Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Cottage Cheese Gnudi with Marinara Sauce (Excessive Protein)

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Cottage cheese gnudi are delicate, pillowy dumplings—like the country cousin of gnocchi—made with cottage cheese as an alternative of the normal ricotta for additional protein. “Gnudi” means “nude” in Italian, referring to how these are basically ravioli filling with out the pasta.

Cottage Cheese Gnudi

Cottage Cheese Gnudi

Historically made with ricotta, gnudi are delicate, delicate dumplings that style like the within of ravioli, minus the pasta. On this model, I exploit cottage cheese for a high-protein, budget-friendly swap that also delivers on taste and texture. The dumplings are gently simmered till tender, then tossed along with your favourite sauce.
I went with marinara, however they’re simply nearly as good with brown butter and sage or a easy drizzle of olive oil. Serve them as a vegetarian predominant or a hearty facet along with your go-to protein.

Why This Recipe Works

Gina @ Skinnytaste.com

When you’ve been round for some time, you know the way a lot I really like utilizing cottage cheese so as to add protein to my recipes, like my cottage cheese bagels, cottage cheese lasagna, and cottage cheese frittata. Swapping ricotta for cottage cheese
labored out so properly on this gnudi recipe that I didn’t inform Tommy at first. Fortunately, he cherished them, even after I informed him.

  • Excessive-Protein: In comparison with ricotta, cottage cheese presents extra protein and is commonly extra reasonably priced with out compromising on its creamy, melt-in- your-mouth texture.
  • Easy Elements: With just some pantry staples, you get a dish that feels fancy however is simple sufficient for a weeknight.
  • Versatile & Meal-Prep Pleasant: These gnudi pair properly with a wide range of sauces, reheat superbly, and might even be frozen for later.
  • Child-Accredited Consolation Meals: Comfortable, tacky, and sauce-friendly—my children cherished them (and yours may, too!).
  • Dietary Restrictions: Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free (if utilizing GF flour), high-protein
Gina signature

What’s the distinction between gnudi and gnocchi?

Gnocchi are delicate dumplings constructed from potatoes, eggs, and flour. The gnocchi dough is fashioned right into a rope after which minimize into one-inch items. I’ve a number of variations on my web site, together with traditional potato gnocchi with rooster in a roasted pink pepper sauce, zucchini gnocchi, and cauliflower gnocchi.

Conventional gnudi, which interprets to “bare” in Italian, mimics the filling of cheese ravioli. It’s normally made with ricotta cheese and flour, however I really like the way it turned out with cottage cheese for a protein increase.

Elements You’ll Want

Listed below are all of the cottage cheese gnudi elements. See the recipe card beneath for the precise measurements.

marinara sauce, cottage cheese and flour

  • 2% Cottage Cheese: Good Tradition is my favourite model. Draining it properly will enhance the consistency, making certain the dough doesn’t disintegrate whereas cooking.
  • Parmesan Cheese provides a nutty taste.
  • Egg Yolk binds the combination.
  • Salt and Black Pepper for seasoning
  • Nutmeg: Only a pinch provides complexity.
  • All-Objective Flour combines with the cottage cheese to type the dough.
  • Sauce: Use my selfmade marinara recipe, or purchase your favourite jarred sauce.
  • Garnish with contemporary basil and grated parmesan.

How you can Make Cottage Cheese Gnudi

Right here’s a step-by-step information for the best way to make this simple cottage cheese gnudi recipe at dwelling. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.

  1. Make the Gnudi Dough: Mix the cottage cheese in a small meals processor or blender till easy, in order that it resembles the smoothness of ricotta. Switch it to a bowl and stir within the parmesan, egg yolk, salt,
    pepper, and nutmeg. Combine in ¾ cup of flour. The dough can be sticky, but when it’s not holding collectively, add extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
  2. Kind the Gnudi: Coat your arms with flour earlier than forming about 36 small gnudi. Place them on a evenly floured rimmed baking sheet (or line it with parchment paper). When completed, refrigerate the tray for half-hour (Chilling them will assist them maintain their form so that they don’t disintegrate within the
    water.)
  3. Whereas the gnudi chill, put together the marinara (or warmth the jarred sauce on the range) and convey a big pot of salted water to a boil.
  4. Cook dinner the gnudi within the boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes till they float to the highest. Utilizing a slotted spoon, take away the gnudi from the water and add them to the sauce.

Variations

  • Cheese: Swap parmesan with Pecorino Romano.
  • Ricotta: You may, after all, exchange cottage cheese with ricotta. When you do, skip the blender step.
  • Gluten-free Gnudi: Substitute AP flour with 1:1 gluten-free flour, like Cup4Cup.

What’s the very best sauce for cottage cheese gnudi?

Any pasta sauce—not simply marinara—would work. Listed below are a few of my favorites:

Serving Ideas

  • Preserve It Easy: Pair this high-protein gnudi with a inexperienced salad and an excellent piece of crusty bread for a hearty vegetarian meal.
  • Increase the Protein: Add diced rooster breasts or shrimp to the marinara to make it much more filling. This recipe requires loads of sauce, so that you’ll have additional to coat the protein. Nevertheless, if you’re consuming the gnudi by itself, you may make much less sauce.
  • As a Aspect Dish: Serve these Air Fryer Pork Chops or Broiled Tilapia Fillets as the primary course with the gnudi on the facet.
Cottage Cheese Gnudi

Meal Prep Suggestions

  • Make Forward: Cowl the tray and refrigerate as much as 24 hours earlier than cooking.
  • How you can Freeze Uncooked Gnudi: Place them on a parchment-lined sheet pan and flash freeze. As soon as frozen, switch the gnudi to an hermetic container or zip-locked bag and freeze for 3 months. To cook dinner, boil the frozen gnudi for an additional minute.

Storage

  • Refrigerate the leftovers for as much as 4 days. Heat in a skillet on the range or within the microwave.
  • How you can Freeze Cooked Gnudi: Freeze the gnudi and sauce in individual- serving containers for 3 months.
  • Reheating: Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat within the microwave or on the range.
Cottage Cheese Gnudi

Extra Cottage Cheese Recipes You’ll Love

For extra dinner concepts utilizing cottage cheese, try these 5 scrumptious cottage cheese recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!

When you make this wholesome cottage cheese gnudi recipe, I’d like to see it. Tag me in your images or movies on Instagram, TikTok, or Fb! And be sure you be part of the Skinnytaste Neighborhood to see what everybody’s cooking!

Prep: 25 minutes

Cook dinner: 14 minutes

refrigeration time: 30 minutes

Complete: 1 hour 9 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Measurement: 9 gnudi plus sauce

  • Frivolously flour a rimmed baking sheet and put aside.

  • Add the cottage cheese to a meals processor fitted with the blade attachment. Mix till easy. Switch the blended cottage cheese to a mixing bowl. Add the parmesan cheese, egg yolk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to the bowl and stir to mix. Add in 3/4 cup flour and use a rubber spatula to combine it till it simply comes collectively right into a ball. If its not holding collectively, add extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. The dough can be sticky.

  • Frivolously flour your arms and make about 36 rustic, quarter sized balls, putting them on the ready baking sheet as you end rolling them. When your arms get sticky, simply coat them with some extra flour earlier than persevering with. When you end with all of the dough, place the pan within the fridge for half-hour, whilst you make the sauce. If utilizing jarred sauce, warmth the over low warmth to a simmer and canopy. Within the meantime, deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil.

  • As soon as the water is boiling, add the Gnudi to the pot. Cook dinner 3 to 4 minutes, till they float to the highest. Use a slotted spoon to switch the Gnudi to the pot with the sauce. Stir to coat the Gnudi within the sauce.

  • To serve, divide the Gnudi and sauce in 4 bowls and high with basil and parmesan cheese. Serve instantly.

Final Step:

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I used to be capable of make 36 Gnudi – 9 per serving  
**In order for you a spicier model of the sauce, add some crushed pink pepper flakes. **That is very saucy, which I sort of prefer it should you’re pairing the Gnudi with a protein as a result of you may have some additional sauce for that, however completely as much as you if you wish to use much less.

Serving: 9 gnudi plus sauce, Energy: 290.5 kcal, Carbohydrates: 39 g, Protein: 18 g, Fats: 8 g, Saturated Fats: 3.5 g, Ldl cholesterol: 66 mg, Sodium: 815 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 11 g


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