Quark Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese (2024)

FAQs

What is quark cheese in America? ›

Quark is a dairy product made by warming soured milk until it curdles, then straining it. The finished product is firm, creamy, and looks a bit like cottage cheese. Quark is somewhat similar to the French fromage blanc, a soft white cheese made from milk and cream.

So what are the best quark substitutes? Cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt culture, mascarpone cheese, and crème fraîche are all good alternatives to quark cheese, though you really owe it to yourself to try making this fantastic cheese yourself to find its own unique cheese voice!

Dictionaries sometimes translate it as curd cheese, cottage cheese, farmer cheese or junket.

Technically a cottage cheese but closer in taste and texture to yogurt, quark is certainly Germany's, and perhaps even the world's, best kept dairy secret. This creamy, spoonable cheese can be eaten plain or in combination with granola, nuts, fruits, roasted vegetables—just about anything your taste buds fancy.

Quark is a soured milk, fresh, unaged cheese product which is gaining popularity in the U.S. because of its versatility. You also will hear it called dry curd cheese, farmer's cheese and sometimes pot cheese. It is found all over Germany, Poland where it is known as twaróg, and Austria.

Tesco Quark Fat Free Soft Cheese 250G.

Emporium Plain Quark Spoonable Soft Cheese 250g | ALDI.

Stores like Lowes Foods and ShopRite carry quark from Wünder Creamery in their yogurt aisles. Different brands of the dairy product can be found at stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods in the yogurt or cheese aisles, whileKroger carries cups of quark from Vermont Creamery in some of its locations too.

Quark is a fresh cheese of European origin. It is a mild creamy cheese without the sour taste of yogurt. It is a soft un-aged cheese and is not the same thing as cream cheese or cottage cheese. It is also distinct from ricotta because ricotta is made from scalded whey.

Quark is very low in salt- much less than cottage cheese

Consuming excessive amounts, however, can be very bad for health. While salt shaken over your dinner does not seem particularly harmful, the amount of salt manufacturers add in processed and pre-made foods is typically much more than you would add yourself.

How do Germans eat quark? ›

“In northern Europe, it's common to spread quark on toast in the morning, like you would butter,” chef Peter Sandroni tells Prevention. He adds that you can use it in recipes that call for soft, creamy cheese like ricotta. Conversely, it can be mixed with fruit or enjoyed on its own as a quick, healthy breakfast.

It's gut friendly

Full of mesophillic bacteria (don't worry, it's the good kind of bacteria), quark can help you maintain a healthy happy digestive environment that'll in turn mean that you're able to absorb all the good stuff that passes through and generally keep you healthy!

Greek yogurt is an acceptable substitute for desserts calling for quark, and other non-baking recipes.

Which cheese is healthiest? Cottage cheese is probably the healthiest cheese, Rizzo says. “It's lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than most other cheese,” she explains.

Choose cheeses that are lower in saturated fat and sodium. (Though sodium does not affect your cholesterol levels, excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.) Examples include reduced-fat Swiss, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.

Quark is a fresh cheese of European origin. It is a mild creamy cheese without the sour taste of yogurt. It is a soft un-aged cheese and is not the same thing as cream cheese or cottage cheese. It is also distinct from ricotta because ricotta is made from scalded whey.

Stores like Lowes Foods and ShopRite carry quark from Wünder Creamery in their yogurt aisles. Different brands of the dairy product can be found at stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods in the yogurt or cheese aisles, whileKroger carries cups of quark from Vermont Creamery in some of its locations too.

The cheese will be creamy and slightly sour, like a fermented yogurt, but thick, with a texture somewhere between Greek yogurt and cottage cheese or fresh ricotta. “Quark” is simply the German word for curd, and this cheese couldn't be easier to make.

Emporium Plain Quark Spoonable Soft Cheese 250g | ALDI.