I have the best recipe ever for you today – the Cottage Cheese Crunch Bowl, and let me tell you, it’s the real deal. Loaded with crunchy vegetables like cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, red onion, cucumber and bell peppers, all mixed up with creamy 2% fat large curd cottage cheese. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking – cottage cheese? But trust me, it’s the secret ingredient that makes this salad pop. Not only does it add a punch of protein, but it gives the whole thing a rich, satisfying flavor. And here’s the best part: I have eight different dressings to choose from. So whether you’re feeling something sweet, tangy, or a little in between, there’s a dressing for you. Bottom line? This salad isn’t just good for you – it’s downright delicious.
The crazy thing is – this salad all came about because I was cleaning out my refrigerator and found bits of this left and bits of that and a container of cottage cheese and I thought – well why not combine them all? And the result was phenomenal. This salad will totally turn you into a cottage cheese convert. It’s like this creamy cheese goodness just works perfectly with all the crunchy veggies. This salad is gonna be your new best friend. With all the protein from the cottage cheese and the low-calorie dressings, it’s like a dream come true for anyone doing Weight Watchers.
PIN FOR LATER
Also, for those doing WW, you can definitely substitute fat free cottage cheese for this – I only used the 2% fat large curd cheese because that was what needed to be used up. Using fat free cottage cheese keeps the points way low and the protein still high. However, the curds will be small than using large curd cottage cheese.
Cottage Cheese Crunch Bowl with 8 Tasty Dressings
Cottage Cheese Crunch Bowl with 8 Tasty Dressings
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes, Halved
- 1.5 Cups Frozen Sweet Corn Kernels, Defrosted
- 1/2 Small Red Onion, Sliced
- 1 Large English Cucumber, Peeled and Diced
- 1 Large Red Bell Pepper, Diced
- 1 Cup Creamy LARGE CURD 2% Fat Cottage Cheese (I used Friendship Brand 2% Large Curd) (You can use Fat Free Cottage Cheese, but the curds will be very small - but still delicious!)
- 1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano
- 2 Tbl White Sesame Seeds
- Fresh herbs as garnish, optional
For Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbl Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 Clove Garlic, Minced
- Salt/Pepper to taste
- 2 Tbl Olive Oil
For Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbl Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tsp Honey
- 1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 2 Tbl Olive Oil
For Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbl Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 Clove Garlic, Minced
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 2 Tbl Olive Oil
For Red Wine Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbl Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 Clove Garlic, Minced
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 2 Tbl Olive Oil
For Honey Lime Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbl Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 Tsp Honey
- Pinch Cumin
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 2 Tbl Olive Oil
For Raspberry Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbl Fresh Chopped Raspberries (about 8 raspberries)
- 2 Tbl Raspberry Vinegar
- 1 Tsp Honey
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 2 Tbl Olive Oil
For Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbl Fresh Chopped Strawberries (about 2 large strawberries)
- 2 Tbl Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Tsp Honey
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 2 Tbl Olive Oil
For Creamy Greek Dressing
- 2 Tbl Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tbl Lemon Juice
- 2 Tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 Clove Garlic, Minced
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 2 Tbl Fat Free Plain Greek Yogurt
Instructions
- First, drain the cottage cheese using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove excess moisture. While that is draining, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the red onion thinly, dice the cucumber and bell pepper
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, sliced red onion, diced cucumber, diced bell pepper, oregano, sesame seeds and drained cottage cheese. Gently toss everything together until evenly distributed.
- Once everything is mixed, add your choice of dressing to the salad. Toss the salad again to coat all the ingredients with the dressing.
- This makes 4 servings. Using 2% Fat Large Curd Cottage Cheese, each serving will be 2 WW Points (not including dressing). If you use fat free cottage cheese, the salad (before dressing) is 1 WW Point per serving. Enjoy!
For The Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Whisk together balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 3 WW Points.
For the Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Whisk together apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 3 WW Points.
For the Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
- Whisk together fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 2 WW Points.
For the Red Wine Vinaigrette
- Whisk together red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 2 WW Points.
For the Honey Lime Vinaigrette
- Whisk together lime juice, honey, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 3 WW Points.
For the Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Blend fresh raspberries, raspberry vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until smooth. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while blending until emulsified.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 3 WW Points.
For the Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Blend fresh strawberries, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until smooth. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while blending until emulsified.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 3 WW Points.
For Creamy Greek Dressing
- Whisk together red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Add Greek yogurt and whisk until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- This makes 4 servings at 2 TBL per serving. On WW, each serving is 0 WW Points.
FAQs About this Cottage Cheese Crunch Bowl Recipe
- Is this salad suitable for those on a low-carb or keto diet? While this salad contains some carbohydrates from vegetables and cottage cheese, you can modify it to fit a low-carb or keto diet by adjusting the ingredients or portion sizes accordingly.
- What are the main nutritional benefits of this salad? The Cottage Cheese Crunch Salad is packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein. It provides essential nutrients while being low in calories and fat.
- How long does it take to prepare the Cottage Cheese Crunch Salad? The preparation time is approximately 20-25 minutes, including chopping the vegetables and assembling the salad.
- Can I make this salad ahead of time, and if so, how should I store it? Yes, you can make the salad ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Wait to add dressing until just before serving to maintain freshness.
- How long can I store leftovers of this salad in the refrigerator? Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Make sure to store them in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Can I add additional ingredients to the Cottage Cheese Crunch Salad?  Absolutely! Feel free to add extras like avocado, nuts, seeds, or protein sources such as grilled chicken or tofu for added flavor and nutrition.
- Are there any substitutions for certain ingredients if I don’t have them on hand?  Yes, you can substitute any of the vegetables with others of your choice, and you can replace the cottage cheese with a dairy-free alternative if desired.
- Can I make this salad vegan or dairy-free by replacing the cottage cheese?  Yes, you can make this salad vegan or dairy-free by omitting the cottage cheese altogether or substituting it with a plant-based alternative such as tofu or a vegan cheese.
This Cottage Cheese Crunch Salad recipe is a delicious light lunch or perfect as a side dish. Hope you make it soon and enjoy as much as I did.
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