The Anti-Inflammatory Pizza-Style Cottage Cheese Bake has a tasty and cheesy flavor. We prepare this easy baked dish with cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, spinach, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, oregano, basil, turmeric, lemon juice, black pepper, and Kalamata olives. This easy baked dish has about 315 calories and 9 g of net carbs. We bake everything in one dish, making it a simple and wholesome meal without a traditional pizza crust. For weeknight dinners, vegetarian lunches, light meals, meal prep, and Mediterranean-inspired diets, the Anti-Inflammatory Pizza-Style Cottage Cheese Bake is ideal. You can serve this easy baked dish with Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, Greek Tomato Salad, Roasted Broccoli, Sautéed Spinach, or Mixed Green Salad.
STATS:
- Course: Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
- Calories: 315 kcal
- Diet: Anti-Inflammatory
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Cook Duration: 30 minutes
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Method of Cooking: Oven-Baked
- Overall Yields: 4
- Level of Difficulty: Easy
- Total Time: 40 minutes
TOOLS:
- Bowl
- Blender
- Baking dish
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Spatula
- Knife
- Cutting board
INGREDIENTS:
- Sixteen oz. cottage cheese
- One cup cherry tomatoes
- Red bell pepper, half cup
- ½ cup spinach
- ½ cup mozzarella
- Parmesan cheese, one-fourth cup
- Two tbsp. olive oil
- Two cloves garlic
- 1 tsp. oregano
- ½ tsp. basil
- ½ tsp. turmeric
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp. basil
- 2 tbsp. Kalamata olives
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- ¼ tsp. salt
INGREDIENT NOTES:
COTTAGE CHEESE:
- Use cottage cheese to create a creamy, protein-rich base. As another option, use ricotta cheese.
CHERRY TOMATOES:
- Use cherry tomatoes to add freshness, natural sweetness, and moisture. As another choice, use diced Roma tomatoes.
RED BELL PEPPER:
- Utilize red bell pepper to provide sweetness, color, and texture. As a further choice, you could utilize yellow or orange bell pepper.
SPINACH:
- Use spinach to add freshness, color, and vegetables. As a substitute, use kale or finely chopped zucchini.
MOZZARELLA:
- Use mozzarella to provide a classic melted pizza flavor. As another option, use part-skim mozzarella or another melting cheese.
PARMESAN:
- Use Parmesan for a rich, savory, cheesy flavor. As a further option, use Pecorino Romano.
OLIVE OIL:
- Use olive oil for healthy fats and Mediterranean flavor. Avocado oil might be utilized as a different choice.
GARLIC:
- Use fresh garlic for a delicious savory flavor. As a further choice, we might use garlic powder.
OREGANO AND BASIL:
- Use oregano and basil to create a classic pizza-style flavor. Italian seasoning can replace both herbs.
KALAMATA OLIVES:
- Use Kalamata olives for a salty Mediterranean flavor. Green olives can be used, or the olives can be omitted.
- INSTRUCTIONS:
- We warm the oven to 375°Fahrenheit and gently coat the baking dish.
- Stir the salt, cottage cheese, lemon juice, garlic, black pepper, oregano, turmeric, and basil till creamy.
- Whisk in the diced bell pepper and chopped spinach.
- Put the cottage cheese mixture in a baking dish.
- Place the cherry tomatoes on the mixture.
- Garnish the surface with red pepper flakes, mozzarella, Kalamata olives, and Parmesan.
- Drizzle the olive oil and bake till the cheese get golden and the bake is set, for almost twenty-five minutes.
- Bring it out of the oven and cool for almost ten minutes.
- Serve this bake hot with fresh basil.
TIPS:
- Strain out watery cottage cheese first and then use it.
- Do not include extra watery veggies.
- Cool the bake before eating to get a firmer texture.
- Include cooked chicken for additional protein.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
PROTEIN DISHES:
- Herb-Roasted Cod
- Grilled Tofu
SALADS:
- Greek Cucumber Salad
- Tomato Basil Salad
- Arugula Salad
- Fattoush Salad
VEGETABLE SIDES:
- Roasted Broccoli
- Grilled Zucchini
- Roasted Asparagus
- Mediterranean Eggplant
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Store the cottage cheese bake in the refrigerator for three to four days.
FREEZER:
- Store individual portions for approximately 1 to 2 months.
FAQs:
Could we utilize low-fat cottage cheese?
- Yes, although high-fat cottage cheese will provide a creamier texture.
May we include chicken?
- Yes, you can use almost one cup of cooked chicken to get a higher-protein meal.
Could we prepare this bake earlier?
- Yes, you can assemble the elements beforehand, chill them, and bake when ready.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS:
Calories: 315 kcal
Sodium: 650 mg
Net Carbs: 9 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 5 g
Fats: 19 g
Proteins: 25 g
Total Carbs: 11 g
