Description
This Easy Cottage Cheese Alfredo recipe is a creamy and lighter alternative to traditional Alfredo sauce, made by blending cottage cheese and milk for a smooth, protein-packed base. Quick to prepare in just 15 minutes, it's combined with garlic, parmesan, and Italian seasoning to create a luscious sauce perfectly tossed with your favorite pasta. This dish offers a delicious comfort meal without the heavy cream typically used in Alfredo sauces.
Ingredients
Alfredo Sauce
- 1/2 cup milk (any kind)
- 1 1/4 cups cottage cheese (Good Culture whole milk or any percentage)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup pasta cooking water (reserved, as needed)
Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta of choice
Instructions
- Blend the sauce base: In a high-speed blender, combine the milk and cottage cheese. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth to ensure a creamy sauce without lumps.
- Sauté the garlic: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to brown it.
- Add cheese and seasoning: Reduce the heat to low and pour the blended cottage cheese mixture into the pan. Add the parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Stir gently to combine and allow the parmesan to melt slowly, avoiding overheating which could cause the sauce to curdle.
- Cook pasta: While the sauce simmers on very low heat, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain and rinse the noodles with cool water to prevent sticking.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Return the pasta to low heat and toss it gently with the Alfredo sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce consistency. Heat carefully to your desired serving temperature, avoiding high heat to prevent the sauce from separating.
Notes
- You can use any type of milk (dairy or plant-based) but whole milk gives the creamiest texture.
- Rinsing pasta after cooking helps prevent it from drying out and sticking when combined with the sauce.
- Be cautious with heat when melting the parmesan and tossing pasta to avoid curdling or separating the sauce.
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor and meltability.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
