Description
If you love rich, creamy pasta but don’t love the heavy, sluggish feeling afterward, this recipe is for you. This silky pasta sauce gets its luxurious texture from cottage cheese, blended smooth with garlic, parmesan, and olive oil. It’s comforting, protein-packed, and ready in about 15 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights when you want something cozy and nourishing.
Ingredients
Serves
2–3 people
Ingredients
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8 oz (225 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or fettuccine)
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1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or 2%)
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¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
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1 clove garlic (raw or roasted)
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1–2 tablespoons olive oil
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¼–½ cup reserved pasta water
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Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional add-ins:
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Red pepper flakes
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Lemon zest
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Fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
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Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water. -
Blend the sauce
In a blender or food processor, add cottage cheese, parmesan, garlic, olive oil, and 2–3 tablespoons of pasta water. Blend for 45–60 seconds until completely smooth. -
Warm the sauce (optional)
You can toss the sauce directly with hot pasta, or gently warm it in the empty pasta pot over low heat for 1–2 minutes. -
Combine
Add pasta to the sauce and toss well. Add more pasta water, a little at a time, until the sauce coats the pasta smoothly. -
Season & serve
Season with salt, pepper, and any optional add-ins. Serve immediately with extra parmesan on top.
Notes
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Blend longer than you think: A full minute ensures the sauce is ultra-smooth, not grainy.
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Don’t skip pasta water: The starch helps the sauce cling beautifully to the noodles.
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Use low heat if warming the sauce—high heat can cause it to thicken too fast.
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Customize it: Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, grilled chicken, or chickpeas to make it a full meal.