Say cottage cheese!

We all like cottage cheese (paneer) but did you know that cottage cheese has the following benefits?

• High in protein and calcium
• A good source of vitamin B12
• Cheese fights cavities! The fat naturally contained in cheese coats your teeth and acts as a natural barrier against bacteria
• Contains calcium and phosphorous which helps remineralize tooth enamel

However, it can be high in saturated fat and sodium. Have it in moderation and ideally make fresh cottage cheese at home from skimmed milk.

In Indian cuisine, we have the habit of taking a healthy food item and packing it up with calories just to make it tasty. In the case of cottage cheese, we usually make high calorie dishes like Shahi Paneer (oozing with malai and butter) or Paneer pakore (deep fried in oil). Here are some tasty easy to make, yet low in calorie ways of incorporating cottage cheese in your diet:

Salad:

Ingredients

1. 100 gms Cottage Cheese/ Tofu

2. 1 red capsicum

3. 1 yellow capsicum

4. 1 small onion cut (optional)

5. Few cherry tomatoes (optional)

Method

Cut all the above mentioned ingredients in long thin slices. Saute the onion, yellow capsicum, red capsicum and cherry tomatoes. Add a few drops of olive oil and the cottage cheese. Add salt and pepper as per taste.

Tiranga sandwich

Ingredients

1. 1 green capsicum finely chopped

2. 1/2 cup cottage cheese (made at home with skimmed milk) 

3. 1 tomato finely chopped

4. Whole wheat bread

Method

Smash with cottage cheese with your hand. Finely chop the capsicum and tomato. Mix all three ingredients in a bowl. Add salt and pepper as per taste. Use this mixture as filling to the whole wheat bread and grill the bread. Serve with green mint chutney and ketchup.

Filling for sandwich

 Note: You can directly have this mixture as salad