Description
This Cottage Cheese Queso is a creamy, flavorful, and healthy alternative to traditional queso dips. Made with well-drained cottage cheese blended to a smooth yet textured consistency, it’s seasoned with garlic powder, smoked paprika, lime juice, and fresh cilantro, with an optional kick from finely chopped jalapeño. Perfect for dipping or spreading, it’s a quick and easy recipe that comes together in just 40 minutes, including chilling time.
Ingredients
Scale
Queso Base
- 1 cup cottage cheese (well drained)
Seasonings and Flavorings
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh Additions
- 1 small jalapeño, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Drain any excess liquid from the cottage cheese to ensure a thick, creamy consistency. Finely chop fresh cilantro and jalapeño (if using) to release their flavors.
- Blend the Base: Place the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth but retaining a bit of texture. This creates a creamy queso that is easy to dip but maintains some pleasant bite.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in garlic powder, smoked paprika, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute all the flavors throughout the queso.
- Incorporate Fresh Ingredients: Fold in the chopped cilantro and jalapeño for fresh and spicy elements. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed to suit your preferences.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the queso for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the dip to firm up slightly, making it perfect for dipping or spreading.
Notes
- Make sure to drain the cottage cheese well to avoid a watery dip.
- The jalapeño is optional and can be adjusted or omitted based on your spice preference.
- For a smoother queso, blend longer but be careful not to over-process to maintain some texture.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Pair with fresh vegetables, tortilla chips, or use as a spread in wraps and sandwiches.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dip
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Keywords: cottage cheese queso, healthy queso dip, creamy queso, low fat dip, easy queso recipe, jalapeño queso, cilantro dip, Mexican-inspired dip
