Creamy, Cheesy Pasta Salad

Posted by Christine Evans on June 26, 2024

With fresh, crisp veggies and creamy cottage cheese, this pasta salad offers a perfect blend of flavors. It's ideal for a quick lunch, a side dish, or a potluck contribution. This dish is an ideal Phase Three ViCera recipe. I hope you enjoy this creamy cottage cheese garden pasta as much as I do—it's a great addition to any meal!

Ingredients:

12 ounces of cassava flour pasta (I use this brand)
2 cups cherry tomatoes diced in half
1 cucumber sliced and diced in fourths
1 sliced yellow bell pepper
1 cup of spinach finely chopped
1 lemon juiced
2 cups of cottage cheese
1/2 cup of Italian dressing (my recipe )

Directions:

1. Cook the Pasta:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the cassava flour pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
Drain the pasta and lightly toss it with olive oil to prevent sticking

2. Prepare the Vegetables:

While the pasta is cooking, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice and dice the cucumber, and slice the yellow bell pepper.
Finely chop the spinach.

3. Combine Ingredients:

In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, yellow bell pepper, and spinach.
Pour the lemon and Italian dressing mixture over the pasta and vegetables.
Add the cottage cheese to the bowl.

4. Toss the Salad:

Gently toss all the ingredients together until well combined and evenly coated with the dressing.

5. Chill and Serve:

Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve chilled and enjoy!

Serving Ideas:

As a Side Dish:

Serve alongside grilled meats or fish for a light and refreshing complement.
Pair it with my Simple Smashburgers

As a Main Course:

Add shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken strips to make it a more substantial meal.

Macros Per Serving:

The recipe yields 8 servings

1 cup per serving

Calories: 370
Carbohydrates: 80g
Fat: 2g
Protein: 9g

A Few Thoughts:

I love how adaptable this recipe is. Sometimes, I add rotisserie chicken to make it a hearty meal, or I mix in extra veggies for even more crunch and flavor. The combination of creamy cottage cheese and fresh veggies with the light cassava pasta works so well together!
I know that some people are intimidated by the texture of cottage cheese. Although I don't find that to be an issue in this dish at all, you can always blend it up before adding it to ensure a silky smooth texture.