Monday, November 16, 2009

Liptauer Cheese Spread - Blue Monday



This may look familiar. It is Arva castle and from its highest parapet there is a view of Lipto, home of Liptauer cheese spread. It's also the site where the old vampire film Nosferatu was filmed.





From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...
I know that early exposure helps us develop an affinity for certain foods. It's the only plausible explanation for my love of Central European food. I had my first taste of Liptauer cheese at the age of 4 and we've had an improbable love affair ever since. Lipto is a fresh Hungarian cheese that's made with sheep's milk. It has a very soft consistency, but it's so mild that it's almost flavorless. That's taken care of by the addition of herbs and seeds and spices that are used to flavor the food of the region. A little paprika, a few capers and a spoonful of caraway seeds help move the bland to "bingo." When we lived in Chicago, Lipto cheese was just a bus ride away. It became harder to find in the suburbs of New Jersey and I haven't been able to find it at all where we now live. This cheese spread is popular in Slovakia and Italy , where it's called Spuma di formaggio all'ungherese, as well as in Austria and Hungary. It's almost effortless to make and it's wonderful for those occasions where beer is the beverage of choice. Liptauer cheese spread can be made with any soft cheese. Cottage cheese, cream cheese, quark, and soft goat or sheep cheese are all great substitutes for Lipto. The cheese is mixed with sour cream, butter, and finely chopped onions. Spices like ground paprika, fresh parsley, and bruised caraway seeds are added to the mix along with mustard and anchovies. The cheese is served with crackers or dark breads such as rye or pumpernickel. Some folks serve it with vegetables and others use it to stuff vegetables. All in all, it's an amazingly versatile spread. If you add two or three extra tablespoons of sour cream to the mix, it becomes a dip that's not at all bad with chips or pretzels. Liptauer takes 10 minutes to assemble, but it's flavor improves if it's allowed to sit for a few hours before serving. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Here's the recipe.

Liptauer Cheese Spread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
8 oz. of Lipto or cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup soft butter, softened
3 tablespoons sour cream
2 mashed anchovy fillets or 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 teaspoon capers
1 tablespoon finely minced onion
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1-1/2 teaspoons sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds smashed or bruised to release flavor
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1) Combine cream cheese, butter, sour cream and anchovies in a small bowl. Mix well to combine.
2) Add capers, minced onions, mustard, paprika, caraway seeds and salt. Mix well.
3) Form a smooth mound. Make slight indentations in mound using tines of a fork. Sprinkle with paprika.
4) Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish as desired. Yield 1-3/4 cups.

You might also want to try:
Choosy Beggars - Spinach and White Bean Dip
Grow.Cook.Eat. - Baba Ganoush
The Perfect Pantry - Herbed Cheese Spread

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

45 comments :

Chubskulit Rose said...

Another yummy BM, thanks for sharing!

wood router bits

metal drill bits

Chubskulit Rose said...

Opppps please disrgeard my first comment, I gave you the wrong link for my post. Just please delete/reject it.

Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe once again!

Here's my Blue Monday Contribution

Sally said...

Oh Mary, that'd be good to try for holiday entertaining. Thanks. Happy Blue Monday.

Angie's Recipes said...

This is a perfect sourdough bread spread!

KathyB. said...

With all the football games and holidays ahead this sounds like a good spread to have on hand.

As soon as I saw the picture of the castle, before i read your post, I thought, 'Vampires!' So I did recognize it as a familiar place in my memory. I always enjoy your history lessons, very much.

Federica Simoni said...

una bella ricetta gustosa!

Unknown said...

Very interesting! I have been totally ignorant of Liptauer cheese (apart from having heard the name)I am so sure I would love it!

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

You know, I will be looking for this cheese!!!

Megan, Life Revamped said...

wow! looks too marvelous to eat!

glad to be back for so long! Here's today's share of blue!

have a great week!

NKP said...

I have heard of this cheese but didn't know what it was about. Sounds like the perfect project for the simple cheeses I have been making. Thanks so much for the recipe!

Karen said...

Looks like another great recipe to try! I love reading your blog and seeing not only the wonderful recipes but also the background you give with it. Very interesting!

Happy Blue Monday!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Yum to the cheese! Maybe it is my little bits of Hungarian heritage coming out here.
Susan

Cathy said...

My mom served something similar with crackers and celery sticks. Love the wonderful flavors you've combined in this spread, Mary.

storyteller at Small Reflections said...

Kewl photograph and tasty looking cheese spread ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

LV said...

Thanks for inviting me over for lunch. As usual, you are the best of cooks.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Maybe I'm a wierdo but cream cheese and anchovies really appeal to me. I think I would have to park myself in front of this at a party and not move! It looks gorgeous too Mary!

Mimi said...

We are family of cheese eater. This would be great to have on hand for snacking.
Mimi

Maria said...

Perfect for parties.

Unknown said...

This would be great for the holidays; it's very festive-looking!

Marice said...

awww that first photo is lovely scenery! :)

and the second really looks yummy!

u may view mine if u have time

Fifi Flowers said...

That makes my mouth water!!! Putting that one in my party collection!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Beautiful picture, and I absolutely love that cheese! Oh, Mary... I have got to try this!

Happy Blue Monday...

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Blonde Duck said...

That sounds amazing! I love anything that comes from a castle!

Charlotte said...

What an interesting castle picture. The cheese looks delicious. I'd never hard of this kind of cheese.
Happy Blue Monday.
Charlotte

zenmasterlars said...

wow!!! I'm going to make this...what an interesting combo of flavors!!!! :) yum!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

as always, great story. Love the Nosferatu reference.

The dip is terrific sounding. Don't know if I can find the lipo, but it i son the list now

Knitty said...

Mmmmmm, I may make this for Thanksgiving afternoon. Thanks!

Heather S-G said...

Wow, this sounds delicious!! This would be great for our holiday table :D

Greenearth said...

That food looks so good.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I think the cheese spread might be a bit much for me but the cranberry apple cider looks delish!

The Cooking Photographer said...

I'm not sure if I want to kiss you or cry. I haven't been near this stuff since I lived in the Czech Republic and traveled to Budapest.

Thank-you Mary. I can't wait to have my husband try this.

Laura

Foley said...

You started developing your palate very young!!!
Looks delicious - so many times it could be used, not just for holidays!

noble pig said...

Well, I've learned something new today, it sounds wonderful.

jeanne said...

Hi Mary, this cheese sounds delicious. I am sure we would love it too. We do love cheese but our tastes are uneducated in all things cheese. We have never been to Europe. One day. I love the castle but I don't like Vampires. LOL.

Your recipe sounds very good. A holiday effort. Smile.

hugs, Jeanne

xinex said...

You always post the yummiest food, Mary!...Christine

Shirl said...

Hello Mary, Happy Blue Monday! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a sweet comment. Love your blue post this week, looks delish as usual. I'm still making Pink Saturday vists, your post this week looks yummy too!
Blessings to ya! Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage

Pam said...

What a wonderful holiday appetizer. This looks delicious.

theUngourmet said...

I love goat cheese spread with dark breads like Pumpernickel! This looks wonderful!

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

It looks and sounds delish ,it will be great for the upcomimg
Holidays.
~Myrna

Alessandra said...

lovely, I will omit the anchovies for a vegetarian version.... :-)

My Little Space said...

What a irresistible spread! Just look at all those cheese in the recipe...wooo.... Btw, I finally found out what is butterscotch! hehe.... silly me!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Mmm...it looks so hearty and good. I have not had Liptauer in ages.

Katy ~ said...

Awww, the power of cheese, just like the commercial says. I would love to have a nice swipe of that cheese on some lovely crackers!

we are never full said...

i feel like an idiot. i actually wanted to comment about this cheese b/c, originally, the title made me laugh out loud. i thought i read "LIPITOR" Cheese spread (like an idiot). You know, Lipitor, the cholesterol medication. And then I realized it was Liptauer...

thanks for the laugh anyways. oh and this does look delish. its the type of app I'd sit with for 20 minutes and then get too full off of!

Julia said...

So wonderful that you don't need to "find" it in the market anymore since you can recreate it at home. Looks like a great recipe with the anchovies and capers!!

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Printfriendly