Cottage cheese has recently surged in popularity across Australia, leading to conspicuous gaps on supermarket shelves. This newfound enthusiasm is largely attributed to trending recipes circulating on social media platforms, especially TikTok, where the cheese is praised for its high protein content and versatility in various dishes ranging from dips to desserts.
Dietitian Anna Debenham has welcomed this trend, noting her long-standing advocacy for cottage cheese. For years, she has sought to incorporate it into people’s diets, but with limited success until now. However, she acknowledges that its rising popularity has made it challenging to find in stores; Coles representatives confirm that sales are outpacing restocking efforts.
Bulla Dairy Foods, one of Australia’s main cottage cheese producers, is increasing production to meet the escalating demand, with chief commercial officer Nick Hickford noting the extraordinary growth for a product that was once considered niche.
Nutritionally, cottage cheese is heralded for being high in protein while being low in fat and sodium, making it an appealing option for health-conscious consumers. Debenham expresses enthusiasm about the cottage cheese trend, especially given that many social media food trends can sometimes promote unhealthy choices. She has experimented with various recipes, including using cottage cheese as a base for nutritious dips or desserts.
Despite the high demand causing shortages, innovative cooking attempts continue, with some experimenting with viral recipes like cottage cheese chips. A recent attempt by Guardian Australia highlighted the challenges of replicating these popular recipes, with varying results from different cheese types.
While various methods were employed to produce chips, success was mixed. Although bocconcini provided the best texture and flavour when baked, other alternatives like quark and feta did not fare as well. Nonetheless, Debenham viewed these culinary experiments positively, suggesting that pairing the snacks with fruit could enhance their nutritional value.
Overall, cottage cheese is firmly establishing itself as a go-to ingredient in Australian kitchens, sparking creativity in healthy cooking and contributing to dietary trends that favour protein-rich options.