Delicious and Nutritious: Keto Cottage Cheese Dip Recipes

Cottage cheese is making a comeback, and for good reason! It's a versatile ingredient that's packed with protein, relatively low in calories, and has a mild flavor that makes it perfect for both sweet and savory dishes. If you're looking for a healthy and delicious snack or appetizer that fits your keto or low-carb lifestyle, look no further than cottage cheese dip.

Why Cottage Cheese Dip?

Cottage cheese is a nutritional powerhouse, offering a good source of choline, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium. On average, 100g of cottage cheese contains approximately 98 calories. It's also a great way to increase the protein content of your snacks and meals. Many people don't like cottage cheese as is. But when you blend it, it just becomes a smooth and thick cream. So if you are trying to get more natural protein in your diet, and don’t like the consistency or flavor of cottage cheese, try it in a dip.

Choosing Your Cottage Cheese

When selecting cottage cheese for your dip, you have several options. Good Culture cottage cheese is a popular choice due to its creamy texture, simple ingredients, and live and active cultures, containing just 3g net carbs per ½ cup. Daisy brand cottage cheese is another option. It doesn't matter if it’s low fat cottage cheese, 2%, 4% or whole milk.

Keto Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip

This simple recipe uses just a few ingredients to create a flavorful and protein-packed dip that's perfect for veggies, keto-friendly crackers, or as a spread.

Ingredients:

• Cottage cheese (Good Culture brand recommended)
• Ranch powder mix (not salad dressing)
• Fresh garlic
• Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest

Instructions:

1. Add cottage cheese, garlic, ranch mix, lemon juice, and lemon zest to a high-speed blender or mini food processor.
2. Blend until the cottage cheese is nice and creamy and smooth in texture.
3. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
4. Spoon into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve this dip with fresh vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, or broccoli florets. You can also enjoy it with chips or crackers.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Nutritional Information (per 2 tablespoons):

Approximately 26 calories / 0.6g fat / 2.2g carbs / 3.6g protein

Variations on Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip

• Homemade Ranch Mix: Use your sister’s Homemade Ranch Mix instead of store-bought.
• Buffalo Ranch: Try Redhot and Ranch seasonings for a buffalo ranch flavor.
• Green Goddess: Use Green Goddess seasoning from Trader Joes.
• Herbs and Spices: Experiment with any herbs and spices you like to customize the flavor.

Low Carb Cranberry Cottage Cheese Dip

This creamy dip with cranberries is a great option for an easy holiday appetizer.

Ingredients:

• Cream cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Fresh or frozen cranberries
• Low carb sweetener
• Parsley

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Mix the cream cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese together until nicely combined. Set aside.
3. Place the cranberries in a small bowl and toss in low carb sweetener until all coated.
4. Mix cranberries into cheeses.
5. Pour into an 8-inch cast iron skillet.
6. Top with parsley.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbling on edges and slightly browned.
8. Let rest out of the oven for 5-10 minutes then serve.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve warm with sliced cucumbers, pork rinds, or keto crackers.

Tips and Swaps:

• If you want to spice this dip, add some fresh spicy peppers like jalapeno.
• If you can’t find fresh or frozen cranberries, swap with homemade keto cranberry sauce.
• For a summer party, swap out the cranberries with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries. Add some orange zest or orange extract or lemon juice and lemon zest to the berries which will preserve their color.
• If you’re not a fan of parsley, you can leave it out.

High Protein Cottage Cheese Queso Dip

This easy cottage cheese queso is perfect for pairing with your favorite tortilla chips or fresh veggies.

Ingredients:

• Cottage cheese (Good Culture 2% low-fat recommended)
• Shredded pepper jack cheese
• Shredded Mexican cheese blend
• Taco seasoning (Siete Foods brand recommended)
• Ground beef
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Diced green chiles
• Water

Instructions:

1. Cook the ground beef with the salt and garlic powder in a skillet over medium heat until browned and no longer pink. Drain and set aside.
2. Combine the cottage cheese, pepper jack, shredded cheddar blend, taco seasoning, and water in a blender.
3. Blend on high for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and blend again until smooth.
4. Pour the mixture into a medium-sized bowl.
5. Microwave in 30-second increments until creamy and smooth, stirring in between.
6. Add in the cooked ground beef and diced green chiles and stir.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve with tortilla chips, raw veggies, or crackers.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Tips and Swaps:

• Use whichever type of cottage cheese you prefer.
• Omit the peppers and green chilies for a 3-ingredient recipe.
• If you’d like to skip the stovetop part of this recipe, then you can actually just throw this in the microwave. Simply put your ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and pop it in for 2-4 minutes, making sure to stir frequently.
• Make sure to heat in 20-30 second increments in the microwave. Anymore could over heat the cottage cheese and it will curdle.

Storage:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

Nutritional Information (per ½ cup):

There are 22 grams of protein in ½ cup of this dip.

Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip with Fresh Herbs

This whipped cottage cheese dip features fresh herbs, a creamy texture, and an intense flavor.

Ingredients:

• Cottage cheese
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper
• Onion powder
• Cayenne pepper (optional)
• Lemon juice
• Chives
• Dill
• Shallots
• Oil

Instructions:

1. In a blender or food processor, add the cottage cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cayenne pepper (if using) and lemon juice.
2. Blend or process for about 1 minute or until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If using a blender, you may need to use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides and ensure all the cottage cheese blends evenly.
3. Transfer the cottage cheese mixture to a medium bowl.
4. Fold in the chives and dill. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed.
5. Refrigerate until time to serve.
6. In a small skillet or egg pan, heat the oil for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Add the sliced shallots and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
7. When cool enough to handle, sprinkle the crispy shallots on top of the chilled cottage cheese dip.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve with fresh vegetables, crackers, or chips.

Tips and Swaps:

• The cayenne pepper is optional and adds a medium amount of heat to the dip. You can omit it entirely or replace it with a dash of sriracha or your favorite hot sauce.
• For a hint of tanginess, you can mix in ¼ cup of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Watch the shallots closely as they cook. They can turn from golden brown to burnt really quickly.

Storage:

Store any leftover dip in an airtight container for up to five days. Some excess water may pool up in the dip after storing (similar to Greek yogurt).

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

Tips for Making the Best Cottage Cheese Dip

• Use a high-quality cottage cheese: The better the cottage cheese, the better the dip will taste.
• Blend until smooth: For a creamy texture, blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth.
• Adjust seasonings to taste: Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs, spices, and seasonings to create a dip that you love.
• Chill before serving: Chilling the dip allows the flavors to meld together and the texture to thicken.
• Get creative with toppings: Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, or a sprinkle of nuts for added flavor and texture.

Serving Ideas

Cottage cheese dips are incredibly versatile and can be served in a variety of ways:

• With vegetables: Serve with an assortment of fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumbers, bell peppers, and broccoli.
• With crackers or chips: Pair with your favorite keto-friendly crackers or chips.
• As a spread: Use as a spread on sandwiches, wraps, or toast.
• As a topping: Top grilled chicken, fish, or vegetables with a dollop of cottage cheese dip.
• In a bowl: You can eat these with fresh vegetables, chips, crackers, or whatever you want.

tags: #keto #cottage #cheese #dip #recipes