Everything Bagel Cottage-Cheese Dip

Everything Bagel Cottage-Cheese Dip

Creamy, tangy and full of pep, this quick snack brings new life to your cottage cheese. Scallions, capers and everything bagel seasoning are stirred into cottage cheese, then torn arugula is scattered on top for a peppery crunch. Scoop into it with any combination of crackers, pretzels, toast and raw vegetables like cucumbers or celery — or eat it on a toasted bagel or English muffin. A batch, minus the arugula, keeps for up to two days in the fridge, so keep it on hand for anytime you need a pick-me-up.

Yield: 4 servings

16 ounces cottage cheese 

3 scallions, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons drained capers 

2 teaspoons everything bagel seasoning, regular or no-salt, plus more for serving (see Tip)

Salt and black pepper 

1 packed cup baby arugula

Crackers, toast, pretzels, bagel chips or raw sliced vegetables, or a combination, for serving 

In a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, scallions, capers and everything bagel seasoning. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (You can refrigerate this mixture for up to two days.)

When ready to eat, rip the arugula into bite-size pieces and sprinkle on top of the cottage cheese, along with more everything bagel seasoning. Eat with crackers, toast, pretzels, bagel chips and/or vegetables.

Tip: To make your own everything bagel seasoning, combine 1 tablespoon dried minced onion, 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1 teaspoon fennel or caraway seeds ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and season to taste with flaky sea salt. Store in a jar with a container with a tight-fitting lid for several weeks.

This is great, but you have to use the right cottage cheese. Try to avoid very wet, liquidy brands. For me (I eat cc every single day) it’s forever Friendship 4 percent.

I'm going to put the cottage cheese in my Vitamix with the everything bagel seasoning and pepper to make it a smooth texture, then stir in the scallions, capers, and salt by hand. I love using cottage cheese this way.