Introduction

This Best Cottage Cheese Pesto is a creamy, flavorful twist on the classic sauce. Combining fresh basil, toasted walnuts, and rich cottage cheese, it offers a lighter yet satisfying alternative perfect for pasta, marinades, or dressings.

A small white bowl filled with a creamy light green sauce that has tiny darker green and brown specks mixed in, indicating herbs and spices. The sauce surface is smooth with soft swirls, topped with a single fresh, bright green basil leaf placed in the center. In the background, several more fresh green basil leaves rest on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat for best texture)
½ to 1 cup fresh basil (packed, stemmed leaves only)
¼ cup walnuts (toasted for deeper flavor)
¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese (freshly grated is best, optional)
2 garlic cloves
¼ to ½ cup olive oil or avocado oil
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Gather all your ingredients and have your blender or food processor ready.
Step 2: Add cottage cheese, fresh basil, toasted walnuts, parmesan cheese (if using), and garlic cloves to the blender.
Step 3: Pour in olive or avocado oil, starting with ¼ cup, then season with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Blend until smooth, adding more oil gradually if the pesto is too thick, to reach your desired consistency.
Step 5: Transfer the pesto to a tightly sealed jar and store in the refrigerator.

Tips & Variations

Toast the walnuts before blending for a richer, nuttier flavor.
Use full-fat cottage cheese for a creamier texture.
Adjust garlic quantity to suit your taste preference.
Try substituting walnuts with pine nuts or almonds for a different nutty profile.
Add a squeeze of lemon juice for a bright, fresh finish.

Storage

Store the pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To maintain freshness, spoon a thin layer of olive oil on top before sealing. Reheat gently or use cold as a sauce or spread, depending on your dish.

How to Serve

A white bowl filled with spiral rotini pasta, topped with a creamy green pesto sauce that looks smooth with small green herb specks, and garnished with a single bright green basil leaf placed in the center. To the upper left, there's a glass bowl partially visible, filled with a similar creamy green pesto sauce, showing a thick and smooth texture with small black herb flecks. To the right, there are pieces of whole walnuts placed loosely on a white marbled surface, adding a natural touch to the setting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use low-fat or non-fat cottage cheese?

While you can, full-fat cottage cheese provides the best texture and creaminess. Low-fat versions may result in a thinner pesto.

How can I make the pesto thicker or thinner?

To thicken the pesto, use less oil or add more cottage cheese. To thin it out, gradually add more oil until you achieve your desired consistency.

Best Cottage Cheese Pesto Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 91 reviews

This Best Cottage Cheese Pesto recipe offers a creamy, flavorful twist on traditional pesto by incorporating protein-rich cottage cheese. Made with fresh basil, toasted walnuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and olive oil, this pesto is smooth, vibrant, and versatile. Perfect as a pasta sauce, marinade, or salad dressing, this easy-to-make pesto brings rich texture and bright herbal notes to any dish.

Author: Daniel
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: Approximately 1 1/2 cups pesto 1x
Category: Sauce
Method: Blending
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese and Dairy

1 cup full-fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (freshly grated is best)

Nuts and Seeds

1/4 cup walnuts (toasted for deeper flavor)

Herbs and Vegetables

1/2 to 1 cup fresh basil leaves (packed, stemmed only)
2 garlic cloves

Oils and Seasoning

1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil or avocado oil
Salt (to taste, preferably sea salt)
Freshly ground pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Gather and Prepare Your Ingredients: Assemble all the ingredients including cottage cheese, fresh basil, walnuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive or avocado oil, salt, and pepper. Prepare your blender or food processor for the recipe.
Combine Ingredients in Blender: Add 1 cup of cottage cheese, 1/2 to 1 cup of fresh basil leaves, 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, and 2 garlic cloves into the blender or food processor. Pour in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of olive oil or avocado oil depending on the desired creaminess.
Season and Blend: Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Blend all ingredients until smooth, preferably using a high-powered blender. If the pesto is too thick, gradually add more oil until the desired consistency is reached.
Store Your Pesto: Transfer the blended pesto to an airtight jar and seal tightly. Store it in the refrigerator where it will keep fresh for up to 5 days.
Enjoy Your Pesto: Use this creamy pesto as a flavorful sauce for pasta, a marinade for meats, or a zesty salad dressing to enhance your meals.

Notes

Use full-fat cottage cheese for the best creamy texture.
Toast the walnuts lightly to deepen flavor before blending.
Adjust garlic and basil amounts to suit your taste preference.
If you prefer a thinner pesto, increase the olive oil gradually during blending.
Store pesto in an airtight container and consume within 5 days for optimal freshness.

Keywords: cottage cheese pesto, creamy pesto, basil pesto recipe, walnut pesto, easy pesto sauce, homemade pesto