Caprese Cottage Cheese Bowl Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis Caprese cottage cheese bowl recipe is light, fresh, and flavorful! A great high-protein breakfast, lunch, or snack you can make in 10 minutes with no cooking required.
Start by adding creamy cottage cheese to a bowl, topping it with sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, and drizzling a quick 2-minute balsamic vinaigrette dressing over the top. You get the classic flavors of Caprese salad with the benefits of enjoying cottage cheese.
Want more great lunch bowls? Try our
I was inspired to make this recipe after enjoying a delicious tomato and burrata salad recently, and realized that cottage cheese would be a fantastic addition instead! Cottage cheese is a wonderful option for breakfast or lunch bowls, as cottage cheese can help balance weight and build muscle.
I love the creamy texture and mild flavor of the cottage cheese, which acts as a substitute for mozzarella cheese which is traditional in Caprese salad. It’s the perfect summer breakfast or lunch, and a great way to use fresh garden tomatoes and basil if you have some on hand.
Why This Recipe Works
- It’s bright, fresh, creamy, and delicious!
- A great savory cottage cheese bowl with amazing flavor.
- No cooking required, making this a great summertime option.
- A wonderful high-protein low-fat option if you use 1% cottage cheese (although any variety will do nicely in this bowl).
- Anyone can successfully make this recipe, just follow our step-by-step instructions and photos below!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The base of this bowl is creamy and delicious cottage cheese. You can use any variety you prefer, but I used 1% milkfat cottage cheese which has ~80 calories per 1/2 cup-serving and 14g protein, making it a great macro friendly recipe.
You can use any fresh tomatoes, but I used red cherry tomatoes as it’s spring and those are the sweetest ones I could find.
Fresh basil is a wonderful herby addition for that classic Caprese salad flavor.
And I mix up a quick 2-minute vinaigrette dressing with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Additions and Substitutions
If you wanted to also include mozzarella for more of a classic caprese salad feel, you can add 1/2 cup mozzarella balls to this dish.
To make this more of a salad, add a handful of fresh baby spinach or mixed greens.
If you don’t want to make your own dressing, then a store-bought balsamic vinaigrette would be a good substitute.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: In a bowl, add the cottage cheese and the sliced tomatoes.
Step 2: Top with the fresh sliced basil.
Step 3: In a small mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Step 4: Pour the dressing over the cottage cheese bowl.
Step 5: Serve as-is, or toss together to combine.
Recipe FAQs
I’ve found that cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are ideal for their sweetness and bite-sized shape (plus they are great options in winter), but you can also use heirloom tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or even diced beefsteak tomatoes if you have any of those on hand.
Absolutely! Try adding sliced grilled chicken breast, canned chickpeas or white beans, or even baked salmon for extra protein.
Store leftovers in an airtight container. This salad is best fresh, but leftovers can last up to 2 days in the fridge – just be sure to give it a good stir before serving.
Expert Tips
For larger tomatoes, you can quarter them instead of halving.
Level up this salad by using pesto instead of fresh basil. Stir in 2 tablespoons of pesto dressing on top before serving.
Serve this salad alongside some of our favorite pasta dishes: spinach artichoke alfredo pasta, chicken pasta with vodka sauce, or baked ricotta mac and cheese!
Dietary Notes: This recipe is vegetarian, gluten free (just ensure any dressing ingredients are certified gluten free), low in carbohydrates, and low in fat if you use 1% cottage cheese.
More Fresh Salad Ideas
- Red Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese
- Old Bay Shrimp Salad
- Egg Salad with Sour Cream
- Thai Wheat Noodle Salad Recipe
- 5 Bean Salad Recipe
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If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Caprese Cottage Cheese Bowl
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups low-fat cottage cheese I used 1%
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced lengthwise
- 1/4 cup fresh basil sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the cottage cheese and the sliced tomatoes.
- Step 2: Top with the fresh sliced basil.
- Step 3: In a small mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Step 4: Pour the dressing over the cottage cheese bowl. Serve as-is, or toss together to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
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I loved developing this delicious cottage cheese recipe for you – if you make it, please leave and rating and review below!