Description
A fresh, creamy, and satisfying pasta salad perfect for quick lunches, easy dinners, and meal prep. Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad combines tender bowtie pasta, creamy cottage cheese, crisp cucumbers, and juicy cherry tomatoes with bright lemon and herbs. This easy recipe is packed with protein and Mediterranean flavor, making it a great choice for healthy pasta salad recipes, quick lunch ideas, picnic food ideas, and light dinner ideas.
Ingredients
12 oz bowtie pasta
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, sliced
1/4 cup red onion, finely sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to cool the pasta.
2. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, thinly slice the cucumber, and finely slice the red onion.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine cottage cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper and stir until smooth.
4. Add the cooled pasta along with the tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion.
5. Gently toss until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
6. Refrigerate the pasta salad for about 30 minutes before serving so the flavors blend together.
Notes
Use full-fat cottage cheese for the creamiest texture and richer flavor.
Rinse pasta with cold water after cooking to stop the cooking process and prevent it from becoming mushy.
If the salad thickens after refrigeration stir in a small spoonful of olive oil or cottage cheese to refresh the texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 15mg