The Unlikely (And Unhinged) Cottage Cheese And Condiment Pairing That People Love

They go together like chocolate and peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, or peanut butter and tuna, if you're brave enough (really, anything goes with peanut butter, it seems). Yes, there are plenty of iconic pairings in culinary history, each of which blends together in mouthwatering harmony that makes it more than the sum of its parts. Still, there are other combinations that are less obvious and less time-honored. One such combo, which has found popularity both on and offline, is the peculiar pairing of cottage cheese and mustard. On the surface, the combination of cool, creamy, mild cottage cheese and spicy, tangy mustard does seem like a head scratcher. However, it might be just what your next "girl dinner" is missing.

The trend of combining cottage cheese and mustard is relatively new and can be traced back to Tiffany Magee, a TikToker who documents her weight loss journey as well as other aspects of her life. Magee frequently posts her meals, which often include the mustard and cottage cheese combo. This odd pairing took off in 2023, thanks to Magee's influence, and has remained a staple online ever since. So why do people love it?

For many, the combination is used as a dip for high-protein and high-fiber foods such as chicken sausage and veggies. Both mustard and cottage cheese are low-calorie foods, with mustard having next to no calories and cottage cheese backing up its low calorie content with a high protein content. Plus, this comes at a time when cottage cheese is seeing a resurgence in popularity, so that factor certainly helps.

Though on the surface the pairing makes little sense, in terms of flavor, the combination of pungent mustard and creamy cottage cheese is actually quite tasty, at least to those who like both components. Cottage cheese adds richness, while mustard brings a wallop of flavor that makes for a great dip for many foods. Plus, there are countless ways that you can customize this combo.

Let's start with the cottage cheese itself. While it may seem like a simple food, there are multiple varieties to choose from, including cultured and uncultured, as well as large and small curd cottage cheese. A cultured cottage cheese will have a tangier taste than uncultured, and a large curd cottage cheese will consist of larger chunks (curds), so if you prefer one taste or texture over another, use whichever you like best. If curds aren't your thing, you can always blend your cottage cheese until it is smooth. 

When it comes to the mustard, feel free to move beyond basic yellow mustard. Choosing a Dijon mustard will add a higher level of complexity and a piquant taste that you might prefer. Or, if you want something more rustic, go for brown or stone-ground mustard. Really, you can tweak this combo as much as you'd like to get the best combo for your tastes.