Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground pork sausage
  • 1 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 12 large eggs
  • 2 cups small curd cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the pork sausage, breaking it into small crumbles. Add diced peppers and onions, sautéing for 4-5 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the 12 eggs vigorously until no streaks remain. Stir in the cottage cheese, milk, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to create the protein emulsion.
  3. Thoroughly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread the cooked sausage and vegetable mixture evenly across the bottom. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese over the meat.
  4. Pour the egg and cottage cheese mixture over the sausage layer. Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
  5. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the center is set and the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes to allow the protein structure to firm up before slicing. Garnish with fresh chives.