Why cottage cheese bread is the viral recipe of the moment

Haven’t thought about cottage cheese since the 1980s, when it was the go-to snack for ladies on strict calorie-controlled diets? Us neither. But, in a development we definitely didn’t have on our 2024 bingo cards, the high-protein, low-fat foodstuff is back. To which we say: er… yum?

It is all over social media with nutritionists and healthy foodies posting their recipes for cottage cheese bread. And we have to admit, these viral loaves do look surprisingly tasty. It contains around 11g of protein per slice (if you follow nutritionist Emma Bardwell's recipe below) and is made without wheat simply by combining cottage cheese and oats and whatever else with which you care to pimp.

Why cottage cheese is a good option for your health (and wallet)

Here are some of the benefits of cottage cheese:

• It’s high in protein
  Cottage cheese contains a decent amount of protein - typically around 11g of per 100g (as a point of comparison, an egg contains 13g.) Expert views on the recommended amount of protein we need each day vary but a rule of thumb is 1g per kilo of body weight. So for a 60kg woman, a portion of cottage cheese provides about a sixth of her daily needs.
• It can help calm you down (particularly if you’re menopausal)
  “Menopause can lower insulin sensitivity. This means the body is less efficient at regulating blood sugar, which can make you feel irritable and hangry,” says Emma Bardwell. “We’re more insulin sensitive in the morning, so you should eat a bigger breakfast containing protein — try chia puddings with cottage cheese blended through them. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!”
• It’s packed with important nutrients
  “It provides a good source of calcium, essential for maintaining healthy bones and proper muscle function,” says Rob Hobson, sports nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Life. “The vitamin B12 in cottage cheese helps to support the formation of healthy red blood cells and proper nerve function. And it’s rich in vitamin B2 (riboflavin), which helps convert food into energy and facilitates the metabolism of other vital nutrients like iron, folic acid, and vitamin K.”
• It can help with weight loss
  If you’re looking to drop a few pounds, it’s worth knowing that cottage cheese is far lower in calories than most other cheeses. Waitrose Essentials cottage cheese contains just 61 calories per 100g, while the same brand’s mozzarella has 238 calories and its cheddar has 416 calories.
• It’s cheap
  It’s great value compared to many other protein sources – which is extremely helpful during a cost of living crisis. That 300g Waitrose Essentials pot is just £1.40, but you’ll be paying at least £6 for the same amount of, say, salmon.
• It’s versatile
  Cottage cheese is very mild in flavour, so it’s easy to disguise within a recipe and if you blend it, it loses that lumpy texture that can be so off-putting.

4 nutrition experts' cottage cheese bread recipes to try

Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert's gut-friendly cottage cheese bread

Ingredients:
✔️ 200g oats

✔️ 300g cottage cheese

✔️ 50g pumpkin seeds

✔️ 2 tbsp flax seeds

✔️ 1/4 tsp salt

✔️ 2 eggs

✔️ 1 tsp baking powder

Method:
1️⃣ Mix all the ingredients in one bowl

2️⃣ Shape as a loaf of bread and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper

3️⃣ Bake for 60 minutes at 180C

Menopause nutritionist Emma Bardwell's no-knead cottage cheese bread

Ingredients:

✔️ 200g oats 

✔️ 300g cottage cheese

✔️ 50g mixed seeds

✔️ 20g nutritional yeast

✔️ 2 tbsp psyllium husks (or ground flax)

✔️ 1/4 tsp salt

✔️ 2 eggs 

✔️ 1 tsp baking powder

✔️ Fresh rosemary (optional)

Method:

1️⃣ Combine all the ingredients

2️⃣ Shape into a loaf, place on a paper-lined baking tray (I pressed some fresh rosemary on top)

3️⃣ Bake for 45-60 minutes at 180C

Nutritionist Farzanah Nasser's Mediterranean-style cottage cheese bread with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted peppers 

Ingredients:

✔️ 200g jumbo oats

✔️ 300g tub of cottage cheese

✔️ 1/4 cup chopped olives

✔️ 1/4 cup chopped sundried tomatoes

✔️ 1/4 cup roasted red peppers

✔️ 1/4 tsp chilli flakes

✔️ 1/4 tsp turmeric

✔️ 1 tsp baking powder

✔️ 1/4 tsp salt

✔️ 1 tsp dried Oregano flakes

✔️ 2 tbs ground flaxseeds

✔️ 2 eggs

✔️ Feta cheese crumbled in (optional)

Method:

1️⃣ Mix everything together

2️⃣ Shape it like a loaf

3️⃣ Cook for 45 mins at 180C

And it doesn't have to be a loaf - recipe developer Victoria Minell’s clever cottage cheese wrap has clocked up 13.5m views on TikTok

Here, cottage cheese takes the place of a bread wrap as part of her series of high protein, low calorie recipes. She spreads cottage cheese on a baking tray topped with baking parchment, sprinkles with oregano and bakes until crisp. Then, she tops it with pesto, rocket, prosciutto, tomato and basil and folds. 

Can’t get enough?

If you want to branch out beyond bread, dietitian Ilana Mulhstein uses cottage cheese to boost the protein in many standard favourites including brownies, guacamole and ice cream.  If you're feeling adventurous, try her cottage cheese caramel frappé (yes, really).