Creamy Garlic Cottage Cheese Whole Wheat Pasta
Nutrient-dense whole wheat penne coated in a velvety, warm garlic and cottage cheese sauce. Delivering over 35 grams of protein in under 20 minutes.
Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Leslie + Lila
Leslie created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthComfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
Steadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
A steadier afternoon
Give your day a solid food foundation
Being properly fed cannot solve a hard day, but a substantial meal can remove hunger and an energy dip from the list of things you are juggling.
Notice: mood + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Blender · Food processor · Colander
Time saver
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in the microwave with a splash of water or milk to restore creaminess.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 7 steps complete
Next: Bring a medium pot of salted water…
- 01
Bring a medium pot of salted water…
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add the whole-wheat penne to the boiling…
Add the whole-wheat penne to the boiling water and cook for 9 to 11 minutes, until tender with a slight bite (al dente).
Look for: tender with a slight bite (al dente)
Tap card to mark done - 03
Carefully ladle out 0
Carefully ladle out 0.25 cup (60ml) of hot pasta cooking water and set it aside before draining the pasta in a colander.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Add the low-fat cottage cheese
Add the low-fat cottage cheese, peeled garlic cloves, parmesan cheese, black pepper, and 2 tablespoons (30ml) of the reserved warm pasta water into a blender or small food processor.
Tap card to mark done - 05
Blend on high speed for 45 to…
Blend on high speed for 45 to 60 seconds until completely smooth, silky, and free of curds. If the sauce feels too thick, add another tablespoon of pasta water and blend again.
Look for: completely smooth, silky, and free of curds
Tap card to mark done - 06
Return the drained warm pasta to the…
Return the drained warm pasta to the warm pot off the heat. Pour the blended garlic cottage cheese sauce directly over the pasta.
Tap card to mark done - 07
Toss gently with a spoon for 1…
Toss gently with a spoon for 1 to 2 minutes so the warm pasta gently warms the sauce without curdling the dairy. Serve immediately in a pasta bowl.
Allow: 1 to 2 minutes
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