Cottage Cheese Vodka Sauce for Pasta
Try my high protein Cottage Cheese Vodka Sauce when you’re craving a hearty meal that won’t weigh you down! Creamy, flavorful, a touch spicy, and so satisfying, it’s perfect with pasta with a boost of protein.
Servings 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp grass-fed butter
- 2 shallots (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 tbsp vodka
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1-1/2 tsp chili flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups rigatoni (measure dry)
- 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese (+ more for serving)
- Fresh basil For garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta al a dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- In a blender, add in 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water, and cottage cheese. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, heat the butter then add in the shallot and cook over medium-low heat for 3-5 minutes. Then add in the garlic and mix to combine.
- Add in the tomato paste next, and cook until the sauce is darker and a bit caramelized, about 2-3 minutes.
- Introduce the vodka and scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to remove anything at the bottom, cook it until it’s evaporated about 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the cottage cheese mixture, the chili flakes, and 1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese is melted, taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
- Stir in pasta and mix until well combined. If you prefer a more thinner sauce, you can add a touch more pasta water until you've reached the right consistency. Taste and season if needed.
- Serve warm with more Parmesan cheese and fresh basil as a garnish
Notes
- Cooking the pasta: Remember to cook the noodles al dente so they still have a bit of a bite to them. Overcooking will make the whole dish taste mushy. Also, save some of your pasta water!
- Don’t skip the blending step: You must blend the cottage cheese with your reserved pasta water for a smooth texture. I also know that some people get thrown off by the little curds in cottage cheese — blending it really well improves the consistency so much!
- Sauce consistency: If you find your cottage cheese vodka sauce comes out too thick, add more pasta water little by little until you get the consistency you’re after. To thicken it, let it simmer for a few more minutes, or add some more Parmesan cheese.
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