Cottage Cheese Caesar Stuffed Lettuce (Printable)
Crisp romaine cups filled with creamy cottage cheese, tangy Caesar dressing, and crunchy toppings for a protein-packed light bite.
# List of ingredients:
→ Main Components
01 - 8 large Romaine lettuce leaves, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 ½ cups cottage cheese, small or medium curd (low-fat or full-fat)
03 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
04 - ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1 cup croutons (use gluten-free for GF version)
→ Caesar Dressing
06 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
11 - 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
12 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - Salt to taste
→ Garnish
14 - Freshly ground black pepper for finishing
15 - Chopped fresh parsley or chives
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl until completely smooth and emulsified. Adjust seasoning to preference.
02 - Combine cottage cheese with 2 tablespoons of the prepared Caesar dressing in a medium bowl. Fold gently until evenly distributed throughout the cheese.
03 - Arrange Romaine lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Spoon the seasoned cottage cheese mixture into the center of each leaf, dividing evenly among all cups.
04 - Top each filled lettuce cup with quartered cherry tomatoes, croutons, and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
05 - Drizzle remaining Caesar dressing over the stuffed cups. Finish with freshly ground black pepper and chopped parsley or chives if desired. Serve immediately while lettuce remains crisp.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cottage cheese makes this incredibly satisfying while packing in way more protein than a regular Caesar.
- Everything comes together in fifteen minutes with zero cooking required.
02 -
- Pat the lettuce leaves completely dry after washing or the dressing will slide right off.
- Wait to add croutons until the very last second or they lose their signature crunch.
03 -
- Make the dressing up to three days ahead and keep it in the fridge for even faster assembly.
- Double everything because these disappear faster than you expect.