Baked Cottage Cheese Fries (Print)
Crispy golden cottage cheese fries baked until perfectly crunchy — a protein-rich vegetarian snack or appetizer.
# Ingredient list:
→ Dairy
01 - 1 1/2 cups (about 12 oz) small curd cottage cheese, well-drained
02 - 1/4 cup (about 1 oz) grated parmesan cheese
→ Binding & Dry Ingredients
03 - 1/2 cup chickpea flour (or all-purpose flour if gluten-free is not needed)
04 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
→ Seasonings
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Coating
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil, for brushing (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine the drained cottage cheese and grated parmesan. Mash lightly with a fork until well blended but still slightly chunky in texture.
03 - Add chickpea flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to the dairy mixture. Stir and fold until a soft, moldable dough comes together.
04 - Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using your hands, press and shape it into a rectangle approximately 1/2-inch thick. Cut the slab into fry-shaped sticks about 1/2 inch wide.
05 - Place the cut fries evenly on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece. Lightly brush or spray with olive oil for extra crispiness, if desired.
06 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping the fries halfway through, until they are golden brown and crisp at the edges.
07 - Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving with your preferred dipping sauce.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Cottage cheese sounds like a strange base for fries but the protein payoff and that crunchy edged center will make you a believer after one bite.
- They come together with one bowl and a baking sheet which means almost no cleanup on nights when even loading the dishwasher feels ambitious.
02 -
- Wet cottage cheese will give you soggy fries so drain it for at least ten minutes or you will end up with something closer to a baked pancake.
- Flipping at the halfway mark is non negotiable because the side touching the pan browns much faster than the exposed top.
03 -
- Let the shaped fries sit uncovered on the baking sheet for ten minutes before baking because a slightly dry surface crisps up far better in the oven.
- Using a light hand with the olive oil brush matters because too much moisture actually steams the exterior instead of browning it.