Everything Bagel Cottage-Cheese Dip

By Ali Slagle

Updated January 28, 2026

  • Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
Media 1 of 1
Ready In
10 min
Rating
4(124)
Comments
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Creamy, tangy and full of pep, this quick snack brings new life to your cottage cheese. Scallions, capers and everything bagel seasoning are stirred into cottage cheese, then torn arugula is scattered on top for a peppery crunch. Scoop into it with any combination of crackers, pretzels, toast and raw vegetables like cucumbers or celery — or eat it on a toasted bagel or English muffin. A batch, minus the arugula, keeps for up to two days in the fridge, so keep it on hand for anytime you need a pick-me-up.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 16 ounces cottage cheese 

  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced

  • 2 tablespoons drained capers 

  • 2 teaspoons everything bagel seasoning, regular or no-salt, plus more for serving (see Tip)

  • Salt and black pepper 

  • 1 packed cup baby arugula

  • Crackers, toast, pretzels, bagel chips or raw sliced vegetables, or a combination, for serving 

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, scallions, capers and everything bagel seasoning. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (You can refrigerate this mixture for up to two days.)

  2. Step 2

    When ready to eat, rip the arugula into bite-size pieces and sprinkle on top of the cottage cheese, along with more everything bagel seasoning. Eat with crackers, toast, pretzels, bagel chips and/or vegetables.

Tip

  • To make your own everything bagel seasoning, combine 1 tablespoon dried minced onion, 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1 teaspoon fennel or caraway seeds, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and season to taste with flaky sea salt. Store in a jar with a container with a tight-fitting lid for several weeks.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
124 user ratings
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Comments

David Morris

This is great, but you have to use the right cottage cheese. Try to avoid very wet, liquidy brands. For me (I eat cc every single day) it’s forever Friendship 4 percent.

EHS

@David Morris good culture is really good. Farmer cheese is also a good option. Similar to cottage cheese but much more dry.

Ann Titsworth

@David Morris what brand of cottage cheese do you recommend that is not too wet?

Sarah G.

I didn't think this was all that great when I first made it, but the next day the flavors were much stronger and way more interesting.

KC

I have been doing a version of this forever but seasoned differently; sesame oil on cottage cheese is AMAZING; freshly ground black pepper alone with radishes and arugula; another great thing on cottage cheese is tajin or chaat masala.

Jill B.

Can anyone please tell me why the recipe for the spice blend suggests that when kept in an air-tight jar, if will only be good for several weeks? Thanks.

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