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Photo:Laurentiis: Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images. EatingWell design.
Laurentiis: Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images. EatingWell design.
We all know that when Giada De Laurentiis introduces her followers to a simple new pasta recipe, it’s time to listen. But when it’s packed with protein, we’re tempted to leave our previous dinner plans in the dust and get cooking. And to make things even more alluring, the most recent recipe from Giada’s team clocks in with just six ingredients, making it a weeknight hero.
The recipe in question comes from De Laurentiis’s Giadzy, her longtime recipe blog (and now food and cooking brand). Her new Whipped Cottage Cheese Pasta features some ingredients from Giadzy, but we’ve cracked the code to crafting the meal with just what many of us already have in our pantries and refrigerators.
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The recipe also requires 1 1/2 teaspoons of Giadzy spicy seasoned salt. But the blend sounds so delicious that we’re committed to mixing our own version for this and other recipes. The Italian-made mixture includes sea salt from Sicily’s Trapani salt flats, but any high-quality sea salt will do. Mix it with crushed chili flakes, lemon zest, oregano and rosemary for a bright, herbaceous combo. Equal parts of each should mean lots of flavor that doesn’t overwhelm with saltiness.
The rest of the ingredients involve far less effort. All you need is a cup of cottage cheese, a tablespoon of olive oil, some fresh basil leaves, a pound of pasta and ¾ cup of freshly grated Parmesan. Mix the tomatoes, cottage cheese, seasoned salt, basil leaves and olive oil together in a blender for the sauce. Add the freshly cooked pasta to the sauce along with half a cup of pasta water and the cheese, toss and you’re ready for dinner. The result is a creamy dream.
If the recipe sounds slightly familiar, it may be because of the TikTok trend a few years back ofbaked feta and cherry tomato pasta. Giadzy’s update on the beloved noodle dish is more salty and less tangy than the original, so it’s a fun update on a recipe you may have tried before. And as a bonus, the cottage cheese brings lots of delicious creamy texture to each bite.
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Another advantage of the cottage cheese is that it’s a veritable protein bomb. The one cup that’s used in the Giadzy recipe offers about 25 grams of protein, which isn’t bad for a meatless pasta dish.Assuming you opt for whole wheat pasta and split this recipe into about eight servings, that means you’ll end up with about 13 grams of protein on your plate. If you want to add to the protein in this dish, you could always opt for a protein pasta made with legumes. (For instance, opting for something like Barilla’s Protein+ pasta in this recipe would offer you 15 grams of protein per serving, making it a high-protein option.)
You might also consider rounding things out with an easy veggie, like this too-easyGrilled Asparagusor classicRoasted Broccoli and Cauliflower. And if cottage cheese isn’t for you, cherry tomatoes and pasta are a great combination even if you decide to do without the creamy element. OurCherry Tomato & Garlic Pastais a winner that uses fresh cherry tomatoes rather than canned ones. It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite when we have so many simple recipes that benefit from those tender, sweet tomatoes.
Whether you’re in the market for asimple sheet pan dinnerora fun appetizer to share, cherry tomatoes have you covered. Combine them withprotein-packed cottage cheese, and it’s no wonder this Giadzy recipe is such a winner. However you dish it up, it’s likely to be in your dinner rotation from now on.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, creamed, large or small curd.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Grain & legume pasta, Protein+ farfalle.
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, creamed, large or small curd.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Grain & legume pasta, Protein+ farfalle.
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, creamed, large or small curd.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Grain & legume pasta, Protein+ farfalle.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, creamed, large or small curd.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Grain & legume pasta, Protein+ farfalle.
