German cuisine · Salads & Mezze

Handkäse with Music

Handkäse cheese under a marinade of fine onions, vinegar, oil and caraway – a hearty Hessian snack.

Ingredients · for 4 servings

• 4 Handkäse cheeses (about 100 g each)
• 2 onions
• 6 tbsp vinegar
• 4 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 bunch chives
• 40 g butter
• 4 slices farmhouse bread
• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Peel the onions and dice very finely – the finer they are, the better the marinade will penetrate the cheese.
2. Whisk together the vinegar, oil, sugar, caraway, salt and pepper and steep the diced onions in it.
3. Arrange the Handkäse side by side in a shallow dish and pour the onion marinade evenly over them.
4. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hrs, turning once – the cheese turns glassy on the outside and soft inside.
5. Take it out of the fridge about 20 min. before serving so the aroma and creaminess fully develop.
6. Sprinkle with chive rings and serve with buttered farmhouse bread – in Hesse it's traditionally enjoyed with apple wine.