5 from 18 votes
Cottage Cheese Creamy Pesto Pasta
Cottage Cheese Creamy Pesto Pasta blends orecchiette (or similar) pasta with a smooth sauce made by blending basil pesto with cottage cheese and reserved pasta water. The creamy sauce coats the pasta evenly, balancing the fresh herbal notes of pesto with mild, soft curd cottage cheese. Garnished with red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and Parmesan, it offers a hearty yet delicate texture ideal for a comforting meal.
Prep Time
8 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
6
Calories:
435 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1 lb orecchiette pasta or pasta of your choice
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 1 cup cottage cheese I recommend 2% or 4%
- 1/2 cup water reserved pasta water
- salt to taste, Kosher salt
- black pepper to taste, Kosher salt
- red pepper flakes for garnish, crushed flakes, fresh basil
- basil
- Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Use a colander to drain the pasta. Return to pot or place in a large serving bowl.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the pesto, cottage cheese, and 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add the creamy pesto sauce to the pasta and stir until pasta is well coated. Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve warm.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency; adding more water helps if the sauce is too thick.
Nutrition Information
Calories
435kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
54g
(18%)
Protein
16g
(32%)
Fat
16g
(25%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.5g
(3%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.4g
(2%)
Cholesterol
9mg
(3%)
Sodium
501mg
(21%)
Potassium
205mg
(4%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
882IU
(18%)
Calcium
111mg
(11%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 435
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 435kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 54g | 18% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5g | 3% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 9mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 501mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 205mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 882IU | 18% |
| Calcium | 111mg | 11% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.