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High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad

A refreshing and nutritious pasta salad featuring creamy cottage cheese, crisp vegetables, and zesty Italian dressing, perfect for lunches or light dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Vegetables
  • 14 oz pasta (Rotini) Barilla rotini holds dressing and cottage cheese well.
  • 1 large cucumber Diced into 1/2-inch pieces for coolness and crunch.
  • 1.5 cups tomatoes Halved or quartered for juiciness.
  • 1 large yellow bell pepper Diced into 1/2-inch pieces for sweetness.
  • 1/4 cup red onion Finely diced to avoid overpowering the salad.
  • 1/2 cup spinach Chopped into 1/2-inch ribbons.
Dressing and Seasoning
  • 1 medium lemon Juice to brighten flavors.
  • 1/2 cup Italian dressing Ken’s Steak House for zesty flavor.
  • 1 pinch oregano To enhance flavor.
  • 1.5 cups cottage cheese Good Culture for thicker texture.
  • to taste salt and pepper Final seasoning to taste.

Method
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
  3. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
Preparing Vegetables
  1. Dice the cucumber and yellow bell pepper into 1/2-inch pieces.
  2. Halve or quarter the tomatoes.
  3. Finely dice the red onion and chop the spinach into short ribbons.
Mixing the Salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the prepared vegetables.
  2. Add the cottage cheese, Italian dressing, lemon juice, and oregano.
  3. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Chilling and Serving
  1. Chill for at least 20–30 minutes if possible to let flavors meld.
  2. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

Stir before serving if stored for more than a day. Add extra seasoning as needed. For a zesty kick, consider adding fresh herbs or toasted nuts.