The Anti-Inflammatory Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake has delicious flavors and nourishing components. We prepare this cottage cheese bake with cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers, onions, garlic, black olives, olive oil, oregano, basil, turmeric powder, and chili flakes. There are approximately 6 g net carbs and 260 calories in this cheesy bake. We make this cottage cheese bake in just forty-five minutes. The Anti-Inflammatory Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake is perfect for busy weeknight dinners, meal prep plans, gluten-free lifestyles, high-protein diets, and low-carb comfort meals. For later use, we can store this cottage cheese bake in the refrigerator for almost four days or freeze individual portions for more than two months. You can serve this cottage cheese bake with Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, Garlic Roasted Broccoli, Lemon Herb Chicken, Cauliflower Rice Pilaf, or Roasted Eggplant Slices.
STATS:
- Course: Main Course, Dinner
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Diet: High-Protein, Gluten-Free
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cuisine: Anti-Inflammatory
- Cook time: 30 minutes
- Portion size: 1 square slice
- Cooking Method: Baking
- Overall yields: 6
- Level of Difficulty : Easy
- Total time: 45 minutes
TOOLS:
- Bowl
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Baking dish
- Oven
- Spatula
INGREDIENTS:
- Cottage cheese, two cups
- Two eggs
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup bell peppers
- ¼ cup black olives
- ¼ cup red onion
- 2 pieces of garlic
- One tbsp. olive oil
- One tsp. oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup spinach
- 2 tablespoons parsley
INGREDIENT NOTES AND THEIR SUBSTITUTIONS:
COTTAGE CHEESE:
- We use cottage cheese as the creamy protein-rich base of this bake. You can swap it with ricotta cheese or strained Greek yogurt.
MOZZARELLA CHEESE:
- Use mozzarella cheese to provide the classic pizza-style melt and stretchy texture. We can replace it with provolone, Gouda, or dairy-free mozzarella.
PARMESAN CHEESE:
- We add Parmesan cheese for a salty and nutty flavor. Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast could be utilized as another choice.
CHERRY TOMATOES:
- Use cherry tomatoes to give freshness and antioxidants to the bake. We can substitute them with diced regular tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes.
BELL PEPPERS:
- We use bell peppers to provide sweetness, crunch, and color. Zucchini or mushrooms work well as alternatives.
OLIVE OIL:
- Use olive oil to provide nutritious anti-inflammatory fats and rich flavor. Avocado oil can also be used.
TURMERIC POWDER:
- We utilize turmeric powder to deliver earthy flavor and anti-inflammatory qualities. Curry powder may be used as a substitute.
SPINACH:
- Use spinach to add nutrients and fiber to the dish. Kale or arugula are excellent replacements.
BLACK OLIVES:
- We use black olives, which will deliver a savory Mediterranean flavor. Green olives or capers can also work.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Warm the empty oven to 375°F and use olive oil to coat a dish.
- Blend the eggs & cottage cheese in a big vessel till they become smooth.
- Whisk in the minced garlic, oregano, sea salt, basil, black pepper, turmeric, and chili flakes.
- Mix in half of the mozzarella cheese, spinach, parmesan cheese, tomatoes, olives, onions, and bell peppers.
- Uniformly distribute the mixture in a baking dish & smooth the outer surface using a spatula.
- Garnish the surface of the pizza-style cheesy layer with the leftover mozzarella cheese.
- Bake till the center becomes bubbly and golden, for about twenty-eight minutes.
- Leave this bake for about ten minutes and then make slices.
- Serve this cottage cheese hot with fresh parsley.
TIPS:
- Gently cool this cottage cheese bake and then slice it to get clean portions.
- We strain the extra moisture content from the cottage cheese to get a firm texture.
- Include the zucchini or mushrooms for additional fiber and veggies.
- You can utilize fresh herbs to provide a bright Mediterranean flavor.
- Use the cooked, shredded chicken for additional protein.
- Do not bake this cuisine to maintain a silky and moist texture.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
FRESH SIDES:
- Lemon arugula salad
- Garlic sautéed spinach
- Roasted zucchini ribbons
- Fresh tomato basil salad
KETO SIDES:
- Cauliflower rice pilaf
- Roasted cauliflower steaks
- Garlic butter green beans
- Parmesan asparagus
- Herbed roasted mushrooms
ADD-ONS:
- Grilled chicken breast
- Herb-baked salmon
- Garlic shrimp skewers
- Turkey meatballs
- Sliced boiled eggs
EXTRAS:
- Hummus with veggie sticks
- Olive and feta platter
- Tzatziki dip
- Roasted eggplant slices
- Stuffed grape leaves
SERVING IDEAS:
- Warm tomato soup
- Creamy vegetable soup
- Toasted sourdough slices
- Whole-grain garlic toast
- Crispy baked sweet potato wedges
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Put this cottage cheese bake in a closed dish and store it for just four days.
FREEZER:
- Tightly cover with a plastic wrap and store the slices separately for only 1-2 months.
FAQs:
May we utilize ricotta cheese as an alternative to cottage cheese?
- Sure, you can use ricotta cheese instead to get a silkier and smoother texture.
Could we prepare this cottage cheese bake earlier?
- Yes, you can assemble this cottage cheese earlier, as it freezes for more than two months.
Will we include meat toppings?
- Yes, you can use lean beef, turkey pepperoni, or shredded chicken.
How can we avoid getting watery?
- You can perfectly strain the cottage cheese and vegetables and then mix them.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS:
Calories: 260 kcal
Sodium: 480 mg
Net carbs: 6 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 4 g
Fats: 15 g
Proteins: 24 g
Portion: 1 square slice
Total carbs: 8 g
