Over the last few months, it seems as if I can’t go a day without some sort of cottage cheese concoction popping up on my social media feed. From cottage cheese strawberry ice cream to lasagna to homemade bread… it’s everywhere. Long story short: I’m officially on the cottage cheese algorithm. But am I mad about it? Definitely not.
Here’s why: Cottage cheese is one of the easiest ways to add a boatload of protein to just about any meal. In fact, Good Culture’s Low-Fat, 2 Percent Milkfat Classic Cottage Cheese—which we previously ranked as the overall best type of cottage cheese—has a whopping 14 grams of protein per half-cup serving. Which brings us to the latest and greatest cottage cheese-centric recipe of the day hour: three-ingredient (!) cottage cheese queso that you can zap in the microwave.
How to make protein-packed cottage cheese queso
Thanks to a recent Instagram post by @basicwithbails, we discovered yet another reason to adore cottage cheese even more. Yep, we’re talking about a Basic With Bails’ three-ingredient cottage cheese recipe that’s loaded with protein (and tons of flavor), plus it takes mere seconds to make. So, let’s jump right in.
First things first, you’ll need to start with some good-quality cottage cheese. As I previously mentioned, we love the Good Culture’s cottage cheese products (although Trader Joe’s cottage cheeses really gives you more bang for your buck). Once you’ve landed on your favorite cottage cheese, the trick to mastering this recipe boils down to achieving that perfect rich and creamy queso consistency, which will require one easy step: Blending your cottage cheese (about a cup) until smooth. To do so, you can use an immersion blender (to minimize cleanup time) or powerful blender, like the Vitamix Propel 510 Series Blender. Best part? Cottage cheese haters can rest easy knowing that none of its lumpy, chunky texture will be present in the final product.
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Next, you’ll want to transfer the whipped cottage cheese to a small, microwave-safe bowl and add your mix-ins. For the full iconic gooey, cheesy, queso effect, you’ll want to use about a quarter cup of shredded cheese (like cheddar), and a few teaspoons of your favorite taco seasoning—we love Siete’s Spicy Taco Seasoning Mix, which is both vegan and gluten-free. Then, give it all a good stir and pop it in the microwave for about a minute or so, or until the ingredients are hot and melted.
While you can stop right there and you have just about the most perfect three-ingredient snack imaginable, you can also take things up a notch with extra toppings. In the comments section of the video we saw (genius) suggestions like adding blended-up pickled jalapeños or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. Frankly, it’s nearly impossible to go wrong.
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Now let’s talk protein
We know that protein is the name of the game when it comes to a well-balanced diet. In fact, registered dietitians suggest that we consume about 30 grams of protein per meal. Yes, per meal. Granted, that’s not always easy—although this 30 grams of protein cheat sheet might help. That said, protein is integral for so many reasons. Namely, it’s essential for building muscle, and vital for organ function and immune system support.
The good news? This cottage cheese queso recipe is packed with… you guessed it: a ton of protein. 40 grams per bowl of it, to be exact. So, grab a bag of Siete Family Foods Maíz Sea Salt Blue Corn Tortilla (if you haven’t tried these yet, you don’t know what you’re missing out on) and get scooping. Or, for even more protein power, Bailey (the recipe developer behind Basic With Bails and this mouth-watering queso), suggests serving it along with Quest Tortilla Style Protein Chips—they’ve got 18 to 20 grams (!) of protein per serving.
An RD shares a guide to alternative cheeses:
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