Give Baked Ziti A Rich Protein Boost With Cottage Cheese - Tasting Table

"Half a cup of cottage cheese contains about two grams more protein than half a cup of ricotta cheese, which will give your baked ziti dish a slight protein boost. We spoke with Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, who recently partnered with Barilla to celebrate its new Al Bronzo Pasta line, to get his thoughts on this pro tip. It turns out, he agrees. "[Cottage cheese] has amazing texture, it has amazing creaminess," Beckham admits, "and, yeah, I think it definitely elevates your dish.""

"If the cottage cheese curds feel a little too chunky, don't blitz it, unless you're like Beckham, who personally enjoys the chunkiness. "Sometimes I add both," Beckham notes. "But if I don't have ricotta, I put cottage cheese in." Cottage cheese curds help add texture to the dish, whereas ricotta cheese is quite smooth and creamy. That is not to say your baked ziti filling won't be creamy if you use cottage cheese."

Using cottage cheese in baked ziti instead of ricotta increases protein and changes texture. Half a cup of cottage cheese contains about two grams more protein than the same amount of ricotta, offering a modest protein boost. Cottage cheese curds add texture while ricotta remains smooth and creamy. If curds are too chunky, avoid pureeing them unless a smoother filling is preferred; combining cottage and ricotta is an option. Both cheeses produce a creamy filling. Cottage cheese is versatile, enhances many recipes, and is useful to keep stocked in the refrigerator.

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