cottage cheese sauce pairs beautifully with linguine, roasted vegetables, and a crisp green salad for a cozy dinner.
For extra flavor, stir in chopped fresh herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, or a pinch of red pepper flakes before tossing with pasta.
Add grilled chicken or shrimp on top if you want more protein and a slightly fancier feel.
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