Cottage Cheese Tomato Pasta Sauce Recipe
This Cottage Cheese Tomato Pasta Sauce is a creamy, flavorful, and nutritious alternative to traditional tomato sauces. Blending sautéed vegetables, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and cottage cheese creates a smooth and rich sauce that's perfect for any pasta variety. Ready in just 30 minutes, it delivers a comforting and fresh Italian-inspired dish, topped with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Pasta Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 pound pasta (rigatoni, tortellini, or penne)
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 carrot, diced (about ½ cup)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 squeeze fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup cottage cheese (4% fat or whole milk)
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Toppings
- Fresh basil leaves
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and carrot and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften.
- Add tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste with the sautéed vegetables and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Incorporate garlic and tomatoes: Add the minced garlic, canned diced tomatoes (including the liquid), Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook on medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until the mixture thickens, then squeeze in fresh lemon juice and stir well.
- Blend the sauce: Transfer the tomato and vegetable mixture into a blender. Add the cottage cheese and reserved pasta water. Blend for 1 ½ to 2 minutes until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine sauce with pasta: Pour some of the blended sauce over the cooked pasta and stir to coat evenly. Add more sauce as needed until the pasta is well coated.
- Finish and serve: Top the pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, give a final stir, and serve immediately. Enjoy your creamy cottage cheese tomato pasta!
Notes
- Using whole milk or 4% cottage cheese provides the creamiest texture for the sauce.
- If you prefer a chunkier sauce, pulse the blender less or blend partially.
- Reserve pasta water is essential for adjusting the sauce consistency and helping it cling to the pasta.
- You can substitute fresh tomatoes for canned when in season, but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- For a vegan version, substitute cottage cheese with blended silken tofu or cashew cream and omit parmesan.
