High-Protein Veggie Bake with Cottage Cheese Recipe
A nutritious and protein-packed vegetable bake combining cottage cheese with fresh veggies and mozzarella, baked to golden perfection. This wholesome dish is perfect for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, offering a flavorful, low-carb option loaded with vitamins and minerals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup zucchini, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- Cooking spray or small amount of olive oil for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for baking the veggie casserole evenly.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking and aid in easy serving.
- Mix Vegetables and Cottage Cheese: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, chopped broccoli, diced bell pepper, sliced zucchini, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped spinach, and finely chopped red onion, mixing thoroughly to blend the flavors.
- Prepare Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and dried oregano until fully combined for seasoning and binding.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the egg mixture over the vegetable and cottage cheese mixture and stir well to evenly coat all ingredients, ensuring the bake binds properly.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Spread the combined mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish for uniform cooking and texture.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the spread mixture to create a bubbly golden crust once baked.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set, indicating the bake is cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bake from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving to enhance flavors and improve texture.
Notes
- For added flavor, sprinkle fresh herbs such as basil or parsley before serving.
- You can substitute mozzarella with cheddar or a cheese of your choice.
- This bake can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make it lower fat, use part-skim cottage cheese and reduce or omit the olive oil.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like mushrooms or carrots depending on preference.
