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This BLT cottage cheese bowl started as a happy accident when I was craving a sandwich but trying to cut back on bread. Now it's my favorite lunch - all the flavors of a classic BLT but with a creamy twist that makes it feel brand new. The combination of warm, crispy bacon with cool cottage cheese is absolutely addictive.
The other day, my lunch bunch at work was eyeing my bowl with serious envy. Now we have weekly BLT bowl parties - who knew cottage cheese could be so social?
Simple But Mighty Ingredients:
- Good quality cottage cheese: - splurge on the full-fat stuff
- Bacon: cooked until super crispy - no soggy pieces allowed
- Fresh romaine: for that essential crunch
- Sweet cherry tomatoes: - I cut them in half so they burst in your mouth
- Fresh cracked black pepper: - not the pre-ground stuff
- A drizzle of balsamic glaze: that makes everything fancy
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Building Your Bowl:
- Creamy Foundation:
- Start with a generous scoop of cottage cheese, giving it a little swirl with your spoon to create the perfect base.
- Add The Star:
- Crumble that crispy bacon all over - and maybe sneak a piece while you're at it. I always cook extra bacon because, let's be honest, some never makes it to the bowl!
- Layer The Fresh Stuff:
- Scatter that crisp romaine and those juicy tomatoes around. I like to keep some bacon visible - it's like jewelry for your lunch bowl!
- Season With Love:
- A few twists of fresh black pepper wake everything up. Then comes that beautiful dark drizzle of balsamic glaze that makes it look like you're eating at a fancy café.
Last weekend, I made these for a girls' brunch and served them in pretty glass bowls. Everyone thought they were some fancy restaurant creation until they saw how easy they were to put together!
Make It Meal-Worthy:
I love this for lunch, but it's also perfect for a light dinner on hot summer nights. Sometimes I'll add sliced avocado or cucumber for extra freshness.
Make It Your Own:
Try it with different lettuces - arugula adds a nice peppery kick. Sometimes I'll add fresh herbs like basil or chives. When tomatoes are in season, I use big juicy heirloom ones cut into chunks.
Keep It Fresh:
This is definitely a make-and-eat situation. If you're packing it for lunch, keep all the ingredients separate and assemble just before eating. Nobody likes soggy bacon!
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Kitchen Wisdom:
- Pat your lettuce completely dry - water is the enemy of crispy bacon
- Cut those tomatoes right before serving
- Save some bacon grease for cooking other things - it's kitchen gold
You know what I love most about this bowl? It proves that eating better doesn't mean giving up the foods you love. It's all about reimagining them in a fresh way. Every time I make this, I think about all those BLTs I ate at my grandma's kitchen counter, but now with my own grown-up twist!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I meal prep this bowl?
- Cook bacon ahead, but assemble just before eating to keep lettuce crisp and fresh.
- → What can I use instead of balsamic glaze?
- Regular balsamic vinegar or your favorite vinaigrette can work as alternatives.
- → What type of cottage cheese works best?
- Any fat content works, but full-fat or 2% provides the creamiest texture.
- → Is this really low-carb?
- Yes, this bowl is naturally low-carb since it eliminates the bread from a traditional BLT.
- → Can I add avocado?
- Yes, adding avocado makes this a BLAT bowl and adds healthy fats.