3 minutes, plant-based yogurt, and a thin cloth are all you need to make Vegan Quark at home. A no-fail recipe that is a much cheaper alternative than store-bought quark!
P.S. I’ve included step-by-step photos and tips to really make this recipe foolproof! 😉
In this post you’ll learn:
- Why you will love this recipe
- Ingredient
- Equipments
- Instructions
- How to Use/Serve Quark
- Storage and meal prep instructions
- Freezing instructions
- Top tips
- FAQ
- More Ideas to Use Quark
- More recipes like this!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Creamy delight: Enjoy a dairy-free Vegan Quark alternative that’s both delicious and healthy.
- You only need 1 ingredient for this recipe!
- Fail-proof recipe: The steps are super simple, making it a beginner-friendly recipe. Just be sure that you get the correct cloth to strain the yogurt in this recipe, and you’re good to go.
- Customize to your taste: Get creative with flavors, toppings, and mix-ins for a personalized treat. Plus, it’s also an excellent recipe to make other quark-based desserts, or even quark-based savory dishes!
- Nourish with plant power: Packed with protein, calcium, and probiotics, it’s a wholesome choice.
- A versatile recipe which can be used in many other dishes, such as this 5-Minute Overnight Cheesecake Weetabix!
Is There Vegan Quark?
Yes, there are a lot of vegan quark alternatives nowadays in many European countries. Some popular brands that produce plant-based dairy products are Alpro (Go On), Provamel, Sojade, Simply V, Harvest Moon, Made with Luve, and Isola Bio. These could be bought in the local supermarkets and organic supermarkets. Some supermarkets also carry their house brand versions of vegan and dairy-free quark such as Lidl, Jumbo, Albert Heijn, and Ekoplaza if you are in the Netherlands.
If you live in other countries, you can just ask around if they are available in your local supermarkets, or you can make your own vegan quark from any plant-based quark of your choice with this 1-ingredient recipe that is done in 3 minutes!
Ingredient
- Plant-based yogurt: This lactose-free and dairy-free alternative to traditional yogurt is the ONLY ingredient you would need.
- You can choose your favorite type of plant-based yogurt, be it soy, almond, cashew, you name it.
- If you are using coconut yogurt, note that you would need an even thinner cloth, or a nut milk cloth since coconut yogurt does not strain as well as other plant-based yogurt varieties.
- From my experience, thinner clothes do NOT work for non-coconut-based yogurt, but it works well (and even necessary) if you are using coconut-based yogurt.
- Also note that you have to like the intrinsic flavor of the yogurt itself so you can enjoy your quark!
Equipments
- Tall jar or cup
- Any container with sufficient height to hold the quark mixture, allowing space for water collection and proper thickening. Transparent ones work best, but it’s also okay if they are not transparent!
- Cheese cloth or any thin cloth (linen or cotton works best)
- This is the KEY EQUIPMENT to make sure the recipe works. Be sure to choose a cloth that can strain the water out.
- If you hold the cloth with both hands and pull it apart slightly, you should be able to see some space in between the threads. Always do this first to check whether or not your cloth will work!
- Kitchen elastic (optional)
- Used to secure the cloth to the jar, during the straining process, although not necessary if the cloth stays in place on its own.
How to Make Vegan Quark
Just 4 simple steps to get your vegan quark:
Line: Line a tall jar or cup with cloth, leaving space for water collection.
Pour: Pour the yogurt into the cloth-lined jar.
(Optional) Tie: If the cloth is falling down because the yogurt is too heavy, secure the cloth with an elastic around the jar to prevent it from falling down.
Cover: Cover with a lid or plate and refrigerate overnight or for 6-8 hours. The yogurt will thicken into a quark-like consistency while the water collects at the bottom.
How to Use/Serve Quark?
Looking for ways to serve your vegan quark? I got you! 😉
- Spread it: Use quark as a creamy and tangy spread on toast, bagels, or crackers, topped with fresh herbs. For a sweet option, add a drizzle of maple/agave syrup, or perhaps some of your Homemade Vegan Nutella.
- Dip it: Whip up a savory dip by combining quark with herbs, spices, and a squeeze of lemon juice, perfect for accompanying fresh vegetables or pita chips.
- Speaking of dips, check out my Kimchi Aioli and Gochujang Aioli for a healthy and oil-free dip!
- And if you prefer experimenting with other flavors yourself, try this Vegan Oil-Free Mayonnaise which is literally done in 3 minutes!
- Top it: Add a dollop of quark to your favorite smoothie bowl or oatmeal for a rich and creamy topping. Or just serve the quark with your favorite toppings to make a quark bowl!
- Bake with it: Incorporate quark into your baking recipes for moist and tender results. It works well in cakes, muffins, pancakes, and even cheesecakes. Simply substitute any dairy-based quark with this lactose-free quark and you’re good to go!
- Mix it: Blend quark with fruits, sweeteners, and a splash of vanilla extract to create a luscious and healthy dessert parfait.
- Dress it: Make a light and refreshing salad dressing by whisking quark with lemon juice, olive oil, herbs, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Remember, quark’s versatility allows you to get creative, so feel free to experiment and discover new ways to enjoy this versatile ingredient!
Storage and Meal Prep Instructions
Storage: Store the prepared quark in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can typically be stored for up to 5-7 days. This of course will also depend on the freshness of the yogurt that you use.
Ensure that the container is tightly sealed to maintain freshness and prevent any transfer of flavors.
Meal prep: Quark is an excellent ingredient for meal prep. You can prepare a batch in advance and portion it into individual containers or jars for easy grab-and-go snacks or breakfast options throughout the week!
Can You Freeze Quark?
Yes, quark can be frozen, although I do not recommend it since its texture might then change.
If you would still like to freeze them, place the quark in a freezer-safe container, leaving some room for expansion. When you’re ready to use it, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. After thawing, give it a good stir before enjoying.
Frozen quark is best used in recipes like smoothies or baked goods rather than for direct consumption. So if you’re using it to make a quark bowl, skip the freezing and always use fresh quark!
Top Tips to Make This Recipe Foolproof
- Be sure that you have the correct type of cloth.
- Again, if you hold the cloth with both hands and pull it apart slightly, you should be able to see some space in between the threads.
- If there is no space in between, the cloth is too thick and the water cannot strain to get that thick quark-like consistency.
- If you can already see some space in between the threads, the cloth is too thin such that the yogurt mixture will just fall through it.
- Again, if you hold the cloth with both hands and pull it apart slightly, you should be able to see some space in between the threads.
- Timing matters.
- The longer you let it strain, the thicker the consistency will be. Adjust the time based on your preference, with 6-8 hours being a good range to start with.
- Use any plant-based yogurt, except for coconut.
- I find that coconut yogurt does not strain as easily as other yogurt varieties. If you only have coconut yogurt on hand, this recipe will still work but you would need a nut milk bag, or any other cloth that is even thinner such that water can drip through it!
- Experiment with flavors.
- Once the basic quark is prepared, feel free to get creative and add various flavors, such as vanilla extract, fruit purees, or herbs, to customize the taste according to your liking.
- I think the tartness of the quark is good enough but if you would like your quark to be more tart, feel free to add 1-2 teaspoon(s) of vinegar! Most vinegar would work such as apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, and lemon.
FAQ
No, Greek yogurt is not the same as quark. Quark has a milder, less acidic taste than Greek yoghurt.
No, SKYR is not quark. SKYR is an Icelandic dairy product, similar to yogurt, but it has its own unique characteristics and taste.
No, keffir is not quark. Kefir is a fermented milk drink with a tangy flavor, while quark is a soft cheese-like product. Quark could also be seen as a thicker version of yogurt, which is basically how this recipe is made.
In recipes when they call for quark, it is best to stick with quark instead of yogurt as quark is thicker in consistency than yogurt. The good news is that you can easily make a quark just by straining your yogurt as described in this recipe.
Yes, you can eat quark in a similar way to yogurt. Note that quark is usually much thicker and yogurt, but they both have similar flavor profiles.
You can eat quark on its own, just like you would with yogurt, as a standalone snack or as part of your breakfast. Additionally, you can use quark as a yogurt substitute in recipes, such as smoothies, parfaits, with granola and fresh fruits, or you can even use it in my 5-Minute Cheesecake Overnight Weetabix recipe (2 Variations!).
How to Serve Quark/What else can I do with Quark?
Here in the Netherlands where I live, people often make kwarktaart (quark tart/cake), which is very similar to a cheesecake. This cheesecake quark was also the cake that my then friend (and current best friend) made for me on my first birthday here, which was just so sweet! 💖
Outside the Netherlands, quark is widely used in German baking, making desserts such as cheesecakes (käsekuchen), muffins, fruit-flavored bread/cakes like banana bread and apple bread (apfelkuchen / bananenkuchen), sheet cake (blechkuchen), German donut (quarkbällchen) and sweet quark casseroles (quarkauflauf).
Quark is also a great breakfast choice and you can serve it with muesli/granola and fresh fruits such as the strawberries that I use here🍓. Make yourself some pretty quark bowls, friends!
For savory options, you can also just use it similar to a bread spread for breakfasts (P.S. it’s great when combined with my 10-Minute Weetabix Cake Loaf recipe!), or add them to your potatoes and salads as a sauce/dip/dressing!
Looking for Similar Recipes?
Want to have some fancy breakfast with this quark? Then check out my 5-Minute Cheesecake Overnight Weetabix recipe (2 Variations!), or this cake-like Baked Oats Without Banana (5 Variations!) and Chocolate Chip Baked Oats recipe.
If you’re a fan of creamy Overnight Oats, you came to the right place, my friend 😉 Here are three of my Overnight Oats recipe that I think you would love:
And oh, did I mention my most popular 5-Minute Flax Seed Pudding with 3 Flavor Variations already?
Or this super pretty 5-Minute Strawberry Oat Milk recipe? 🍓🥛
Not a fan of sweet things? Then check out my easiest 5-minute Homemade Hummus without Garlic recipe, or this Creamy Tandoori Sauce Pasta recipe!
1-Ingredient Vegan Quark
Equipment
- Tall jar or cup
- Cheesecloth, linen cloth, or a thin cotton cloth (A quick test is that you should be able to see through the cloth when you pull it apart, so that water can drip through it)
- Kitchen elastic (optional)
Ingredients
- 500 g plant-based yogurt 18oz, any variety except coconut yogurt (see notes if you only have coconut yogurt on hand)
- 1-2 teaspoon(s) vinegar of choice (OPTIONAL) only if you would like your quark to be more tart, see notes below
Instructions
- Line a tall jar or cup with your cloth, making sure that there is some gap between the cloth and the bottom of the jar so the water can be collected.
- Pour your yogurt into the cloth inside the jar.
- (Optional) Tie an elastic around the jar and the cloth to keep the cloth from falling down. If the yogurt is not heavy enough that the cloth falls down to the bottom of the jar, you don’t have to do this. Just make sure that there are quite some gap between the bottom of the jar and the cloth.
- Cover the top with a lid or a small plate, then let it sit in the fridge overnight, or for 6-8 hours. The water will be collected at the bottom and the yogurt will thicken into the consistency of a quark.
- (Optional) If you think that the quark should be more sour/tart, you can stir in your vinegar of choice. I personally don't think this is needed but just taste and see for yourself!
Notes
- Be sure that you have the correct type of cloth.
- Again, if you hold the cloth with both hands and pull it apart slightly, you should be able to see some space in between the threads.
- Timing matters.
- The longer you let it strain, the thicker the consistency will be. Adjust the time based on your preference, with 6-8 hours being a good range to start with.
- I think the tartness of the quark is good enough but if you would like your quark to be more tart, feel free to add 1-2 teaspoon(s) of vinegar!
- Most vinegar would work such as apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, and lemon.
- Coconut yogurt does not strain as easily as other yogurt varieties.
- If you only have coconut yogurt on hand, this recipe will still work but you would need a nut milk bag, or any other cloth that is even thinner such that water can drip through it!
- If you don’t see any water dripping after 1 minute, the cloth is probably too thick for your yogurt.
- Store the prepared quark in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can typically be stored for up to 5-7 days. This of course will also depend on the freshness of the yogurt that you use.
-
I do not recommend freezing quark since its texture might then change.
- But if you insist, place the quark in a freezer-safe container, leaving some room for expansion. When you’re ready to use it, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. After thawing, give it a good stir before enjoying. Frozen quark is best used in recipes like smoothies or baked goods rather than for direct consumption.
August 8, 2023 at 11:40 pmThis thing actually works! Thank you; I’ve been missing quark so much since I turned vegan!
September 5, 2023 at 10:56 amTurns out perfect, thanks! I wish I had known this trick sooner.
October 17, 2023 at 5:05 pmI saw the photos and I couldn’t resist trying. Tried this with strawberry soy yogurt and it worked perfectly. Thanks!