When it comes to Harz cheese, opinions usually differ - you either hate it or you love it. This is a German sour milk cheese made from low-fat quark. It originally comes from the Harz Mountains, south of Braunschweig and is still known as Harzer Roller or Handkäse. Although it's not for everyone, this cheese is full of valuable nutrients, contains 30% protein and hardly any fat. Therefore, it is considered extremely healthy and is ideal for various diets. In this article we will tell you how you can make Harz cheese yourself, how you can integrate it into your diet and how you can spice it up!
What is Harz cheese and how is it made?
Harz cheese is a sour milk cheese made from sour milk quark. Its loaves are usually small and round and, depending on the variety, they are either golden yellow or white. It contains less than 5% fat and is therefore considered to be very low in calories and has a very high protein content compared to the other types of cheese. Its taste varies depending on the ripening time - initially it is hard and tastes mild and slightly lemony, after a while it becomes softer and has a special and very intense piquant and spicy taste. A very typical spice for the Harzer Roller is caraway. The production of Harz cheese differs from that of other types of cheese. To do this, the sour milk quark is mixed with table salt and ripening salts, sometimes also with already ripened cheese. The mass is matured for around 24 hours at a temperature between 28-30 degrees, after which small loaves are formed, which are then sprayed with yellow or red smear bacteria or with white noble mold. This means that the cheese ripens from the outside in over the next 2 days and is then ready to eat.
The younger the Harzer Roller is, the larger the white, crumbly quark core is. Over time it loses its crumbly consistency and gains in aroma. You can use the best-before date as an indication of how ripe it is:
- 4-6 weeks before the best before date: white core with a mild taste
- 3-4 weeks before the best before date: slightly aromatic with a small, white core
- 1-2 weeks before the best before date: fully ripened with a strong scent and taste, without a white core.
Old Harz cheese in particular can become viscous and is characterized by a very strong taste and a strong smell.
Does Harz cheese help you lose weight?
Compared to other types of cheese, the Harzer Roller is very high in protein and low in fat. 100 grams of it scores with 26 grams of protein with a high biological value. This in turn means that your body absorbs these proteins very well. And an overview of the most important nutritional values of Harz cheese per 100 grams:
- 115-130 calories
- 26-30 grams of protein
- 0 grams of carbohydrates
- 0.5-1 gram fat
- 0 grams of fiber
It also contains many minerals, trace elements andVitamins such as vitamin B12, zinc, calcium and phosphorus. Most people are still relatively unaware that calcium is also very important in a diet. So if you want to lose weight, you should cover your daily needs primarily with low-fat dairy products. In addition, calcium ensures the healthy growth of your teeth and bones.
And this is how you can make Harz cheese yourself!
Ingredients:
- 1 kilogram of low-fat quark
- 30 grams of salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin, optional
Preparation:
- Let the low-fat curd dry for at least 12 hours, preferably 1 day, until it becomes slightly crumbly.
- Then mix the mixture with the salt and caraway.
- Form a small ball and press flat. Let rest in a pot or container.
- Cover the container with a kitchen towel for 6-8 hours.
- As soon as the surface becomes glassy, put the Harz cheese in a porcelain container and cover it with a cloth soaked in vinegar. You have to change this every day.
- After about 5-6 days the ripening is complete.
Cheese recipes
You can either eat the Harz cheese simply on bread or add it to your salad. But since the taste takes some getting used to for many people, we have a few recipe suggestions for you!
“Hand cheese with music”is a classic dish with Harz cheese. And this is how it is prepared:
- Cut the cheese into either cubes or slices.
- Then marinate with some onions in a mixture of vinegar, oil, caraway and pepper.
- Depending on your taste, you can also add chives or spring onions. Enjoy it either as a low-carb dish or with brown bread.
Harz cheese can be made into a very tasty onecooking cheeseprepare.
Ingredients:
- 200 gram Harz roller
- 200 grams of sour cream
- 200 Gramm Butter
- 200 grams of cream cheese
- a pinch of baking soda
- a little caraway, depending on your taste
Preparation:
- Cut the cheese and butter into coarse cubes.
- Melt the resin and butter in a large pot over low heat.
- As soon as everything has mixed well, add the cream cheese and sour cream and continue stirring for about 4-5 minutes.
- Then add the baking soda. The mass will double in size and foam a lot but don't worry - this is completely normal! Stir over low heat for 3 minutes until smooth.
- Pour everything into glasses and let cool.
Delicious spread
This spread sticks together with a few vegetablesthe perfect low-carb snack or lunchfor the office!
Ingredients:
- 200 gram Harz roller
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 5 EL Crème fraîche
- 2 EL Stage
- 1 bunch of spring onions
- Salt, pepper
- 1 tbsp cumin
Preparation:
- Wash the spring onion and chop it finely.
- Cut the cheese into small cubes and mix well in a bowl with the sour cream, cream and crème fraîche.
- Season to taste and sprinkle with caraway seeds.
Incredibly delicious and healthy potato soup
The delicious soup is perfect for the cold days and not only does it taste very good, but it is also full of protein!
Ingredients:
- 250 grams of potatoes
- 200 gram Harz roller
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 100 grams of bacon
- 100 grams of leeks
- 2 EL Kill
- Salt, pepper and cumin
Preparation:
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into medium-sized pieces. Finely chop the onion and garlic cloves. Cut the leek and bacon into thin strips.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pot and fry the bacon in it.
- After 2 minutes, add onions, garlic, potatoes and leeks and fry for another 3 minutes.
- Add 800 ml water and 1 teaspoon caraway and simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Cut the cheese into small cubes and stir in.
- Season with salt and pepper, continue to cook for 5 minutes while stirring constantly and serve warm!
The best low-carb chips
Do you eat a low-carb diet and still want to miss out on some treats, such as chips in front of the TV? Then Harz cheese chips are your solution - not only are they very easy to prepare, but they are also extremely healthy and low in fat!
Ingredients:
- 200 grams of Harz cheese
- Spices of your choice – pepper, paprika, etc.
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 200 grams.
- Cut the cheese into very fine and thin slices and spread them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Bake for about 20 minutes and let cool completely.
- Cut into chips with a knife and season with spices.
Cheesecake with Harz cheese
Ingredients:
- 120 grams of Harz cheese
- 60 grams of spelled flour
- 30 grams coconut flour
- 1 No
- 1 egg white
- 150 grams of canned chickpeas
- 1 spring onion
- 1 small onion
- 1/2 pack of baking powder
- Salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder
- Fresh parsley
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
- Chop the cheese, onion, spring onion and parsley into small pieces.
- Mix coconut flour, spelled flour and baking powder.
- Add the chickpeas and eggs to the cheese mixture and puree finely with a hand blender.
- Add the dry ingredients, add a dash of water and mix everything well.
- Place in a baking dish and bake for about 25-30 minutes.
Low-carb chicken casserole
This casserole is perfect for anyone looking for a quick, yet healthy dinner!
Ingredients:
- 150 grams of Harz cheese
- 400 grams of chicken fillet
- 400 grams of cauliflower
- 500 grams of tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- 50 Gramm Parmesan
- 300 ml vegetable broth
- Salt, pepper, paprika powder
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
- Wash the cauliflower and divide it into florets. Cook with the vegetable stock for 5-10 minutes and drain well.
- Cut the chicken fillets into bite-sized pieces and finely chop the onions and garlic. Fry everything together briefly in a pan and season to taste.
- Dice the Harz cheese and tomatoes and mix with the Parmesan and the chicken.
- First put the cauliflower in a baking dish and then the chicken mixture.
- Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
