Cottage cheese: what it is, benefits and easy recipes
Find out what cottage cheese is, its health benefits and how to include it in easy and healthy recipes. Ideal for a balanced diet.
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What is cottage cheese?
You have probably heard of cottage cheese, and with good reason. Cottage cheese is a type of fresh cheese made from cow’s milk which is characterised for its high protein content and low fat content. This has made it a popular choice for those wanting to maintain a balanced diet. It has a smooth and slightly sour taste, with a creamy and grainy texture like a curd, but not as bitter.
Although it shares some similarities with products like curd, quark or ricotta, cottage cheese has its own identity and has managed to find a gap in the market thanks to its versatility and multiple nutritional benefits. There are also a range of varieties available nowadays: savoury, sweet, dairy free or semi-skimmed, enabling it to adapt to different dietary needs and preferences.
Benefits of cottage cheese in the diet
Cottage cheese offers interesting benefits. Thanks to its low calorie content and wealth of high quality proteins, it is ideal for people wanting to control their weight, increase their muscle mass or simply eat more healthily. Plus, it is an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium and zinc; all essential for bone, muscle, cardiovascular and hormonal health. It provides vitamins like A and B12, contains a good amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and is easier to digest than other dairy products. Last, but by no means least, it is filling and helps to control hunger between meals.
It is worth knowing that, as is the case with other fresh cheeses, cottage cheese does not undergo a maturation process, so it must be kept cold and consumed in a short amount of time.
Simple and healthy recipes with cottage cheese
There are lots of recipes with cottage cheese and, thanks to its neutral flavour and creamy texture, it adapts to all types of sweet and savoury dishes. It is perfect for spreading, mixing as a main ingredient; there is no mystery to preparing a breakfast with cottage cheese, and there are lots of options to enjoy its numerous benefits. For example, it can be eaten as an alternative to yoghurt, accompanied by fruit, nuts, seeds, cereals, jam, honey or compotes; or you can add savoury toppings such as avocado and tomato, salmon and capers or ham and rocket on toast.
But that isn’t the only time of day to enjoy this product, since there are many lunches with cottage cheese that can be made at home. It is perfect for adding to salads with vinaigrettes and creamy dressings, and can also be used as a filling for sandwiches, fajitas or quiche. On the other hand, it can replace curd or ricotta in recipes like lasagne, cannelloni or savoury pies and is delicious if you mix it with egg to make tortillas, frittatas or scrambled egg. Additionally, it can be used as a lighter version of hummus or mayonnaise. It can even be added to enhance vegetable soups or to finish off stews.
How about an evening meal with cottage cheese? Many of the options above can also be made for this time of day, although there are various other recipes that you can try for evening meals. Some ideas: aubergine, onion and roasted pepper on toast with sardines and cottage cheese; tomato and avocado tartare with cottage cheese, or cream of pumpkin soup with cottage cheese, sesame seeds and port reduction.
Cottage cheese is so versatile that it can also be found in confectionery, and is the perfect ingredient for pancake batter, waffles, muffins or sponges, as a base for European style cheesecake (in other words, less creamy and lighter weight), or as a filling for sweet crepes with fruit and sauces.
In summary, cottage cheese is much more than a trendy product: it is a balanced, healthy, filling and extremely versatile food that goes well with almost anything. What are you waiting for to try it?
