Quark

Quark cheese can be enjoyed as a spread on crusty breads and bagels, or as a dessert cheese.

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Quark is a soft, spreadable German cream cheese with a tangy flavor. It is available in textures that range from creamy and spreadable to firm.

Varieties

A modern cheese variety, Quark features a low fat content of about 0.3 to 11%. When made with 0.3% fat content, it is firm, crumbly, and dry. Made with a 5% fat content, its texture resembles that of low-fat American ricotta. Quark with an 11% fat content resembles very smooth cream cheese.

When Quark is used to create a processed cheese, it may be combined with cream, butter, onions, and paprika, and is intended to be used as a snack or condiment. Quark is also used to make a variety of fresh sour-curd cheeses in Germany, Austria, and the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Buying and storing tips

Because it is a fresh cheese, Quark has a short refrigerator life; it must be used within roughly two to seven days after it is opened.

Availability

Quark is becoming more widely available. Look for it in large health food stores, specialty stores, and markets.

Preparation, uses, and tips

Quark cheese can be used as a spread on crusty breads and bagels or as a dessert cheese. In Germany, it is a thick, tart spread served at most meals; it’s spread on toast in the morning, on baked potatoes in the evening, and served with fresh fruit for dessert.

Nutritional Highlights

Quark cheese (German style), 100g
Calories: 350
Protein: 14.8g
Carbohydrate: 5.4g
Total Fat: 0.2g
Fiber: 0.0g

The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.