Creamy Cottage Cheese Tomato Basil Sauce Recipe
This creamy cottage cheese tomato basil sauce is a deliciously smooth and flavorful sauce perfect for pasta, as a dip, or a healthy topping for various dishes. Combining blended cottage cheese with crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and spices, it offers a creamy texture with a fresh, herbaceous twist, making it a nutritious and easy-to-make sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Blend the Cottage Cheese: Add 1 cup cottage cheese to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy, ensuring there are no lumps to create a velvety base for the sauce.
- Heat Oil and Garlic: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasoning: Pour in 2 cups of crushed tomatoes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes if using. Stir everything together and let it simmer gently for 8–10 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Add Blended Cottage Cheese: Stir in the smooth blended cottage cheese into the tomato mixture, combining thoroughly to create a creamy, rich sauce.
- Add Fresh Basil: Stir in 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes to infuse the sauce with fragrant herbal flavors.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve this sauce warm over your favorite pasta, as a dip, or as a topping for grilled proteins or vegetables.
Notes
- For a spicier sauce, increase the red pepper flakes to taste.
- If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a splash of pasta water or broth when combining the cottage cheese.
- Fresh basil can be substituted with dried basil, but use about 1 teaspoon dried and add it earlier in the cooking process for flavor development.
- This sauce can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Use low-fat or full-fat cottage cheese based on your dietary preference; full-fat will make it creamier.
