Easy Cozy High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce

Blended cottage cheese gives this pasta sauce a creamy texture without a long simmer.

Ingredients

Measure the ingredients below before you begin. Optional additions are marked in the list.

• 10 oz (300 g) chickpea pasta, or your favorite high-protein pasta
• 2 cups (400 g) cottage cheese
• 1 cup (250 g) tomato sauce, passata
• 6-8 fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• ¾ lb (350 g) turkey sausage, cut into bite-size pieces
• ⅓ cup (30 g) Parmesan, grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

How to make it

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1-2 cups of the pasta water.

2. Meanwhile, place the cottage cheese, tomato sauce and basil leaves in a blender and blitz until smooth. Set aside.

3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and saute the onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.

4. Add the turkey sausage and cook for 5-6 minutes or until browned; if using raw turkey sausage, check for 165°F (74°C) in the center.

5. Stir in the cottage cheese sauce and allow to heat through.

6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well to combine. Add some of the reserved pasta water if it looks too dry.

7. Stir in the Parmesan and fresh parsley and adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan on top if you like.

Tips and serving

Blend the cottage cheese well and warm the sauce gently to avoid curdling. Cook raw turkey sausage to 165°F (74°C).

For more ideas, try Healthy Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce Recipe for Pasta Night or Easy Creamy Ground Turkey Pasta for Quick Weeknight Dinner.