German Quark

Step 1

Add the milk to a medium-large pot with a lid and slowly heat it on the stove to around 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Whisk in the buttermilk and remove the pot from the stove.

Step 2

Put on the lid, leaving it slightly cracked, and place the pot in a warm place in your home for 24-36 hours. Don't move the pot again. During this time the milk should thicken noticeably. Depending on the milk you used and the temperature in your home, the milk might have already thickened after 24 hours - or it might take slightly longer. In our case (our place is never that warm) it usually takes closer to 36 hours.

Step 3

Once the milk mixture has thickened, place a strainer over a bowl and place a clean dishtowel into the strainer.

Step 4

Now pour the thickened milk into the dishtowel and loosely tie the ends of the dishtowel together. You can use an elastic band for this, for example. The clear liquid should drip out of the dishtowel into the bowl. Let it sit like this for around 1.5 hours. If you want your quark to be "drier" you can even let it sit for longer. Depending on the size of your catchment bowl, you may have to empty the liquid every once in a while.

Step 5

Once most of the water has strained away, give the quark in the dishtowel a squeeze before removing it from the dishtowel. Scoop out the quark with a spoon. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge until you need it. Consume it within 4-5 days.