Looking for a quick, protein-packed breakfast? This cottage cheese toast delivers. Creamy cottage cheese is tossed with basil pesto, piled onto crispy sourdough and topped with fresh tomato slices. Itโs high-protein (20g+ per serve, if youโre counting), vegetarian-friendly, and honestly just way better than it has any right to be.
Pesto + cottage cheese = breakfast magic in 5 minutes.
Cottage cheese is one of my go-toโs for an easy breakfast. Its mild flavour makes it the perfect blank canvas, which has led to some fun (and tasty) experimentation. Iโve swirled it with coconut yoghurt for a Tropical Cottage Cheese Bowl, topped it with berry jam for a sweet, Jammy Cottage Cheese Toast, and now, Iโm going savoury with pesto.
Here, cottage cheese gets a glow-upโMediterranean styleโwith bold, herby pesto. When spread over crispy toast and topped with juicy tomato slices, itโs breakfast perfection…quick, satisfying, and fuss-free.
As a Registered Nutritionist, I love that cottage cheese has made a comeback! Itโs naturally rich in protein, which can help keep us feeling full between mealsโmaking it great for a satisfying brekkie or snack.
Ingredient Line-Up
- Type of cottage cheese. I recommend โliteโ or low-fat here. Since weโre mixing it with fat-rich pesto, a lite option boosts the protein-to-fat ratioโso you get more protein per serve. When recipe testing, I also found its slight tang balanced the richness of the pesto…wins all around.
- Choosing a pesto. Store-bought or homemade both work. If you’re buying it, go for one made with olive oil (not generic vegetable oil) if you can. The better the pesto, the better the flavour and the nutrition. Feeling up for a kitchen adventure? Try my homemade basil pesto recipe!
Fun fact: Lycopene, the antioxidant in tomatoes responsible for their vibrant red colour, is more easily absorbed when paired with fats (like those found in pesto๐ ๐ฑ).
Step-by-Step: Pesto Tomato Toast
Test Kitchen Notes
This recipe is so simple, it only calls for a few quick tips. First, let the toast cool slightly before adding the toppingโthis helps keep the cottage cheese creamy.
A serrated knife makes slicing tomatoes and crusty bread effortless (no squishing!). And since pesto can vary in intensity, taste and tweak if youโd like a bolder flavour.
Serving & Storage
Best served fresh. I love it as a light breakfast or lunch (the latter with a side salad if you’re feeling responsible), or a halved portion for a quick snack.
If prepping ahead, store the pesto cottage cheese mix in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. If it separates, simply give it a quick stir to restore it to its creamy glory.
Thanks for reading! If you’re after more breakfast toast ideas, check out my blog on the nutritional benefits of sourdough + healthy toast toppings๐.
Pesto & Tomato Cottage Cheese Toast (High Protein + Delicious!)
Rating:
Ingredients:
- 2 slices sourdough toast, or bread of choice
- ยฝ cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 1 Tbsp pesto, homemade or store-bought
- 1 medium ripe fresh tomato
- 1 fresh basil leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Prep ingredients
- Place bread in the toaster. Once toasted to your desired crispness, remove from toaster and let cool for a minute or two.
- Meanwhile, stir pesto into cottage cheese. Slice tomato.
Assemble toast
- Spoon the pesto cottage cheese overtop your toast. Layer with tomato slices.
- Finish with a sprinkle of salt, pepper and a few slices of fresh basil.
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Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe
If you enjoyed this dish, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help others discover my recipes online (and your reviews make my day! ๐ ). Happy cooking and baking. Danijela x
2 Comments
Easy and delicious – thank you!
Thank you Kat ๐ So glad you like this one. Easy does it in the AM!