5 Zone Diet Cottage Cheese Recipes: From Savory Pie to Ice Cream

Cottage cheese is one of the handiest foods on the Zone. It has plenty of protein and little fat, a mild flavor, and it works in both savory and sweet dishes. About 56 g, or a quarter cup, is one protein block. Here are five ZoneIt recipes built around it.

1. Cottage cheese banitsa

Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian savory pie. This version combines eggs, skyr, low-fat cottage cheese and phyllo. The whole pan is about 6 protein blocks and 8 carb blocks. Half a pan is about 3 protein blocks, enough for one full breakfast, and the rest keeps for the next day. It takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to bake.

2. Egg and cottage cheese spread sandwich

This sandwich is the quickest on the list, ready in about 15 minutes. The recipe is exactly 2 protein, 2 carb and 2 fat blocks, so the balance is already done and there's nothing to calculate. It works as a light breakfast or in your lunch box.

3. Zone mlin

Zone mlin is a warm baked breakfast with egg, low-fat curd cheese, white cheese and oats. Curd cheese and cottage cheese have the same amount per block, so you can use whichever is in your fridge. The recipe is 3 protein and 3 carb blocks and is ready in about 20 minutes.

4. Chocolate ice cream

In this chocolate ice cream, cottage cheese is blended with protein powder, cocoa and dark chocolate. The full batch is 6 protein blocks and only 2 carb blocks, so split it into portions and add fruit to round out the carbs.

5. Lemon ice cream

If you'd like something fresh, lemon ice cream combines cottage cheese, sour cream, honey and lemon juice. Protein dominates here too, at 6 blocks against 2 carb blocks, so a handful of berries on top is a good addition.

How to choose cottage cheese

• Check the protein on the label. The more protein per 100 g, the less you need for one block. We explain the math in how to calculate Zone blocks from a food label.
• Low-fat cottage cheese leaves more room for healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and avocado.
• For ice creams and creams, blend it until smooth.

All of these recipes are in ZoneIt with the blocks already calculated, and you can add them straight to your diary. Looking for more morning ideas? See 5 quick Zone breakfasts.