Cottage Cheese Toast Recipe - 6 Topping Ideas (Savoury and Sweet)

Cottage cheese - Bet you've heard it called the "blah" of the cheese world. Typecasted as the bland, diet-only actor, starring exclusively in Weight Watchers productions. We're about to give this misunderstood, low calorie cheese a Hollywood-style makeover!

Firstly, it's one of the lowest in fat, healthiest cheeses around. Packed with a solid 14 grams of protein per half a cup and flaunting a mere 1 gram of fat! That's a winning stat sheet and a great way to get in that all important protein.

Secondly, there's the not-too-popular crumbly texture. Enter whipped cottage cheese. A quick swirl in the food processor transforms it into a smoother, healthier version of cream cheese. Bam, problem solved.

Incredibly versatile, you can seamlessly incorporate it into an easy breakfast. Love avocado toast? Throw in some cottage cheese for an extra protein kick and add a dollop of zingy salsa for a flavour burst.

Or, satisfy your sweet tooth with fresh fruit, honey and a heavenly cottage cheese cheesecake-flavoured topping. We'll show you how.

The best bread to use

Choose your favourite bread for cottage cheese toast. The possibilities are endless.

We love proper German dark rye bread or the tasty crunch of toasted sourdough bread. You can also try cob loaf, seeded or wholemeal/whole-grain bread - whatever you like best!

Toasting the bread

No strict rules here! Toast your bread in a toaster, fry it with a bit of olive oil in a pan or pop it in the oven.

It comes down to how much time you've got, your taste preferences or how many bread slices you need to toast at once. For a crowd, the oven with multiple slices on a baking tray works well.

Cottage cheese

While some folks adore the crumbly texture of cottage cheese, we lean firmly towards the 'smooth please' camp. While some grocery stores do offer smooth cottage cheese, it can be a bit elusive to find, especially in the UK.

Plus, whipping up your own cottage cheese gives it a lovely, fluffy texture compared to the store-bought smooth version. Here's how simple it is:

1. Add the crumbly cottage cheese to a food processor or blender. Add a pinch of salt if you want.

2. Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute until you achieve a smooth, fluffy, creamy cottage cheese.
   
   Occasionally scraping down the sides may be needed, but it depends on the initial thickness of the cottage cheese. We rarely find it necessary.

Avocado and Salsa toast

Attention avocado toast fans: Here's a Mexican-inspired twist to spice up your mornings. A creamy layer of smashed avocado meeting velvety cottage cheese, topped with zesty salsa and a sprinkle of fresh coriander.

1. Toast your bread.

2. Mash up half a ripe avocado and spread it on your slice of toast. You can add a squeeze of lemon juice if you want.

3. Dollop about three tablespoons of cottage cheese on top of the avocado layer.

4. Spoon three tablespoons of salsa onto the cottage cheese.

5. Sprinkle over freshly chopped coriander leaves.

6. Add salt and black pepper to taste.

Fried egg and Pesto toast

Here's one of our favourites - An egg fried in pesto with a flourish of red chilli flakes. Perfect for those days when you're craving something warm and hearty.

You can use green or red pesto. Or, a great option is using homemade pesto, like this pistachio pesto or this rocket pesto.

1. Toast your bread.

2. Dollop about three tablespoons of cottage cheese on top of the toast.

3. Heat a bit of oil in a frying pan and spread two tablespoons of pesto across the surface, making it slightly larger than the area the egg will occupy.

4. Crack the egg on top of the pesto and fry it to your liking.

5. Transfer the cooked egg and pesto onto the cottage cheese toast. Feel free to drizzle more pesto over it if you wish.

6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tomato and Basil toast with balsamic glaze

This is a classic. Sweet cherry tomatoes, a few slices of pickled onion, fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

You can replace the pickled onion with fresh red onion slices or bell pepper.

No balsamic glaze on hand? No worries! Whip up your own with regular balsamic vinegar.

How to make homemade balsamic glaze:

Combine half a cup of balsamic vinegar with two tablespoons of brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook until the sauce reduces by half and coats the back of a spoon easily. Leave to cool and use as required.

1. Toast your bread.

2. Dollop about three tablespoons of cottage cheese on top of the toast.

3. Slice the cherry tomatoes and layer on top of the cottage cheese.

4. Add a few slices of pickled or raw onion.

5. Tear a few basil leaves and scatter them over the tomatoes.

6. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and add salt and pepper to taste.

Smoked salmon toast with dill

Smoked salmon is such a luxurious treat. Luckily, just a small amount of this fragrant fish can make a big impact.

Enhance the experience by being generous with the dill, as it perfectly complements the richness of salmon.

1. Toast your bread.

2. Dollop about three tablespoons of cottage cheese on top of the toast.

3. Lay a few thin slices of smoked salmon on top of the cottage cheese.

4. Pile on the fresh dill and season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Strawberry and Honey toast with cheesecake-flavoured cottage cheese

If you're sceptical about fresh fruit on toast, fear not! It's a heavenly pairing with whipped cottage cheese and honey, like a wholesome dessert in disguise.

This is a must-try, especially as a sweet option for the kids. It's sweet, creamy, crunchy and healthy all at once!

1. Toast your bread.

2. In a small bowl, combine 1½ tablespoons each of whipped cottage cheese and Greek yoghurt. Stir in 1 teaspoon of honey and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

3. Dollop the mixture onto the toast.

4. Wash, hull and slice the fresh strawberries and layer them on top of the cheesecake-flavoured cottage cheese.

5. Drizzle with honey and scatter with your choice of roughly chopped nuts.

Banana and honey toast

Similar to the strawberry version, this is akin to a delicious pudding!

We stick with the same cheesecake-flavoured whipped cottage cheese as a luscious base layer, followed by slices of perfectly ripe banana, throw in the crunch of nuts and finish it off with a drizzle of honey.

It's a satisfying, guilt-free option for breakfast, a leisurely brunch, 5-minute lunch or an afternoon snack.

1. Toast your bread.

2. In a small bowl, combine 1½ tablespoons each of whipped cottage cheese and Greek yoghurt. Stir in 1 teaspoon of honey and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

3. Dollop the mixture onto the toast.

4. Slice up a ripe banana and layer on top of the cheesecake-flavoured cottage cheese.

5. Drizzle with honey and scatter with your choice of roughly chopped nuts.

More cottage cheese toast ideas

Sweet toppings

• Peanut butter, banana slices and a sprinkle of granola.

• Sliced mango, a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of chilli powder.

• Mixed berries, almond butter, chia seeds and a touch of honey.

• Sliced apples, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of hot honey.

• Pineapple chunks, shredded coconut and a hint of lime.

• Diced mango, jalapeño slices and a splash of hot sauce.

• Fresh fig slices, prosciutto and a touch of balsamic glaze.

• Sliced pears, chopped walnuts and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Savoury toppings

• Cucumber, olives, cherry tomatoes and a dollop of tzatziki.

• Thin cucumber slices, sliced radish, fresh dill and a sprinkle of black pepper.

• Sautéed mushrooms, thyme, and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

• Sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and a swirl of basil pesto.

• Avocado slices, cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds.

• Black beans, diced tomatoes and a dollop of guacamole.

• Feta cheese, Kalamata olives and a drizzle of olive oil.

• Mixed fresh herbs like parsley, chives and dill with a dash of lemon.

• Fresh spinach, crumbled feta and a drizzle of olive oil.

• Crispy prosciutto bits, arugula and a squeeze of lemon.

• Roasted vegetables with a generous swirl of basil pesto.

• Fresh tomatoes, radishes and microgreens.

• Sliced avocado, sautéed mushrooms, and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.

Storage

Cottage cheese toast is best enjoyed fresh. Any leftovers can be store in the fridge, covered in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Just be aware that the toast may get soggy.

If you're thinking of preparing it in advance, consider assembling the components separately and then bringing them together just before serving.

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