Verns Obatzda Style Cheese Food

OBATZDA (GERMAN CHEESE DIP)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash Camembert cheese with a fork to desired consistency. Beat in cream cheese, onion and seasonings. If desired, sprinkle with additional caraway seeds.

OBATZDA (BEER CHEESE)

Steps:

• Combine the cheese, butter, beer, cream, chives, paprika, caraway if using, onion and some salt and pepper in a food processor and blend to combine until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Top with additional paprika and chives.

VERN'S OBATZDA-STYLE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bring all the refrigerated ingredients to room temperature.
• Slice the top off the garlic, exposing the cloves. Place in a square of aluminum foil and drizzle olive oil over garlic. Wrap foil around garlic.
• Roast in the preheated oven until garlic is tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool roasted garlic completely.
• Combine Camembert cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, beer, and butter in a food processor; process until smooth. Add roasted garlic cloves, onion, caraway seeds, and paprika; process until smooth. The mixture may be a little on the "soupy" side but will firm up upon refrigeration; transfer to an air-tight container and refrigerate until flavors blend, at least 2 hours.

BAVARIAN CHEESE DIP (OBATZDA)

Steps:

• Place the brie or camembert in a medium bowl.
• Add the cream cheese, butter, ale, garlic, and caraway seeds.
• Add paprika, and salt and pepper to taste; beat well to combine.
• In a strainer, rinse the diced onion under cold water.
• Drain and transfer to a clean kitchen towel, squeezing out all the liquid.
• Fold the onion mixture into the cheese mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, allowing the flavors to melt, or store, covered and refrigerated, for up to 4 days.
• If using French bread, slice into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• if using German bread, halve lengthwise, then slice into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• To serve, top the obatzda with the Vidalia onion and radish slices, and surround with the fresh cut vegetables, olives and sliced of French or German hard bread.
• NOTE: To roast the garlic; peel off any papery coating from the garlic head.
• Using a large sharp knife, cut about 1/2 inch from the top of the bulb, exposing the tips of the garlic cloves.
• Place in a small baking dish, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and season with salt.
• Pour 1/4 cup of water in the bottom of the dish, cover tightly with foil, and roast in 375*F oven, about 1 hour.
• A sharp paring knife should insert into the garlic easily.