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Cottage cheese is a favorite for eating with fruit, but it's also a versatile recipe ingredient in lasagnas, casseroles, blintzes and cheesecakes.
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This fresh, uncured cheese is made from whole, part-skimmed or skimmed pasteurized cow's
milk. Mildly sweet in flavor and quite moist in texture, cottage cheese can be eaten plain or along with
fruits or vegetables. It's also a versatile, lower-fat ingredient in recipes traditionally calling for
cream or
ricotta cheeses, such as lasagna or
cheesecake.
A Little Bite of History
Richard M. Nixon was a notable cottage cheese lover, notorious for eating his cheese covered with
ketchup.
Varieties
Cottage cheese is available is several forms and varieties. First, the curd size can be small, medium or large (sometimes called "popcorn"). Small curd cheese is made up of smaller curds that are rather firm because they have been heated for a longer period time. Larger curd cheese is made up of larger, softer curds.
Most cottage cheese is "creamed," meaning a milk or
cream mixture has been added to the curds. Creamed cottage cheese comes in whole-milk (4-8% milk fat) or low-fat (1-2% milk fat) varieties. Nonfat (skimmed) cottage cheese does not contain any cream, and is therefore much drier in consistency.
Cottage cheese is sold plain,
salted or unsalted and in a variety of flavors such as
chive or
pineapple.
Buying Tips
As with all dairy products, check the "sell-by" date on the container to make sure you're buying the freshest cheese available.
Storage Tips
Store in its original container in the coldest part of the refrigerator. If you turn the container upside down (make sure it's tightly sealed), it will stay fresher longer. Mind the date on the container, and use within one week after opening.
If the cheese mixture separates, turns watery, sour-smelling or moldy—throw it out.
Usage Tips
• Spoon onto
tomato slices and drizzle with
vinaigrette.
• Swirl with jelly or jam and spread on toast.
• Serve over fresh greens.
• Use as a simple topping for cooked
pasta or baked
potatoes.
• Sprinkle with granola and drizzle with
honey.
• Bake into your favorite lasagna in place of ricotta.
• Use as a filling for
blintzes and
crepes.
Substitution Tips
• Use cottage cheese in place of ricotta cheese.
• Dry or drained cottage cheese may be substituted for farmer cheese.
• For a cream cheese substitute, beat low-fat cottage cheese until smooth.
Try one of our favorite cottage cheese recipes:
Diana's Frittata
Layered Taco Casserole
Chris's Lasagna
