High Protein Bagels: Easy 3-Ingredient Recipe

Satisfy your carb cravings with these delicious three-ingredient high protein bagels that take just minutes to make. Cottage cheese, flour, and baking powder make up the base, and the rest is up to you!

Cottage cheese bagels? I have to admit that I was truly skeptical when I first heard about these. I happen to be an avid sourdough baker, so I'm pretty particular about my bread.

But since since jumping on board the cottage cheese train in an effort to get more protein in my diet, curiosity got the best of me and I had to give these high protein bagels a go.

Why We Love These Bagels

My husband and I LOVE these bagels. The crumb is soft and tender, while the crust is firm and perfectly crusty. Call me crazy, but I find these are tastier and more satisfying than a traditional bagel.

Why is cottage cheese everywhere these days? The answer is protein. For example, just one cup of Good Culture cottage cheese has 28 grams of protein (and that's for the full-fat version, low-fat has even more).

For anyone with insulin sensitivity, protein is crucial in balancing blood sugar levels, keeping us fuller longer, and helping with weight management. You'll find that all of our recipes are nutritionally balanced with plenty of protein and a moderate amount of carbohydrates to help you prevent or better manage insulin resistance.

For more nutrition information, read below why Jen loves these high protein bagels and approves them as a dietitian and diabetes educator. And, if you haven't already, be sure to get our free Insulin Resistance Nutrition Guide.

INGREDIENTS FOR HIGH PROTEIN BAGELS

• Cottage Cheese: Small curd cottage cheese is preferable since it tends to be less watery. Choose low-fat or regular. We really love the Good Culture and Kalona brands. Straining the cheese is essential (see below).
• All-purpose flour: If you use self-rising flour, skip the baking powder.
• Baking Powder: Make sure your baking powder is not expired.
• Salt: Cottage cheese contains salt, so this is optional.
• Egg: A beaten egg for brushing the tops of the bagels and helping your toppings stick is optional. You can also use oil or milk for the wash or skip altogether.
• Toppings: A favorite topping around here is sesame seeds, but I also enjoy everything bagel seasoning and poppy seeds.

HOW TO MAKE HIGH PROTEIN BAGELS

1. Strain the cottage cheese: Measure out a heaping cup of cottage cheese (once the liquid is drained, you'll be left with a cup) and place it in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Gently press down on the cottage cheese with a rubber spatula to release extra liquid. Set the strained cottage cheese aside.

2. Blend the cottage cheese (optional): If you want a really smooth texture, and you only have large curd cottage cheese, you can blend the cottage cheese after straining it. Just pop it in the blender until smooth.
3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour and the baking powder (and the salt, if using).  Be sure to skip the baking powder, if you are using self-rising flour.

4. Add the cottage cheese to the dry ingredients: Start by mixing all the ingredients with a rubber spatula, and then switch to using your hands to bring the dough together. 

5. Knead the dough: Place the dough on the counter and knead until mostly smooth - about 3 minutes.

6. Divide the dough: With a bench scraper (or knife), divide the dough into four equal pieces.

How to make bagels (cont.)

7. Form the bagels: Form each piece into a ball and poke a hole in the middle with your finger. Gently stretch the dough with your fingers to form the bagels.

8. Add the egg wash: If using the egg wash, crack one egg into a small bowl and whisk it thoroughly. Dip a pastry brush into the egg wash and brush each bagel.

9. Add toppings (optional): Place the sesame seeds (or other toppings) on a small plate. Then dip the egg-washed face of the bagel into the toppings. Pro Tip: Save the leftover whisked egg to add to the egg scramble you're going to eat with your bagel later.

10. Bake your bagels: Place the bagels on a parchment-lined or non-stick cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees F.
    
11. Allow the bagels to cool: Transfer the baked bagels to a cooling rack for a minimum of 15 minutes. It's hard to resist taking a bite, I know. You can use this time to prep your bagel sandwich fixings.

Common Questions for High Protein Bagels with Cottage Cheese

Recipe

What to Eat With High Protein Bagels

Jen, our dietitian, recommends that we have around 30+ grams of protein per meal to help balance glucose levels. These bagels have 10 grams of protein each, and that's a good start, especially for a bread product. However, you'll want to add more protein to make this a balanced meal.

Ideas for adding protein to your "bagel" meal:

• Egg Sandwich: My favorite breakfast these days is scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese on a toasted bagel with a side of sauteed greens. Add a chicken or turkey sausage patty for even more protein.
• Smoked Salmon: Another truly delightful way to eat these high protein bagels is the classic smoked salmon, cream cheese, sliced red onion, and capers.
• Classic Turkey Sandwich: Or make it a lunch sandwich with sliced turkey, your favorite cheese, greens, tomato slices, and some fancy mustard.
• Veggie Delight: If you're in need of a veggie fix, try a generous shmear of hummus, a slice of already baked tofu/tempeh, shredded carrots, cucumbers, and sprouted greens with a slathering of our Greek Yogurt Chipotle Sauce.

Dietitian Approved by Jen Birge MS, RDN, CDCES

When Jackelin first made these, I couldn't wait to try them. She's always testing recipes and giving me samples - I'm very lucky, I know. Watch out, they are addicting! They are so yummy and remind me of my sweet Mom's home-made biscuits. They are almost like a biscuit-bagel, if there's such a thing. If not, it can be, because why not?

First, I want to point out that the bagel by itself is a high protein bagel, but it still has a moderate amount of carbs (26 grams). For only 155 calories, 10 grams of protein from a bread product is pretty good.

The trick here, to make them "dietitian-approved" and glucose-friendly, is that you'll need to add some protein, as suggested above.

And, if you're looking for a no or low-carb bread option for a sandwich or wrap, take a look at our Cottage Cheese Wraps.

As always, if you enjoy these high protein bagels made with cottage cheese, please give us your feedback below and tell us what you think! Remember, sharing is caring, so please tell your friends about our blog so we can continue crafting glucose-friendly recipes for you!