Körözött is a creamy and delicious cheese spread from Hungary originally made with sheep milk cheese and paprika spices.
Like húsleves (Hungarian meat soup) or Halászlé (fish soup) I first discovered körözött from my Hungarian mother-in-law, Marta. Traditionally, she would use bryndza, sheep’s milk cheese, and cottage cheese in equal proportions. However, I made some adjustments since sheep milk cheese may not be readily available everywhere.
Körözött or Liptauer?
Both names refer to the same cheese dip. While Hungarians call it Körözött, Austrians Liptauer.
Interestingly, this cream cheese spread has gained popularity throughout Europe, and is also found in countries such as Italy, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania.
The origins of this dip can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Since then, each region and family has its own variations.
I found that this dip is both healthy and easy to make. You can enjoy it as a dip with Saltine Cracker Toffee, fresh vegetable sticks or even spread it on Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes.
Why you will love this Hungarian recipe?
Healthy and nutritious dish with a traditional twist
Don’t need to cook it and this recipe can be prepared in just 5 minutes. The best part is that you don’t need a blender or food processor.
Combining cottage cheese, paprika and feta cheese provides a kid-friendly healthy option.
Ingredients you will need
Cottage cheese:
This ingredient has been used in the traditional recipe. I want to keep it because it provides a subtle tangy flavor and a smooth texture to the dip. Moreover, it is a healthier alternative to mayonnaise, as I’ve noticed in other recipes.
If you are using dry curd cottage cheese sometimes sold as farmer’s cheese, curd cheese or túró (in hungary), you’ll need to add more sour cream to achieve a smooth and creamy texture.
sour cream and feta cheese
I used a combination of sour cream and feta cheese to replace the traditional sheep milk cheese. Feta cheese provides a similar tangy and salty flavor profile, while sour cream adds creaminess and tanginess. Feel free to adjust the quantities to suit your taste or use sheep milk cheese instead.
Ground sweet paprika
The main spice in this recipe is a sweet paprika powder that gives a warm flavor and nice orange hue to the dip. You will find this spice very often in Hungarian kitchen in number of dishes like gulyash or paprikas krumpli.
fresh chive
I love using fresh chive or chive oil in dips, as it adds a mild onion flavor with a hint of freshness and brightness.
red onion
To add vibrant color and a pleasant crunch.
How To Make Körözött cheese spread
First step: Combine soft cheeses and paprika
Combine the cottage cheese, crumbled feta cheese, sour cream, and sweet paprika in a small bowl.
Second step: chop red onion and chive.
Finely chop red onion and fresh chives and stir everything together until all the ingredients are well combined. Keep some chives pieces on the side for decoration
Third step: Transfer and serve
Transfer the paprika feta dip to a serving bowl or a jar and garnish with additional paprika and chives.
Transfer it to an airtight container for later use; you can keep it in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Make sure to give it a quick stir before serving.