If you're not a fan of watery smoothies, quark will ensure that you never make one again. It's so thick and creamy, adding even just one tablespoon to your smoothie will give it a texture more like pudding. It's even better for smoothie bowls, because that thick texture will help you keep your fancy toppings afloat, unlike in a thin smoothie where they're more likely to sink to the bottom.
With just a few toppings, it makes a great, high-protein snack.
When I'm in a rush and I need to eat something that I know will keep me full, I scoop a few spoonfuls of quark into a bowl, top it with nuts, or honey, or fruit, or all of the above and dig in. It's extremely satisfying because it packs a powerful punch of both protein and fats, not just because of the toppings but because of the quark itself. And because it has a relatively tame flavor, it's a great canvas for all kinds of ingredients. You could even turn it into a savory snack by topping it with salty, toasted pumpkin seeds or chopped vegetables.
Use it as a base for tart, creamy salad dressings.
Audrey Bruno
You can easily swap quark into any salad dressing recipes that call for sour cream or Greek yogurt. I like to combine it with garlic, white wine vinegar, and any spices I have around for a sauce that's quick and luxurious, which is what I did for the salad featured above. As long as you're adding some kind of acid to loosen up the quark, whether that's vinegar or citrus juice, you'll be able to make something fabulous in no time.
Stir it into a pasta sauce in place of sour or heavy cream.
For the dreamiest pasta you've ever eaten, add a dollop of quark! It adds a nice tang to heavy mac and cheeses, and it makes things like Alfredo sauce creamier than you could have ever imagined.
Or mix it with a bit of honey to use as a topping for baked fruit or other desserts.
Audrey Bruno
This is one of my favorite quark tricks: I like to combine the ingredient with a bit of honey to give it just a touch of sweetness, then I serve it over raw or baked fruit, or even over pastries. Because it's more tart than sweet, it keeps desserts decadent, but not overwhelming.
Now that you know how to use quark, add it to your cart the next time you run into it at the supermarket. Whatever you're cooking, whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, the ingredient will surely be a great addition.
