What is quark and how can it benefit your health?

Have you heard of or tried quark before? Don’t worry if you haven’t, we’ll be sharing what exactly quark is in this article, along with its benefits to your health.

Popular in Eastern Europe, quark is a dairy product sourced by warming soured milk, then straining it into a soft, mildly creamy end product. Due to this creamy texture, it is often compared to yogurt. However, in terms of nutrition, quark is arguably superior in every way to the typical yogurt. Taste-wise, it is neither sweet nor sour, but similar to cottage cheese with a texture thicker than yogurt.

In this article, we’ll be giving you an overview of what quark is, and why it’s increasingly becoming a popular option for healthy protein. 

Gut friendly

As we prefaced above, quark is often compared to yogurt due to its similar consistency. Both quark and yogurt contain gut-friendly microbes that are beneficial to your digestive tract. What differentiates quark is that it has less lactic acid than is commonly found in many yogurts. This means it is accessible for lactose-intolerant people to consume.

High protein

In addition to being gut-friendly, quark is also an excellent source of protein. Quark has almost double the amount of protein, about 12 grams of protein per 100 grams, compared to 5 grams in Greek yogurt. The protein to carb ratio is also much better than those found in the typical yogurt.

Low fat and high in vitamins

Another excellent benefit of quark is its low sugar and calorie content. Quark has a fat content as low as 1% depending on the churning process, and whether or not it is mixed with cream. Additionally, just like any dairy product, quark has high concentrations of calcium – a perfect supplement to maintain your bones and teeth.

Another added bonus is its low salt content compared to many cheese products. Other vitamins contained in quark are vitamins A and B – both of which are supplements for maintaining your eyesight and nervous systems.

Versatility

The last benefit of the quark lies in its versatility and ease of use. Quark can be used as a substitute in any recipe that requires a dairy product such as cottage cheese, cream cheese or yogurt. Mix it with your bowl of muesli, or spread it on your morning toast bread for a protein-packed, lactose-friendly breakfast.

To recap, quark is an excellent source of dairy protein, calcium, healthy microbes, and other essential nutrients, while also being lactose friendly. Its versatility makes it easy to incorporate into a variety of breakfast recipes for a healthier breakfast option.

What did you think of the quark and its health benefits? For people who are lactose intolerant, this is your chance to try a dairy product that won’t upset your stomach!

Find your essential breakfast ingredients, including quark in our products page at Puri Pangan Utama.

Puri Pangan Utama is the trusted food distributor based in Bali. We provide food ingredients to our business partners and customers, to facilitate their culinary needs. Visit our website to view our product offerings.