Whether your memories of cottage cheese date back to the ’70s and ’80s when it was a key part of your mum or grandmother’s diet, or your European heritage means that cottage cheese has always been on the menu, it is certainly a polarising food with individuals tending to either love or hate it.
In recent years, demand for cottage cheese has increased exponentially as influencers sprout its benefits on social media and it can even be tricky to find in supermarkets.
So what is cottage cheese, why is it regarded as a superfood and how can you add it to your diet, especially if it is not a natural go-to on your current shopping list?
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Cottage cheese is an understated superfood hidden in the fridge aisle – unless its already sold out. (9Honey)What is cottage cheese?
A soft, creamy cheese with a rough texture. Unlike hard cheeses, cottage cheese is not aged and as such has a mild, nondescript flavour.
Cottage cheese is made using the curds of milk and can be found in full fat and low-fat varieties in supermarkets.
In fact, cottage cheese is an incredibly simple food and you could even make your own simply by boiling milk and adding a little vinegar and salt once it turns into a curd.
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Cottage cheese has long been a popular low calorie source of protein. (iStock)
Homemade varieties are far less processed than typical commercial varieties, which tend to have a range of preservatives and additives to extend the shelf life of this fresh food.
Why is it so good for us?
A true superfood, cottage cheese is one of the most nutrient dense foods you can include in your diet, especially if you are looking to reduce calories, with a half cup serve containing just 100 calories along with more than 12 grams of protein per serve.
Cottage cheese is also high in calcium, offering 100 miligrams per half cup serve, as well as magnesium, Vitamin B12 and phosphorus, making it an extremely nutrient-dense food.
While there are both low and full fat varieties available, both options are relatively low in fat. Full fat cottage cheese offers less than 3 per cent fat and is still considered low fat overall.
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Why has cottage cheese become popular again?
Traditionally considered a diet food, cottage cheese was extremely popular in the ’70s and ’80s when it was frequently added to crackers, salads, fruit salads and sandwiches for a low-calorie protein boost.
The recent surge in sales is largely attributed to a younger cohort of social media influencers who are spruiking cottage cheese for its high-protein content and assimilating it into a wide variety of recipes including pizza bases, muffins, savoury pastries and breakfast bowls to boost the protein content.
I do not love the taste and texture
One of the best things about cottage cheese is its versatility which means that if you do not enjoy its natural taste and texture, you can easily incorporate it into a range of other meals and reap all the nutritional benefits without noticing the texture or taste.
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Cottage cheese can be a great addition to banana bread. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Cottage cheese works particularly well mixed with eggs, making protein rich frittatas and omelettes, and in baked foods like muffins and banana breads as well as in place of yoghurt as an addition to dips, sauces and pancakes.
Easy ways to eat more cottage cheese
Like all dairy, cottage cheese has become more expensive over timey, but it is still relatively cost-effective per protein serve and can be added as a base to sandwiches, toast and wraps or in place of sour cream in many recipes.
If you are looking for inspiration, all you need to do is head over to Tik Tok to see what the cool and influential are doing with this superfood this week.
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