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Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce Recipe

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3.9 from 9 reviews

A creamy and flavorful cottage cheese pasta sauce made with roasted red peppers, fresh basil, and a blend of tomatoes. This healthy and easy-to-make sauce pairs perfectly with rigatoni or your favorite pasta, offering a smooth texture and delicious taste without the heaviness of traditional cream sauces.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 1 lb rigatoni pasta (or pasta of your choice)

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 15 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 16 oz jar roasted red peppers, drained
  • 3/4 cup cottage cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, plus extra for serving
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

For Serving

  • Parmesan cheese
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Basil leaves

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni pasta until al dente, following the package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release the aroma.
  3. Prepare Tomato Base: Stir in the tomato paste and diced tomatoes into the onion and garlic mixture, cooking briefly to combine flavors.
  4. Blend Sauce: Transfer the tomato mixture to a blender or food processor. Add the drained roasted red peppers, cottage cheese, fresh basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  5. Combine and Warm: Pour the blended sauce back into the pot and heat over medium-low. Add the cooked pasta and stir well to coat all the pasta evenly. Warm through, tasting and adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper as necessary.
  6. Serve: Garnish the pasta with Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

  • You can use any pasta shape you prefer, though rigatoni or other tubular pastas hold the sauce well.
  • If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a splash of pasta cooking water when combining the sauce and pasta.
  • For a smoother texture, ensure cottage cheese is well-blended with the other sauce ingredients.
  • Fresh basil enhances the flavor; if unavailable, substitute with dried basil but reduce quantity slightly.
  • This sauce is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/cottage-cheese-pasta-sauce-recipe/