Liptauer

In Nigella Bites there is a fabulous recipe in the Legacy section. The recipe, Liptauer was completely unfamiliar to me. The flavour however does seem familiar somehow. The tastes of sweet paprika, caraway seeds, mustard and pickles echos in my head no doubt due to my Dutch heritage. I've made this many times, but locating the curd cheese can be a bit hit and miss. My preference is for Quark.

I've had the children asking for Liptauer for some time, but because I couldn't see my regular curd cheese I've not made it. I tried a variation today and it worked:D

Liptauer

250g Philadelphia cream cheese
250g fresh ricotta cheese
500g smooth cottage cheese
3 tbsp capers
4 sweet spiced gherkins, chopped to about the size of the capers
4 cornichons, chopped as per the gherkins
3 tsp sweet paprika
pinch of salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp caraway seeds
2 tsp Dijon mustard

Beat all the cheese together until they are well combined. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together well.

Now you can line a bowl with plastic so that the mixture can be pressed in, set in the fridge and unmoulded, but for everyday, which is what we use it for, I don't bother. Nor do I drizzle over an oil or sprinkle over some extra paprika. All lovely ideas to present at a 'do'!

In our house we just dip in vegetables, stick it on various crispbreads, dry biscuits or black bread. It's the snack that's ever-so-handy to have in the fridge.



Love the contrast of the brick-red paprika against the creamy-white cheese.