Obatzda is a German Beer Cheese Spread that is served with soft pretzels. This recipe is made with brie cheese, cream cheese, onions, and spices.
Recipe Origins
Obatzda is a beer cheese spread that is extremely popular in Germany. It is made by combining creamy cheeses with seasonings, onions, and beer for a delightful spread that is great with soft pretzels. You can find Obatzda in beerhauses across Germany and also as a popular dish during Oktoberfest.
The world “Obatzda” means “smashed” or “pressed” because the cheese is smashed with seasonings and onions.
Obatzda was first invented in Germany as a way to enjoy cheese that was going bad. Cheese was an expensive dish to buy, and every ounce of it was meant to be used up. If the cheese was going bad, the seasonings and onions were added to the mixture to prolong its life.
Caraway seeds were originally added as a way to ease digestion. These days, Obatzda is made with fresh brie or camembert cheese, and caraway seeds are just an additional flavor profile.
Why Make this Recipe
- Under 10 Minutes: This spread is fantastic when you need something quick and impressive to serve at a party. You can put together the entire dish in under 10 minutes!
- Great for Any Season: This spread is a delicious appetizer for any season. Serve it at tailgate parties, cool winter festivities, or summer barbecues. It’s bound to impress every time!
- Travel to Germany: If you’ve ever wanted to travel to Germany, I encourage you to try traveling from your kitchen! Make this beer cheese spread at home for a taste of German culture.
What Do I Need to Make this Recipe?
Ingredients
- Brie Cheese: Softened brie cheese with the rind cut off.
- Cream Cheese: Full fat cream cheese, softened
- Butter: Unsalted butter
- Seasoning: Paprika, caraway seeds
- Onion: Small, sweet onions
- Beer: Use a wheat beer. I used Blue Moon, but you can use anything you can find available
Tools
- Medium Bowl
- Fork
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Spoons
How to Make this Recipe
In a medium bowl, use a fork to mix together the brie cheese, cream cheese, and butter until smooth and fully combined.
Add the onion, paprika, caraway seeds and beer. Mix again until fully combined.
Put the spread in the fridge for about a half an hour so it can harden before serving. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- If you don’t have brie cheese, you can also use camembert
- If you don’t have cream cheese, you can also use a Creamy Laughing Cow (like Swiss, etc)
- Leave the brie cheese, cream cheese, and butter on the counter for about an hour before beginning to make the recipe. This way they will be soft enough to combine with a fork.
- If you are having a difficult time combining the cheeses, you can use a food processor to process them together. When it comes time to add the seasonings, remove the mix from the food processor and add them in using a fork.
- In the past, Obatzda was also made with chili peppers. If you want a spicy rendition of this recipe, feel free to add Chili Peppers into the seasoning mix
- If you want less of a strong onion flavor in your spread, you can rinse the onions in a strainer and dry them completely before adding them to the Obatzda.
Recipe FAQs
What Do You Eat with this Beer Cheese Spread?
My favorite dish to eat with this Obatzda is, of course, warm soft pretzels. I heat my pretzels up in the oven for a few minutes before dipping them into the beer cheese, and it is a delicious option.
You can also use tortilla chips or crackers, or even use this as a spread on sandwiches! You can even try eating it with pumpernickel bread!
It would also be an amazing appetizer for a main course of German Beef Rouladen and Gravy.
How to Store the Spread
You can store the beer cheese spread in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay good for about a week, but keep in mind that the onion flavor will continue to increase every day that the Obatzda is in the fridge.
Did you enjoy this recipe? If so, leave a comment below, letting me know what you thought! And if you liked this, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
- Liptaur: An Austrian Cheese Spread
- Roasted Red Pepper Dip
- Healthy Vegetable Dip Recipe
- Hot Artichoke Dip in the Instant Pot
Obatzda
Equipment
- Medium Bowl
- Fork
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 5 oz brie cheese, or camembert
- 4 oz cream cheese, can also do laughing cow etc
- 3 oz butter
- ½ small sweet onion, finely diced
- ½ tbsp Paprika
- ½ tsp Caraway seeds
- 2 tbsp wheat beer, I use Blue Moon
- Soft Pretzels for Dipping
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, use a fork to mix together the brie cheese, cream cheese, and butter until smooth and fully combined.
- Add the onion, paprika, caraway seeds and beer. Mix again until fully combined.
- Put the spread in the fridge for about a half an hour so it can harden before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Brie Cheese: Softened brie cheese with the rind cut off.
- Cream Cheese: Full fat cream cheese, softened
- Butter: Unsalted butter
- Seasoning: Paprika, caraway seeds
- Onion: Small, sweet onions
- Beer: Use a wheat beer. I used Blue Moon, but you can use anything you can find availableIf you don’t have brie cheese, you can also use camembert
- If you don’t have cream cheese, you can also use a Creamy Laughing Cow (like Swiss, etc)
- Leave the brie cheese, cream cheese, and butter on the counter for about an hour before beginning to make the recipe. This way they will be soft enough to combine with a fork.
- If you are having a difficult time combining the cheeses, you can use a food processor to process them together. When it comes time to add the seasonings, remove the mix from the food processor and add them in using a fork.
- In the past, Obatzda was also made with chili peppers. If you want a spicy rendition of this recipe, feel free to add Chili Peppers into the seasoning mix
- If you want less of a strong onion flavor in your spread, you can rinse the onions in a strainer and dry them completely before adding them to the Obatzda.
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