During the pandemic, I gained weight like many did during that terrible time. As we emerged from the experience, I benefited from the help of a dietitian recommended to me by a friend. I return for her guidance a few weeks ago after sliding back into unhealthy and unsustainable habits. She’s helped re-establish limits and guardrails for daily calories and macros of protein, fat and carbohydrates. I enjoy the challenge of making flavorful food with under constraints. This cottage cheese spinach dip is one of those enjoyable challenges.

Cottage cheese offers one of the best means for including low-fat protein in a diet. I embrace my inner church lady when pairing cottage cheese canned pear halves or a summer tomato. I often add a scoop to my scrambled eggs or grits for breakfast. But like cauliflower, many cooks push acceptable limits of cottage cheese as an ingredient in their recipes.

Let me be quick to say that I have observed many recipes on TikTok and other social media that fall short of appetizing. I scooped a batch of baked “cottage cheese crackers” into the bin a few months ago. This recipe for spinach dip made with cottage cheese is a welcome exception. Adding a little bit of low-fat mayonnaise provided just the right amount of tangy zing to the dip.