5-Ingredient Caprese Cottage Cheese Bowl

Named for the island of Capri, classic Caprese celebrates tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. Here creamy cottage cheese stands in for mozzarella, finished with balsamic glaze for an easy Italian-inspired lunch bowl.

Serves 2 · 8 min prep

Estimate for one serving

• 240 cal
• 28g protein
• 14g carbs
• 9g fat
• 3g fiber

Every recipe here is free to read.

Ingredients

• 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
• 1.5 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 tbsp balsamic glaze
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp flaky sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. 1Spoon the cottage cheese into two shallow serving bowls, dividing it evenly and smoothing the surface slightly with the back of a spoon.
2. 2Halve the cherry tomatoes and scatter them generously over the cottage cheese so every bite will catch some.
3. 3Tear the fresh basil leaves by hand into rough pieces and distribute them evenly across both bowls for bright herbal aroma.
4. 4Drizzle each bowl with olive oil first, then zigzag the balsamic glaze over the top in thin ribbons.
5. 5Finish with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
6. 6Let the bowls sit 2 to 3 minutes at room temperature so the tomatoes release a little juice into the cottage cheese.
7. 7Stir once gently just before eating if you prefer the flavors fully combined, or leave layered for visual appeal.
8. 8Serve immediately as a no-cook high-protein lunch, or pack the components separately and assemble at the office for maximum freshness.