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Quark contains no rennet, making it a delicious vegetarian offering. But while its soft and spreadable nature might draw comparisons to cream cheese and labneh, its high protein content makes it more similar to full-fat Greek-style yoghurt.
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Derived from German, quark literally means “curd”. Instead, the manufacturing relies on heating up soured whole milk until it curdles, at which point the curds and whey are separated, with the end product resembling chunky cottage cheese. Sometimes also likened to ricotta, it differs from true cheeses in that it’s not made with rennet. The Cheese Wiki (yes, it exists) defines quark as a soft, white and unaged cheese similar to fromage frais. We take a look at this ambiguous dairy product and all its spreadable, creamy goodness. A staple in Northern European kitchens, quark isn’t exactly new, but it is gaining worldwide popularity. If ricotta rocks your world and labneh spells love, quark is a fresh cheese that you’re going to want to add to your list of favourites. Learn more.Not quite cheese and not yoghurt either, find out why cheese fans all over the world are clamouring for quark. If you buy something, we may get a cut of the sale. Cottage cheese – use it to top crackers for a low-fat, protein rich snackĪny products featured in this article are selected by our editors, who don’t play favourites.Cream cheese – great as a sandwich spread.Ricotta cheese – try quark in place of ricotta in a lasagna.Natural or Greek yogurt – which has a similar consistency.Sour cream – use instead of quark to top baked potatoes.Pour mixture into frying pan with a little olive oil and cook until golden brown. Then add enough milk until you have a thick, smooth batter.
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Quark, blueberry and chia seed pancakesĬombine all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. This is delicious topping is great for baked and sweet potato, or serve it over broccoli or cauliflower. Mix all ingredients together and drizzle in a little raw honey. This healthy breakfast is high in protein, calcium and health-promoting antioxidants. Or for organic quark, check out Barambah organics for stockists. Look for quark in selected health food stores, delicatessens and some supermarkets. You can also use quark in cake recipes, as a healthy protein-rich sandwich spread, or it makes an easy snack or breakfast mixed with nuts, seeds and fruits. Or it's delicious mixed with fresh herbs such as chives for a baked potato topping. Use it as a substitute for full-fat sour cream in cheesecakes, dips and sauces. Quark is very versatile cheese to cook with and can be used in sweet or savoury dishes. Like low-fat yoghurt or fromage frais, quark contains less fat than most creamy cheeses (although there is a full-fat version available), making it an ideal choice for those on weight loss programs, such as the Dukan Diet.Īs for nutritional benefits, quark is a rich source of protein, it's high in calcium which is essential for strong bones and teeth, vitamin A for good eyesight, and B vitamins that support the nervous system. Originating in Europe (the name essentially means "curd"), quark is a versatile creamy cheese, useful in everything from cake recipes to dips and low-fat spreads. Quark is soft, fresh cheese, that has a similar creamy texture to sour cream and a mild tangy taste.
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