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Cottage Cheese Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe

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A quick and creamy pasta dish combining al dente orecchiette with a luscious homemade cottage cheese pesto sauce, garnished with fresh basil, crushed red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese. This 20-minute recipe offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures for a comforting vegetarian meal.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 1 lb orecchiette pasta (or pasta of your choice)
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Sauce

  • 1 cup basil pesto
  • 1 cup cottage cheese (preferably 2% or 4% fat)
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

Garnish

  • Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
  • Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
  • Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 1 lb of orecchiette pasta until al dente, following the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta in a colander. Return the drained pasta to the pot or transfer to a large serving bowl.
  2. Prepare the sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine 1 cup of basil pesto, 1 cup of cottage cheese, and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season the sauce with kosher salt and black pepper to your taste.
  3. Combine pasta and sauce: Pour the creamy pesto sauce over the cooked pasta and stir thoroughly until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
  4. Garnish and serve: Garnish the pasta with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil leaves, and grated Parmesan cheese as desired. Serve warm for the best flavor and texture experience.

Notes

  • Use reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed if it is too thick.
  • For a richer sauce, use 4% fat cottage cheese; for a lighter version, use 2%.
  • This dish can be made with any pasta shape you prefer.
  • Keep an eye on the pasta to avoid overcooking; al dente texture enhances the dish.
  • For a vegan alternative, substitute pesto and cottage cheese with plant-based versions.

Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/cottage-cheese-creamy-pesto-pasta-recipe/