For some reason, cottage cheese has a particularly bad reputation among dairy products.pops up frequently scientifically i doubt it In a survey rating people’s least favorite foods, it’s listed alongside polarizing foods like anchovies and liver. But that designation feels especially outdated in 2024. Last year was a good year for cottage cheese. I couldn’t be more excited, thanks in large part to TikTok food creators’ use of cottage cheese in everything from cookie dough to mustard-laced dips. .
To be clear, I used to hate cottage cheese. That’s because of my diet over the years. At the time, I had managed to convince myself that the combination of sticky, fat-free cottage cheese and sugar-free fruit jam was a substitute for a decadent dessert. But a few years ago, while randomly browsing Pinterest boards, Cottagehe stumbled upon the idea that cheese could actually be eaten with delicious ingredients. I was a little hesitant at first, but something about the saltiness of the cottage cheese combined with it… melted cherry tomatoes And fresh basil seemed like a good combination. I bought regular full-fat cottage cheese from the supermarket and piled soft tomatoes on top. The rest is history.
Cottage cheese is now a staple in my breakfast and snack rotation. It’s incredibly easy and perfect for days when you’re not interested in making eggs or toast in the morning. Most of the time, I don’t bother roasting tomatoes or chopping basil. Just sprinkle some lemon pepper on top and give the bowl a good stir. A good hot sauce like Cristal or Tapatio is also a great, hassle-free option. I came up with the idea of eating cottage cheese with something sweet, especially with a few fresh peaches and a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey.
In my new life as a cottage cheese lover, I’ve learned that which brand you buy is very important. This also depends on your personal preferences, such as whether you prefer large or small curds and what kind of fat content you are looking for, but some brands are clearly better than others. Masu. The best place to get very fresh cottage cheese is probably the dairy at your local farmers market, but grocery stores also have plenty of good cottage cheese. My favorite widely available brand is Good Cultures. It’s made with only a few ingredients (salt, milk, and cultures) and boasts a decadent, creamy texture. Cabot Creamery in Vermont also makes excellent cottage cheese. vegan cottage cheese Among the works of the wonderful Miyoko’s Creamery. The only brand I would not recommend under any circumstances is Daisy. The curds in Daisy cottage cheese are small, identical cubes, resulting in a less than desirable texture.
Speaking of texture, the lumpy consistency of cottage cheese is also a common complaint among people who don’t like it, but there’s an easy way to fix that problem. Just add it to the blender. Pulse a few times and the cottage cheese will become very rich and creamy, perfect for eating on its own or stirring into dips and soups. It’s a magical addition to pancake batter, and its milky, slightly tangy flavor makes it a solid substitute for buttermilk.
Whether blended, drizzled with hot sauce, or eaten with fruit, it’s time for cottage cheese to reclaim its rightful place at the breakfast table. Cottage cheese is probably the only dairy product that inspires both this level of devotion and disgust. Perhaps that’s why I don’t request it in the first place. Reevaluating cottage cheese. But in an age where new food trends appear almost every day, cottage cheese is always quietly chilling in the dairy case, waiting for us to discover its wonders. It’s good to be reminded again.
