Healthy High-Fiber Cottage Cheese Bagels

This is my spin on the viral cottage cheese bagel trend that has taken social media by storm over the past few months! Rather than regular white flour, I used a combination of fiber-rich whole wheat flour, oat flour, and oat fiber. This mixture provides prebiotic fiber to support a healthy gut microbiome and promote stable blood sugar.

Cottage cheese adds a healthy dose of protein and calcium, making these bagels more filling and nutrient-dense. You can get creative with this recipe and add shredded cheese, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, za’atar spice mix, sea salt, or any other savory toppings you enjoy. For a sweet version, just omit the pepper and garlic powder, then add any sweet additions you like, such as cinnamon, raisins, blueberries, or dark chocolate chips!

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup oat fiber

-1/4 cup oat flour

-1/2 cup whole wheat flour

-1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

-1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

-Pinch of salt/pepper

-Dash of garlic powder

For topping:

-1 beaten egg or 2 egg whites

-Everything bagel seasoning (or any other seasoning you prefer, such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion flakes, sea salt, etc.)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a blender or food processor, blend the cottage cheese until smooth.

3. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients (not including the toppings).

4. Add the blended cottage cheese to the flour mixture and mix until completely combined (you may want to flour your hands first to prevent sticking, and can add a touch more oat flour if the dough is too sticky to handle)

5. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and form into a ball. Then divide the dough into 4 equal balls.

6. Roll each ball into a rope shape, then connect the ends and pinch to form a bagel shape.

7. Lay each bagel onto the lined baking sheet, and brush the tops with the egg wash. Then add your desired toppings (I used everything bagel seasoning).

8. Bake for ~25-30 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing. These are best if toasted before serving. Enjoy!