Cottage cheese and pickles: A fresh twist on breakfast

I found the inspiration for this salad on Instagram from Kinga Paruzel, who participated in the first edition of "MasterChef." She is a master of simple and quick dishes. This time, she suggested adding an unexpected ingredient to cottage cheese, a staple we love for breakfast. Try it—the combination is delicious and adds a refreshing twist to the salad.

Cottage cheese for breakfast? We can enjoy it almost daily in spring and summer, thanks to excellent seasonal additions suitable for both savory and sweet dishes. We're talking about fresh vegetables and fruits.

Cottage or white cheese is one of the best breakfast options. Nutritionists agree it's a great source of protein. The variety of cottage cheeses available in stores is extensive. We can choose from classic, homogenized, or farmer's cheese. It's worth using the latter in your recipe and keeping farmer's cheese in the fridge for a quick snack or dinner. It can also be replaced with classic cottage cheese mixed with natural yogurt.

When preparing savory cottage cheese, we typically add radish and chives—it tastes great just like that. Finely chopped tomatoes and cucumbers are often added for a more decadent version. Kinga Paruzel decided to make a surprising swap. Instead of fresh cucumbers, she chose pickled ones. On her Instagram profile, she wrote:

"For many of you, the combination of ingredients may be surprising. Trust me—this combination tastes phenomenal. Don’t be afraid of pairing pickles with cottage cheese; they bring that 'something' special."

I agree with her. Pickles add a sour taste to this well-known breakfast salad, refreshing it. It’s also worth trying this combination for your gut health. Fermented foods facilitate digestion, help absorb nutrients, and support immunity. Including them in your breakfast can be beneficial.

Ingredients:

          
• 7 oz cottage cheese
• 2 pickles
• 1 tomato
• 4 radishes
• A few sprigs of chives
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

      
1. Transfer the cottage cheese to a bowl along with the cream.
2. Dice the pickles, tomato, and radishes. Add the chopped chives.
3. Arrange the prepared ingredients around the cottage cheese.
4. Season to taste.