Looking for a quick, protein-packed breakfast? Make room in your cottage cheese recipe repertoire for this one! Savoury, satisfying, and ready in minutes, this easy cottage cheese toast combines flavourful together herby pesto, juicy tomatoes and crispy sourdough. Vegetarian-friendly and 20g+ protein per serve.
Pesto + cottage cheese = breakfast magic in 5 minutes.
Cottage cheese is one of my go-to’s for a speedy, high-protein breakfast. With its mild, creamy taste, it’s the perfect blank canvas. But I reckon the real magic happens when you mix things into it, not just pair it alongside—like coconut yogurt in this Tropical Breakfast Bowl with Cottage Cheese, fruity jam in this Jammy Berry Cottage Cheese Toast, or, in this recipe’s case, bold, herby pesto.
Here, cottage cheese gets a glow-up by tossing it with pesto, giving it Mediterranean flavour vibes. When spread over crisp sourdough and topped with juicy tomato slices, it’s breakfast perfection—quick, satisfying, and fuss-free.
As a Registered Nutritionist, condiments are my go-to to oomph the flavour of meals when short on time—with this homemade fresh basil pesto recipe my absolute favourite. It’s perfect for tossing with pasta, dolloping over salads, spreading over toast, or flavouring cottage cheese…like this recipe!
Ingredient Line-Up
- Cottage cheese. Opt for ‘lite’ or low-fat here. Since we’re mixing it with fat-rich pesto, a lite option boosts the protein-to-fat ratio, giving you more protein per serve.
- Homemade or store-bought pesto. An Italian condiment featuring blended fresh basil, pine nuts, parmesan, garlic and olive oil. If opting for store-bought, go for the best quality you can find (ideally made with olive oil). Quality ingredients make all the difference in flavour.
- Fresh tomato. Vine-ripened, Roma, or heirloom work a treat—they’re sweet, firm, and less watery than other varieties.
- Thick and crusty sourdough. It holds the toppings well and won’t go soggy.
- Fresh basil. For a pop of colour and freshness. Optional, but great!
- Salt and pepper. A finishing sprinkle overtop to oomph all the flavours.
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 pesto🍅🌱.
Step-by-Step: Pesto Tomato Toast
Kitchen Tips
Keen to give this recipe a try? Here are my tried-and-tested tips:
- Let the toast cool slightly. Give it a minute or two after toasting. I find this helps keep the cottage cheese nice and creamy.
- Use the right knife. A serrated knife makes slicing tomatoes effortless—no squishing! Perfect for slicing through a loaf of bread too.
- Tweak to taste. If you want your cottage cheese to have more pesto flavour, simply add more to taste. While I’ve shared my recommended ratio’s from recipe testing, remember you are the master of your own tastebuds!
Serving & Storage
Enjoy freshly made for the best flavour and texture. I love this as a fresh and light breakfast or lunch (the latter, served with a side salad), or a wholesome snack (halved portion).
If prepping ahead, store the pesto-cottage cheese spread in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Some seperation will occur, so give it a quick stir before serving to restore it to its creamy glory.
Thanks for reading! If you’re after more healthy breakfast toast topping ideas, check out my post on all things sourdough nutrition and toast toppings🍞.
Pesto & Tomato Cottage Cheese Toast (High Protein + Delicious!)
Rating:
Ingredients:
- 2 slices sourdough toast, or bread of choice
- ½ 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
- Put bread onto toast. 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.
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! 🙂 ). Happy cooking and baking. Danijela x
2 Comments
Easy and delicious – thank you!
Thank you Kat 🙂 So glad you like this one. Easy does it in the AM!