Cottage cheese pasta
Make dinner time a treat with our deliciously creamy Cottage cheese pasta. We have combined wholewheat pasta and fresh vegetables with a smooth, velvety sauce that creates a wonderful base for salty, crisp turkey bacon. Whether you serve it as it is or with a generous sprinkle of grated cheese, it is a comforting option that works well for busy evenings and slower nights alike.
Ingredients
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250 g
Wholewheat pasta
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5 g
Oil
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100 g
Turkey bacon, diced
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150 g
Spinach
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250 g
Edamame beans, thawed
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1 can
Black beans (265 g drained weight)
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½ tsp
Coarse salt
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Freshly ground black pepper
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Sauce
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50 g
Skimmed milk
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½ tsp
Salt
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Freshly ground black pepper
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Topping
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Grated cheese, optional
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Instructions
Recipe tips
It’s often the small details that make the biggest impact in the kitchen, so we’re sharing the tips we rely on when cooking and creating recipes
Pour the sauce into the warm pasta a little at a time, stirring as you go. Adding it slowly helps the milk and cottage cheese stay smooth instead of reacting too quickly to the heat. For extra security, you can stir a few spoonfuls of hot pasta water into the sauce first to warm it gently before adding it to the pan.
Avoid rushing the turkey bacon by turning the heat too high. Frying it slowly allows the fat to render gently, helping the pieces turn golden and crisp without drying out. Let it fry undisturbed for about 1 minute, then turn it and repeat until evenly golden.
Short shapes such as fusilli, penne, or rigatoni catch more of the sauce in their curves and ridges, giving the plate a more textured feel. Long shapes like spaghetti, linguine, or tagliatelle carry the sauce along their length, creating a more uniform texture. The flavour stays the same, but the shape changes how the sauce clings.
FAQ: Questions about cottage cheese pasta
Cooking cottage cheese pasta may raise a few questions, and we answer the most common ones below.
How do I blend the cottage cheese sauce smoothly?
To blend the cottage cheese smoothly, combine it with milk, salt, and pepper, then blend using a blender or hand blender. Give the mixture time and scrape down the sides as needed. If the texture still looks grainy, continue blending until it is completely smooth.
How do I store leftover pasta with beans and cottage cheese sauce?
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and enjoy them within 2 days. Reheat it slowly on the stove, stirring often so the sauce warms evenly. If it looks a little thick, stir in a bit of milk.
Can I freeze cottage cheese pasta?
No, we do not recommend freezing this pasta with beans and cottage cheese sauce, as freezing causes the cottage cheese and milk to separate once thawed. This leaves the sauce grainy and uneven when reheated, rather than smooth and creamy.
Nutritional values per serving
Energy:
509 Kcal
| Energy distribution % | Nutritional values per serving | |
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| Fibre | - | 6.8 g |
| Protein | 28.7 % | 36 g |
| Fat | 24 % | 13.8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47.3 % | 59.2 g |
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Discover the comfort of our Cottage cheese pasta
Nothing beats the soothing feeling of a warm pasta meal after a long day. This recipe is all about providing pure comfort in a bowl, making it the perfect antidote to a hectic schedule. Between the silky cottage cheese sauce and the varied textures of the vegetables, it serves as a dependable, warming dinner that helps you relax and makes the end of your day feel a bit more special.
Layered with crisp turkey bacon, soft spinach, and tender beans
This pasta is packed with a rustic mix of spinach, two types of beans, and turkey bacon, all layered through the wholewheat pasta. The spinach wilts quickly in the heat, turning tender and silky as it wraps itself around the strands. Alongside it, edamame beans offer a gentle, nutty sweetness, while black beans bring an earthy note and a more velvety bite. Woven through everything is turkey bacon, providing a satisfyingly salty crunch in every mouthful.
Wrapped in a smooth and glossy cottage cheese sauce
By blending cottage cheese with a splash of milk, you create a sauce that is remarkably smooth and glossy. It clings to the pasta with ease, providing a velvety backdrop for the other ingredients. Because the flavour of the sauce is so delicate, it lets the natural sweetness of the vegetables and the smoky crunch of the turkey bacon truly shine.
From kitchen to table in half an hour
This Cottage cheese pasta does not rely solely on taste to win you over. It moves quickly from kitchen to table in about 30 minutes, making it a reliable go-to for your weekly meal rotation. In addition, it is a very leftover-friendly meal. If you make a bit extra, it reheats nicely and stays just as creamy, allowing you to enjoy a stress-free dinner two nights in a row.
Searching for more quick and easy dinners? Try our colourful pulled chicken tacos with cabbage and berry salad or our herby tuna pasta salad. For those extra busy days, our 15-minute chickpea salad is a great one to have up your sleeve.
Experiment with different ingredients
One of the strengths of this Cottage cheese pasta is how easily it adapts to different ingredients. Nutmeg is a natural fit with dairy and adds a warmer tone to the sauce, while a pinch of smoked paprika leans into the smoky side of the turkey bacon and carries it through the whole pasta.
For a fresher direction, go for herbs and green vegetables. Stir in dill for a light, liquorice-like note, choose parsley for a slightly peppery edge, or reach for finely sliced spring onions to sharpen the whole plate. Vegetables such as sweet peas, earthy asparagus, or courgettes follow the same direction and keep the pasta feeling light.
Alternatively, for a more robust meal, look to ingredients with bolder profiles. Roasted red peppers offer concentrated sweetness, mushrooms introduce a pleasant umami note, and roasted root vegetables like parsnips and beets add a wonderful, earthy depth.
This recipe has a high content of protein and fibre, and you can find more of the same in our collections of high-protein, high-fibre recipes and high-protein, high-fibre meals. We have also compiled a list of high-protein vegetables and an article presenting foods high in fibre and protein
