Quark is a tasty, creamy cheese that originated in Europe. It has a smooth, creamy texture similar to Greek yogurt but with a mild tangy flavor.
Quark is very popular in German baking recipes and desserts. However, it can be hard to find quark in the USA and elsewhere outside Europe.
Luckily, there are several convenient quark substitutes you can use instead.
What Is Quark Cheese?
Quark is a fresh, unaged cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk. To make quark, milk is soured with lactic acid bacteria, causing it to curdle. The curds are then strained to remove excess whey.
The texture of quark can range from thin and creamy like yogurt to thick and spreadable like cream cheese. Traditional German quark is smooth and silky. Some varieties have a consistency closer to dry cottage cheese.
In terms of taste, quark has a mild, tangy, sour flavor. It is lighter tasting than most cheeses due to its freshness and lack of aging. Quark also contains very little salt, which allows its delicate flavor to shine.
Some of the reasons why quark is so popular, especially in German baking, include:
- High protein content
- Versatile flavor that pairs well with sweet and savory foods
- Smooth, creamy texture perfect for cheesecakes, sauces, and more
- Lower in fat than many cheeses
- Contains no added salt
Unfortunately, quark can be difficult to find in grocery stores outside Europe. But not to worry - with the quark alternatives below, you can still enjoy those delicious German cheesecake and pastry recipes calling for quark cheese.
Key Takeaway: Quark is a fresh European cheese with a mild, tangy flavor and creamy, smooth texture similar to yogurt or cream cheese.
Best Substitutes for Quark Cheese
1. Farmer's Cheese
One of the best and easiest quark substitutes is a cheese called farmer's cheese. Despite its name, farmer's cheese is very similar to the texture and tang of German quark.
Farmer's cheese has a dry, crumbly texture reminiscent of cottage cheese but without any large curds. Its flavor is mildly tangy and pairs well with both sweet and savory ingredients.
Brand names for farmer's cheese include Friendship,Elli, and Green Valley. Check the dairy or specialty cheese sections of your grocery store. European markets and Polish delis may carry it too.
You can substitute an equal amount of farmer's cheese for quark in any recipe. The flavor and texture make an almost identical replacement.
2. Combine Ricotta + Sour Cream
Italian ricotta cheese makes a handy substitute on its own. But mixing it with sour cream takes it a step closer to quark's tangy flavor and creamy texture.
To replace quark, use a mixture of:
- 1 part sour cream
- 9 parts part-skim or whole milk ricotta cheese
For example, 1 cup quark = about 1⁄3 cup sour cream + 1 cup ricotta.
Make sure to drain excess whey from the ricotta for at least 30 minutes before mixing the ingredients together. This helps achieve quark's thick, spreadable texture.
Key Takeaway: Combine 9 parts ricotta cheese with 1 part sour cream for a handy quark substitute when baking cheesecakes and pastries.
3. Full-Fat Cream Cheese
Cream cheese makes an effortless swap for quark in most recipes. Similar to quark, cream cheese has a mild tangy flavor and ultra-smooth and creamy texture.
Use full-fat cream cheese, as lower fat varieties won't provide the same rich flavor and silky texture. Fortunately, most cheesecake recipes already call for full-fat cream cheese anyway.
Cream cheese does contain more fat than quark. But this won't make much difference since most quark recipes call for additional eggs, cream or oil anyway.
You can substitute cream cheese for the same quantity of quark called for in a recipe. The flavors and textures are quite close, especially in sweet dishes and desserts.
4. Combine Cottage Cheese + Sour Cream
For a homemade quark substitute with a similar curdy texture, use a cottage cheese and sour cream blend.
To replace quark cheese:
- Process cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until completely smooth with no lumps
- Drain the blended cottage cheese through a fine mesh sieve to remove extra moisture
- Combine 1 part sour cream with 1 part cottage cheese
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using
The thick, creamy consistency makes this homemade quark alternative ideal for dips, spreads, fillings, and creamy desserts.
5. Plain Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is another handy quark substitute you may already have on hand. Thanks to its high protein content, Greek yogurt has a very similar nutrition profile.
For baking recipes like cheesecake and pastry fillings, choose a whole milk Greek yogurt for best results. This provides closer moisture and fat content to quark cheese.
Keep in mind that Greek yogurt on its own has more tang than mild-tasting quark. Mix in a splash of cream or milk if you want to mellow the flavor.
6. Soft Tofu
Soft tofu works beautifully as a vegan and dairy-free quark alternative. Its smooth, creamy texture mimics quark cheese wonderfully.
To use extra firm silken tofu in place of quark:
- Blend cubes of chilled tofu in a food processor until completely smooth and creamy
- For a tangy flavor, mix in lemon juice or non-dairy yogurt
- Season with a pinch of salt, garlic powder, or other spices
The easy blend-and-go method makes soft tofu ideal for dips, frostings, dessert fillings and more.
How To Use Quark Cheese Substitutes
Below are some examples of how you can use these handy quark alternatives in your cooking and baking:
Cheesecakes
Creamy cheesecake is one of the most popular desserts made with quark cheese. Fortunately, cream cheese or ricotta and sour cream mixtures make excellent substitutes.
To make a German cheesecake filling without quark:
- Use an equal amount of room temperature cream cheese instead
- Or, replace quark with a blended ricotta and sour cream mixture
- Adjust sugar or other liquids slightly to account for moisture differences
Pastry Fillings
Another prime place to use quark is in fillings for pastries like strudels, tarts, kolaches and danish pastries.
Substitute quark with a equal quantity of:
- Cream cheese for ultra-smooth texture
- Cottage cheese-sour cream blend for light and creamy flavor
- Greek yogurt for tangy filling with similar nutrition
Savory Dishes
Even though it's less common, quark cheese also shines in hearty main dishes and appetizers too.
- Use a farmer's cheese instead for closest flavor and texture
- Swap in ricotta-sour cream blend in lasagnas or stuffed pasta shells
- Mix spiced soft tofu into meatballs or veggie patties for a protein boost
Quark makes an exceptional base for creamy salad dressings as well. Simply replace it with an equal amount of Greek yogurt, sour cream, or silken tofu instead.
Baked Goods
You'll often find quark in German cakes, pastries, pancakes, and quick breads too.
Some examples of easy quark swaps for baking:
- Substitute cream cheese or farmer's cheese 1:1
- Use an equal amount of ricotta mixed with sour cream
- Replace quark with Greek yogurt combined with a bit of milk
Key Takeaway: Swap quark 1:1 in cheesecakes, pastries, savory dishes, salad dressings, and baked goods using cream cheese, ricotta blends, yogurt, farmer's cheese or tofu.
Troubleshooting Quark Substitution Challenges
While the above quark alternatives work wonderfully in most recipes, you may face a few potential issues:
- Problem: Substitute is too thick and texture is off
- Solution: Add a splash of milk or cream to thin out dense ingredients like cream cheese or soft tofu until smooth and creamy.
- Problem: Cheese mixture is too tart or tangy
- Solution: If your Greek yogurt or ricotta blend tastes too sour, stir in a teaspoon or two of milk, cream, or lemon juice to mellow the flavor.
- Problem: Desserts turn out drier than expected
- Solution: Quark has a high moisture content. You may need to slightly reduce other dry ingredients or add an extra egg yolk or tbsp of liquid.
- Problem: Salad dressings emulsify poorly
- Solution: Add a half tsp of mustard powder or cornstarch paste to thicken up thin yogurt- or tofu-based dressings.
FAQs
Is quark a type of yogurt?
No, quark is technically a fresh cheese while yogurt is fermented milk product. However, fresh quark closest in texture to Greek yogurt.
Can I make my own quark?
Yes! It's possible to make homemade quark by curdling milk with vinegar lemon juice or other acids. However, straining the curds and achieving the perfect texture takes some skill. It's often easier to substitute store-bought alternatives instead.
What recipes use quark cheese?
In Germany, quark is popular for cheesecakes, strudels, pancakes, tarts, and fruit curd fillings. Hungarians use quark as cottage cheese in savory dishes like paprikash sauce. It's also sometimes used like cream cheese as a bagel spread.
How long does quark cheese last?
Since it's a fresh cheese, store-bought quark only lasts 1-2 weeks refrigerated. For best flavor, use within 5-7 days of opening. Soft quark alternatives like yogurt, cottage cheese, and tofu also have shorter shelf lives around a week.
Is quark good for you?
Yes! Quark cheese is high in calcium and protein but lower in fat, carbs and calories than many cheeses. It provides an excellent nutrition boost paired with fruits or baked into healthier desserts.
Can I freeze quark cheese?
You can freeze homemade quark cheese for up to 3 months, but the texture will become more crumbly when thawed. Store-bought quark doesn't freeze as well due to additives that prevent freezing.
Conclusion
While quark cheese is hard to source outside Europe, there are plentiful ingredient swaps to use instead.
With options like farmer's cheese, Greek yogurt, ricotta blends and tofu - you're sure to find a handy quark substitute for both sweet baked goods and hearty savory dishes.