Protein Pasta with Cottage Cheese and Tomato Basil Sauce Recipe
A quick and nutritious protein pasta featuring rigatoni or penne tossed in a creamy cottage cheese and tomato sauce infused with garlic, onion, and fresh basil. This dish is perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner and comes together in just 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 200g pasta (rigatoni or penne)
Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 pinch of chili flakes (optional)
- 400g chopped canned tomatoes
- 2 tbsp basil, chopped
- 225g cottage cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
Garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil salted water and cook the pasta until al dente following the package instructions. Reserve 60ml of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta in a colander.
- Prepare the sauce base: Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add olive oil. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic for about 3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
- Add tomato paste and chili flakes: Stir in the tomato puree and chili flakes, cooking for another minute to deepen the flavors while stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Simmer with tomatoes and basil: Add the chopped canned tomatoes, chopped basil, and season with salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Blend sauce with cottage cheese: Remove the pan from heat and use a hand blender to combine the sauce with cottage cheese and the reserved pasta cooking water until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Return the sauce to the pan, add the cooked pasta, and stir constantly for one minute to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated and warmed through.
- Serve and garnish: Plate the pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese and extra chopped basil for a fresh, flavorful finish.
Notes
- Reserve pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency and add silkiness.
- Chili flakes are optional but add a subtle heat that complements the tomato sauce.
- Using cottage cheese increases the protein content of the dish while keeping it creamy.
- Fresh basil added both in the sauce and as garnish enhances the aroma and flavor.
- For a vegan alternative, substitute cottage cheese and Parmesan with plant-based versions.
Keywords: protein pasta, cottage cheese pasta, creamy tomato pasta, quick Italian dinner, healthy pasta recipe