Three dips using Trader Joe’s condiments

Last year I saw several recipes for whipped cottage cheese and was fascinated. Unlike many folks, I happen to like cottage cheese but I know it has a certain aversion for many people. Although this recipe is super easy, it took me awhile to test it out. But once I did, I was amazed at its versatility.

How to make whipped cottage cheese

I use my trusty food processor and in about a minute, lumpy cottage cheese is whipped into a smooth, creamy spread. At that point, if you taste it, it will taste exactly like … cottage cheese, just smoother. While the texture was perfect, the taste wouldn’t fool anyone. Mix-ins were needed.

Trader Joe’s to the rescue

I love browsing the condiments and spices at Trader Joe’s. There’s always something new or different to try and they seem to pick up on many of the latest trends. I selected three likely candidates from my cupboard:

• Green Goddess Seasoning Blend – this mix of dried herbs and spices lends itself well to seasoning a dip. You could also add some fresh, chopped herbs to brighten it up.
• Crunchy Chili Onion – I already use Trader Joe’s version of chili crisp in a dip so it was a natural choice. A little drizzle of honey rounds out the flavors.
• Dukkah – sadly, as I write this post, I found out that Trader Joe’s no longer makes this Mediterranean nut and spice blend. There are many different companies that sell dukkah or you could make your own.

To serve

Serve whipped cottage cheese as a dip with toast, crackers, or crunchy fresh veggies. If you make the dips ahead, let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to loosen up. If they are too thick, mix in a little olive (or chili) oil until you reach the desired consistency.

Whipped cottage cheese is also great as a spread for sandwiches. Or used in old-fashioned tortilla pinwheel roll-ups.

Quick note: cottage cheese vs. Greek yogurt

In a comparison done by Eating Well, the nutritional facts for cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are similar in areas like protein (24 grams per cup), calcium, and calories. However, cottage cheese tends to have more sodium. Also note that these figures are based on low-fat versions of both products. This recipe calls for full fat cottage cheese although both varieties work well.

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