High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad Recipe
This High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad is a fresh, creamy, and nutritious dish perfect for a light lunch or a side at dinner. Featuring rotini pasta combined with crisp cucumber, juicy tomatoes, sweet yellow bell pepper, red onion, and fresh spinach, all tossed in a zesty Italian dressing and brightened with lemon juice. The addition of cottage cheese adds a creamy texture and a boost of protein without heaviness, making it a satisfying and healthy choice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 14 oz Barilla rotini pasta
- 1 large cucumber, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1.5 cups tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup spinach, chopped into 1/2-inch ribbons
Dressing and Seasonings
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (Ken’s Steak House preferred)
- 1 pinch oregano
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Creamy Protein
- 1.5 cups Good Culture cottage cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: While bringing the pasta water to a boil, dice the cucumber, tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, finely dice the red onion, and chop the spinach into ribbons. Arrange all the prepped vegetables in separate piles to keep them organized and ready for mixing.
- Cook and Rinse Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water while gently tossing to stop the cooking process and prevent clumping.
- Combine Pasta and Vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, mix the cooled pasta with all prepared vegetables, tossing gently to distribute evenly without bruising the ingredients.
- Add Lemon and Dressing: Squeeze the juice of one lemon directly into the bowl. Add the Italian dressing and oregano, then toss thoroughly to ensure every bite is flavorful and well coated.
- Fold in Cottage Cheese and Season: Gently fold the cottage cheese into the pasta mixture using a spatula or wooden spoon, maintaining the curds’ texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste, folding gently to combine without breaking the curds.
Notes
- Rinsing the pasta with cold water after cooking is crucial to prevent overcooking and clumping, especially for pasta salad.
- Folding rather than stirring cottage cheese keeps the texture creamy and the curds visible.
- Use fresh vegetables for the best texture and flavor.
- Any Italian dressing can be substituted based on preference, but Ken’s Steak House adds a zesty flavor.
- This salad can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but best served fresh for maximum crispness.
Keywords: high protein pasta salad, cottage cheese pasta salad, healthy pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, Italian dressing pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, vegetable pasta salad
