Are you spooked by cottage cheese?

This message is for people who are afraid of cottage cheese. 

Fear not. Whether you are a friend or a foe, you are safe here. Until recently, I, too, was most spooked by cottage cheese. It sat at the top of the "no thank you" list with blue cheese and sardines.

What changed? A mindset shift. I began to view cottage cheese like burrata or whipped ricotta–items that grace trendy restaurant menus. Once I made that mental leap, the possibilities became endless. Imagine it spread on toast topped with a drizzle of olive oil, honey, and a sprinkle of flaky salt, an ode to whipped ricotta. Or picture it in a bowl with tomato, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, and you have yourself an enhanced Caprese. 

Now, I genuinely enjoy the taste (and texture), especially when integrated into dishes I already love. Plus, there are so many health benefits, making it a great snack or meal. It’s high in protein, has a low glycemic index, is probiotic-rich, and packed with vitamin B.

I’m sure you’ve also seen cottage cheese popping up on social media, smuggled into recipes adding protein and nutritional value–but I’ll spare you that for now. 

Here’s my challenge to you: Next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up some cottage cheese (Good Culture whole milk is my favorite) and let me know what you think.

Need inspiration? Here are a few simple preparations to get you started on your cottage cheese journey:

Bowls:

1. Enhanced caprese: Combine cottage cheese with tomato, cucumber, arugula, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and flaky salt for a twist on the classic caprese salad.

2. Green Goddess Bowl: Add cottage cheese to a bowl with your favorite greens like arugula, spinach, kale, avocado, cucumber, and green onion. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with flaky salt.

3. Savory Scramble: Top scrambled eggs with cottage cheese and your toppings of choice such as arugula, spinach, avocado, tomato, green onion, and a drizzle with chili oil.

Toasts:

1. Enhanced avocado toast: Toast with avocado, cottage cheese, green onion, and a drizzle of chili oil.

2. A twist on whipped ricotta: Toast with cottage cheese and a drizzle of honey, olive oil, and flaky salt.

3. Elevated eggs: Toast with eggs your way, cottage cheese, and Franks hot sauce.

Enjoy and let me know what you think, this might just convert you to a cottage cheese fan!