After several decades of living in the shadows labeled as an unappetizing diet food, cottage cheese is finally making a comeback. Foodies and home cooks alike are beginning to realize that this humble farmer’s cheese is not only delicious — salty and savory with just a hint of earthy funk — it’s also incredibly versatile. Even if you can’t get over the funk, there are plenty of ways to enjoy cottage cheese for breakfast that take it from boring to bougie in a matter of minutes.
One of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to do this is to replace the heavy cream in your morning quiche with cottage cheese. Not only does this reduce the amount of fat in the dish and make it more nutrient dense — cottage cheese is packed with protein, calcium, and potassium — it also produces beautifully light and fluffy results. Cottage cheese also pairs well with melting cheeses traditionally used in quiche — such as cheddar, Gruyère, Swiss, and mozzarella — by enhancing their savory saltiness with its earthy undertones.
Though quiches require a certain amount of moisture to develop their delicate texture, you’ll want to drain your cottage cheese to prevent your dish from being watery or having a soggy crust. You’ll also want to use a fairly high-quality brand of cottage cheese to achieve the best possible flavor, since lower-quality brands may lend your dish an unpleasant aftertaste. If all else fails, cottage cheese is pretty easy to make at home, giving you complete control over the quality.
Tasty flavor profiles for your cottage cheese quiche
Since cottage cheese quiche is lighter in both texture and calories than recipes made with traditional heavy cream, it gives you a little more freedom when it comes to choosing your add-ins. You can either lean into the lighter side of things to keep the dish airy yet satisfying, or double down on rich ingredients without worrying about the meal becoming too dense or heavy.
For instance, if you want a seasonally appropriate main dish to complement your springtime brunch, you might choose a blend of asparagus, spinach, and chopped artichokes along with some zesty chicken or turkey sausage. If summer is your time to shine, give some chopped red bell peppers, chilis, and shallots a light saute before stirring them into your cottage cheese quiche. Add a little Tex-Mex flare by serving it with your favorite salsa — the light spice will enhance the cottage cheese’s umami flavor for complex layers of flavor.
If you love a denser dish, feel free to add traditional ingredients like bacon, ham, or even crumbled breakfast sausage. Complement any of these proteins with lots of sharp white cheddar cheese, and serve it with a cold pico de gallo for a fresh counterpoint to cut through the richness. You might also consider layering your cottage cheese quiche with deliciously oily smoked salmon. Cottage cheese and cream cheese share tangy notes that pair beautifully with this protein, making it the perfect choice for this airy take on a classic dish.
