How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (2024)

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How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (1)

by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

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Making homemade Quark is about the only way you can enjoy this German soft cheese in many parts of the world. Why? Because Quark is often not available to buy outside of Germany and other European countries. But thankfully, it is so easy to make.

In fact, I'll show you two easy methods to make it. Both ways are inexpensive as well :)

The fact that it's so easy to make is good news, because there are so many delicious ways to use this uniquely German food!

How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (4)

What is Quark?

Quark is a fresh dairy product made by warming soured milk until the desired amount of curdling is achieved, and then straining it. It is traditional in the cuisines of Baltic, Germanic, and Slavic-speaking countries.

It is sometimes translated as curd cheese, cottage cheese, farmer's cheese, or junket. But in Germany, Quark and cottage cheese are considered to be different types of fresh cheese.

While traditional Quark is technically a soft or fresh cheese, it has a texture of, and tastes more like, a thick yogurt - smooth and creamy with a mild, plain taste that's neither sweet nor sour. Delicious and required in so many German recipes!

Is Quark healthier than yogurt?

Yes, believe it or not Quark is better for you than yogurt! It also has more health benefits and is not as aggressive on your digestive system. Quark is very rich in protein and contains calcium and phosphorus! All of which are spectacular for your body.

Yogurts are high in fats and calories as well, while the fat content of Quark is very low. It actually contains less than 1% fat and has a low calorie count.

Quark makes for such a healthier alternative to yogurt and other dairy products like sour cream too! The texture and taste is so similar you can hardly tell the difference at all.

How to make Quark - two easy methods

Making Quark at home is very economical. The only ingredient you need is buttermilk. Buttermilk costs less than $2.50 per quart where I live and makes about 1¾ - 2 cups of Quark.

There are all sorts of recipes for homemade Quark, but these two super easy methods I'm about to share with you yield absolutely amazing results!

1) Use a Greek yogurt maker

Using my Dash Greek Yogurt Maker is one of my favorite ways to make Quark. Not only is it great for making Greek yogurt, it's also fantastic for making Quark ... and definitely worth the cost of buying!

  • To make deliciously low-fat Quark, simply pour 1 quart (4 cups) buttermilk into the Greek yogurt maker container. Cover and set it for a 12 hour incubation.
  • Pour the Quark into a sieve that is set into another container and let it drain in the fridge for about 6 hours.
  • Store the finished product in a covered container in the fridge.

How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (5)

2) Or, use your oven ... no special equipment needed!

One of our readers and Facebook fans, Carmen McDermott, passed on these important tips regarding making your own Quark using the oven method.

  • Always ensure your buttermilk has active cultures.
  • Preheat your oven to its absolute lowest setting, turn on the oven light, and then let it cool slightly. (At my oven's lowest setting of 150°F, that means about 20 minutes).
  • Pour cultured buttermilk into a large casserole and cover with a lid.
  • Wrap your lidded casserole dish in a thick bath towel and keep in oven for 6 to 8 hours, with only the oven light on and the oven turned off!
  • Strain Quark through a cheese cloth or clean tea towel to desired consistency.
  • Store the finished Quark in a covered container in the fridge.

Carmen says that she's used this method at least a dozen times and it has never failed her.

How long can homemade Quark last?

Quark will last about the same as any fresh cheese will last in your fridge. You will start to notice a certain sourness to the Quark when it's nearing the end of its time.

While Quark already has a mild sourness to it resembling sour cream and cottage cheese, this sourness will be more potent and noticeable as a sign to make a new batch.

You want to try to finish your homemade Quark typically within the first 10 days of making it. Though with its tastiness, it may not be around for that long! I know when I make it in our house, hubby and I eat it very quickly. :)

How to use leftover whey

Whey is the liquid remaining after the buttermilk has been curdled and strained. The longer you allow the Quark to drain, the more whey you get. But don't throw it out! Whey can be used in all sorts of ways:

  • Use whey to cook pasta, potatoes, oatmeal, or rice
  • Use in place of water when you’re making soup or stew for an extra rich broth
  • Can be substituted for milk or water in most baked good recipes (bread, pancakes, muffins, etc.)
  • It is fantastic in my easy no-knead artisan bread recipe
  • Use it to make homemade ricotta cheese
  • Use it in your smoothies for some extra protein

Grab your copy of Oma's favorites in herSpecial Occasion German Cakes & Tortes e-Cookbook.

How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (6)

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

Oma says,

Oftentimes, for recipes on this website that normally use Quark, I've substituted other variations. Sometimes it's a mix of ricotta and sour cream. Other times, it's using drained Greek yogurt. But, using the real-deal, the real Quark, will give you the best results!

Thankfully, learning how to make Quark at home is so easy since you'll likely have a hard time finding Quark at your local grocery stores since it's not yet widely available throughout the United States and Canada.

Using Your Homemade Quark Cheese

  • Mix a bit of honey into it and serve it with your muesli or cereal
  • Top a baked potato with it along with a sprinkle of chives and a drizzle of flax oil
  • Use it instead of yogurt or sour cream in your salads, such as mycreamy German cucumber salad
  • Mix together with honey and fresh berries or other fresh fruit for dessert
  • Spread it on your sandwiches
  • Use plain Quark as a base for chip and veggie dip
  • Use in baking that traditional German cheesecake

Ready to make some deliciously creamy Quark?

Is the recipe below locked?Here'swhy.

How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (8)

How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe

If you want to learn how to make Quark, here are two easy methods to enjoy this wonderful German soft cheese in all its creamy goodness. It's so easy and so good, you'll always want to keep a batch of Quark handy!

Prep Time

5 minutes

Warm Time

8 - 12 hours

Total Time

18 hours

Servings:

Makes about 1¾- 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 quart buttermilk (4 cups)

Instructions:

Using a Greek Yogurt Maker:

  • Pour buttermilk into Greek Yogurt Maker container. Cover and set for 12 hour incubation.
  • Pour into sieve set into another container and let the Quark drain in the fridge for about 6 hours.
  • Store the finished Quark in a covered container in the fridge.

Using an oven if temperature will go low enough:

  • Preheat your oven to its absolute lowest setting, no more than 150°F (65°C), turn on oven light, and then let cool slightly.
  • Pour cultured buttermilk (see note) into a large casserole dish. Cover with lid.
  • Wrap your covered casserole dish in a thick bath towel and keep in oven for 6 to 8 hours, with only the oven light on andthe oven turned off!
  • Line a large colander or sieve with a clean kitchen towel. Pour the buttermilk into it. Put the lined colander in the fridge to drain for about 6 hours.
  • Store the finished Quark in a covered container in the fridge.

Notes/Hints:

  • IMPORTANT! If you are using the oven method, ensure that your buttermilk has active or live cultures.
  • Do not attempt to do this in the oven unless you KNOW your oven will stay at less than150°F. If it gets too warm, the buttermilk cultures will die ... and no Quark!
  • Use remaining liquid whey to make my easy and deliciousartisan bread.
  • Use this homemade Quark cheese to make a traditionalGerman-style cheesecake!

* * * * *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

10.02.2022 revision update

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    This recipe for cheesecake is called Käse-Sahne Torte, a baked sponge cake and a no-bake whipped cream/quark or Greek yogurt filling. Add mandarin oranges for a traditional dessert.

  • Learn how to make this German cheesecake recipe and this includes an easy recipe for making quark ... at home! Tastes just like you’re back in Germany in Oma’s kitchen!

If you've been making quark in a different way, do let me know. I know there are ways of making this with rennet and whole milk, but I have yet to find someone who actually has made it this way.

I only like to promote recipes that I know have been used successfully. So, if you have one, do let me know! I'd love to share it here with others as well.

Follow Oma on Social Media:

How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (12)

Leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question?

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods.

Meet with us around Oma's table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

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How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (20)

Oma's Homemade Quark Cheese

By Oma Gerhild Fulson
How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (21)
Your own homemade quark cheese is perfect for many German recipes. Easy to make, inexpensive, and delicious. Perfect for cheesecake! Wunderbar!

Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients: buttermilk,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

Words to the Wise

"The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old."

Proverbs 20:29 NLT

Top of Homemade Quark Cheese

How to make Homemade German Quark Cheese, Oma's Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is German quark made of? ›

German quark is a thick and creamy dairy product which is technically a cheese made from soured milk that is heated until the curds separate from the whey liquid. While it is a cheese, it is similar in taste and texture to greek yogurt.

What is a substitute for quark cheese? ›

Cottage cheese can be used in place of quark cheese in both sweet and savory recipes. Its mild flavor means it will go with just about anything.

Do they sell quark in the US? ›

While it's very popular in European countries like Russia, Ukraine and Belarus since it's regarded as good for infant health, quark cheese is rare in the US. Only a few dairies in Vermont, Illinois and California make quark in the country.

What is another name for quark cheese? ›

Other names

In several languages quark is also known as "white cheese" (French: fromage blanc, southern German: Weißkäse or weißer Käs, Hebrew: גבינה לבנה, romanized: gevina levana, Lithuanian: baltas sūris, Polish: biały ser, Serbian: beli sir), as opposed to any rennet-set "yellow cheese".

What is quark called in USA? ›

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.

What is the equivalent to German quark? ›

Various random forum posts (and comments on recipes) recommend things as varied as: sour cream, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta, and farmer's cheese (I don't even know what farmer's cheese is).

Is quark just cottage cheese? ›

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.

Is ricotta and quark the same thing? ›

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.

Is ricotta a substitute for quark? ›

Ricotta and cottage cheese are not good alternatives, they are too gritty even when blitzed in the food processor and they lack the creaminess of quark. But thankfully Greek yogurt has come to the rescue for all of us quark lovers, flooding the dairy shelves of virtually every supermarket.

Does Trader Joe's sell quark cheese? ›

We also use it for baked quark strudel.” In the U.S., quark cheese is readily available at health food stores, but it can also be found at chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

Can you buy quark at Aldi? ›

Emporium Plain Quark Spoonable Soft Cheese 250g | ALDI.

What supermarket sells quark? ›

Tesco Quark Fat Free Soft Cheese 250G - Tesco Groceries.

Is creme fraiche the same as quark? ›

Quark's supple, creamy texture and delicate flavour make it a splendid substitute for thick cream, crème fraiche, sour cream, Greek yogurt, or other dairy staples. This subtle, yogurt-like flavour, neither sweet nor sour, gives it the versatility to enrich sweet or savoury dishes alike.

Is quark good for your gut? ›

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!

What flavor is quark cheese? ›

Quark is a fresh cheese similar to farmer's cheese or cottage cheese and typically made with pasteurized skimmed cow's milk or a small amount of cream. Quark has a creamy texture and a slightly tart taste, similar to a mild sour cream.

What's the difference between quark and yogurt? ›

Quark is basically a very young cheese, while yogurt is a milk product. Good bacteria are added to the milk that eat the lactose and convert it into probiotics. As a result, the milk will become thicker and more acidic and eventually become the dairy product we know as yogurt.

Why is quark so healthy? ›

Like most cheeses, Quark is high in protein and contains minerals, including calcium, which is important for bones and teeth. Unlike most other cream cheeses, it's virtually fat-free and has no added salt – so you can enjoy this one with a clear conscience.

How do you eat German quark? ›

Quark can be eaten as it is. It's a substitute for other spreads and an excellent base for dips or sandwich fillings, with herbs or with puréed or chopped vegetables, nuts or fish; by adding a little sugar or cream it makes a delicious accompaniment to fruit.

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