It might be one of the oddest recipes I’ve put together in a while, but I am pleased with the results (nutritionally and taste-wise) and just had to share it with you.
This recipe is a goodie for all you who:
Love cottage cheese
Hate cottage cheese
Need high protein meal or snack ideas
Looking for high protein recipes that don’t contain protein powder as an ingredient
I think this pretty much covers a majority of ya.
Please meet “Cottage Cheese Chia Peanut Pudding”, a recipe with 39 grams of protein, no protein powder, and nearly 11 grams of fiber. Hey… don’t go away yet. It tastes good so check it out with an open mind:
Recipe Ingredients:
3/4 c (185 ml) unsweetened almond milk (for more protein, use a fortified “protein milk”; also, if you prefer a more thick concoction, reduce the milk to 1/2 cup amount)
about 1 c (195 gm) 2% organic cottage cheese (I used the GOOD Culture brand; I used “about 1 cup” of cottage cheese because it was all that was left in the container!)
2 Tbsp (16 gm) PBFit organic peanut butter powder (you can use other PB powders, but I recommend choosing low added sugar varieties)
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
approx 1/2 banana (~70 gm), can be frozen
~1 c (130 gm) frozen strawberries (about 6-7 medium to large strawberries)
1 Tbsp (10 gm) chia seed (double this if you want more fiber!)
Preparation Steps:
Add all ingredients EXCEPT the chia seeds to a blender or food processor. Blend until mixed well. You might need to pause to stir one or two times if your blender is not super powerful.
Pour mixture into a large Mason jar (16 oz or pint size or larger depending on the amount of milk you used).
Add chia seeds. Put the lid on and shake vigorously a few times to distribute the chia. You can also mix with a spoon.
Store in the fridge and let it sit for a few hours to thicken, or overnight, and then ENJOY.
Basic nutritional info:
~403 calories
37 grams carbohydrate
10.5 grams fiber
39 grams protein
11 grams fat
This has a subtle peanutty flavor with the addition of the peanut powder and is not overly sweet since there is no addition of maple syrup, honey, or other sweeteners like most chia pudding recipes out there. With nearly 40 grams of protein, this is a simple way to “hide” cottage cheese if you are grossed out by the appearance of it or don’t like to eat it on its own. Plus, you are getting a solid fiber dose along with calcium, omega-3 (chia!), and vitamin C (strawberries AND chia!). This kept me full for a long while, which is an added bonus!
I dare ya to give it a whirl and if you do, tag me on Instagram (@nutritionmechanic) and I’m going to give you extra high fives.
-Dina