Nigella's Liptauer Cheese
As I was eating slices of the Poilane-Style Miche, it occurred to me that liptauer cheese might taste pretty good slathered on it. Liptauer is a rich, creamy concoction, spiked with chopped cornichons, caraway seeds, and paprika. It really comes to life eaten along with a good bottle of cold beer. I've wanted to try Nigella Lawson's version for some time, so I whipped up a batch from Nigella Cooks. It was very tasty, although I might add just a smidge more sweet pickles to the mix the next time I make it.
Liptauer Cheese
(Nigella Lawson)
NOTE: I only made half of this recipe. Two cups seemed plenty for me.
Makes about 4 cups
18 ounces cream cheese
2 1/4 cups cottage cheese
4 to 5 tablespoons capers
8 cornichons, chopped
3 teaspoons paprika
Pinch of salt
Good grating of black pepper
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
2 teaspoons French mustard
1 to 2 tablespoons flavorless vegetable oil
Fat pinch of paprika
Preparation
1. Beat the cream cheese and cottage cheese together until they are very smooth. Add the capers, cornichons, paprika, salt, pepper, caraway seeds, and mustard. Mix together well and turn into a 1-quart bowl lined with plastic wrap for easier unmolding later. Smooth the top with a spatula and cover with the
overhanging plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator to set.
2. When it has become cold enough to turn out — a few hours should do it — unwrap the folded-over plastic wrap on top, place a plate over the now uncovered bowl, turn it over, and unmold. Pull the plastic wrap off and drizzle over a rust-red ooze made by mixing the oil with the paprika.
3. Serve this with bread or poppy-seed bagels, rye bread.....or Poilane-Style Miche!
That is something I have never heard before, Sher!
Posted by: Patricia Scarpin | May 21, 2008 at 05:36 AM
Wow that looks so good! You amaze me with all the things you just "whip up"!!!
Posted by: Emily | May 21, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Out of sight and over the top on the Miche!! That does sound about perfect to top the Miche with. Will have to whip some up!
Posted by: MyKitchenInHalfCups | May 21, 2008 at 12:46 PM
D'you think dill pickles could replace the sweet? I think I'll try it that way.
Looks tasty!
Posted by: anne | May 21, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Sher I love Liptauer cheese. I think I made a recipe once that had mashed anchovies in it as well!!! This looks so good with or without the bread.
Posted by: Callipygia | May 21, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Yum...this would make a great afternoon snack for me.
Posted by: peabody | May 21, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Liptauer cheese sounds really good!
Posted by: Kevin | May 22, 2008 at 07:39 PM
This is something that would go down really really well here! Thanks for the recipe, going to try this sooooon.
Posted by: Baking Soda | May 22, 2008 at 11:49 PM
My goodness, this looks and sounds delicious. That Nigella, she's got some good stuff. Your bread rocks, too, wowie.
Posted by: Lisa | May 24, 2008 at 05:41 AM
Yes! We must have had ESP that day because I did something in the same vein. I had some leftover dip from Michelle's grad party, a cream cheese, seasoned with roasted red peppers and herbs, something I'd just whipped together that sounded good and then I slathered it on the miche and was in heaven!
I'd never heard of Nigella's but it looks wonderful!
Posted by: Glenna | May 24, 2008 at 06:50 PM