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About This Obatzda Recipe
Obatzda is made with soft, ripe cheese - most commonly Camembert, spreadable cheese, butter, beer, spices and onions. It has complex, well balanced flavors and even though it is quite rich (a bowlful can go a long way) it actually tastes light.
The actual Bavarian word for this cheese dip is 'Obatzter'. You can also encounter it spelled as Obazda and in the Franconian region of Bavaria it is known by the name Gerupfter or Gerupfter Käse. Translated from Bavarian dialect the word Obatzter means something that was mixed or pressed. It has similarities to the Austrian liptauer.
Obatzda Ingredients
The principal ingredients in this Obatzda recipe are:
- Camembert cheese
- Laughing Cow spreadable cheese
- unsalted butter at room temperature
- sweet Hungarian paprika
- caraway seed, ground
- salt and pepper to taste
- Dunkel lager (read about other style options further down)
- sweet or red onion, diced
- finely chopped chives
How to Make Obatzda German Beer Cheese Dip (Instructions with Step-by-Step Pictures)
- Start by cutting the Camembert in small pieces as shown below.
- Add the sliced room temperature butter and the spreadable cheese wedges, then the paprika, caraway and salt & pepper.
- Finally add the beer and press them with a fork to mix.
- Once all the ingredients so far are well incorporated, cover with plastic as shown below and refrigerate.
- In about 3 hours remove from fridge and add the diced onion and the chives. Mix to incorporate and then serve!
Authentic Obatzda has a light salmon color (some say light brick) derived from the sweet paprika. It is often served as a snack between meals, known as Brotzeit.
If you go to Bavaria you are guaranteed to find the cheese spread on beer garden menus everywhere as well as among the offerings of cafes and restaurants with outdoor terraces. It is also commonly sold in supermarkets, just like Wurstsalat.
Origins of Obatzda Cheese Dip
As with many cheese based dishes Obatzda was invented out of economic necessity and gained popularity on the merit of its ease of preparation and appealing flavor profile. It first became popular in the early 1900s.
In order not to waste (as in discard) older soft, ripe cheese past its prime the Bavarians began to press it (mix it) with spices, butter, a splash of beer and onions to create what evolved as the now well known specialty (no longer made with old cheese of course).
The caraway seeds added to the dip are a traditional German spice known for their ability to aid digestion, but they also add a depth of flavor, especially in combination with the paprika.
Helpful tips, beer choices and serving ideas under the recipe card. Be sure to read them as they will address a variety of questions you might have as you shop for the ingredients and prepare the dip.
Recipe
Obatzda Bavarian Soft Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz Camembert (or other soft, ripe cheese such as Brie)
- 8 oz spreadable cheese (such as Laughing Cow in the US)
- ⅓ cup butter
- 2 ½ teaspoon sweet paprika (Hungarian works best)
- 2 teaspoon caraway seed ground
- salt and pepper to taste start with a pinch of each
- ¼ cup Dunkel lager Weissbier or Schwarzbier, (most likely will use a bit less)
- ⅓ cup onion (sweet onion recommended, diced)
- 1 small bunch chives (finely chopped, 2 tablespoon for dip and the rest for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring the Camembert (cut in small pieces), spreadable cheese and butter (cut in small pieces) to room temperature.
- In a mixing bowl add the Camembert, spreadable cheese, butter, paprika, caraway seeds, salt and pepper and beer and press using a fork until well mixed together.
- Start by adding only 2 tablespoon of the beer and keep adding until you reach the desired consistency (should be spread like but not runny).
- Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours to firm up.
- Just before you are ready to serve take the dip out of the refrigerator and finely dice the onion. Run the diced onion under water (use a strainer) and dry off with paper towel before using. Finely chop the chives.
- Add the diced onion and chopped chives to the dip and fold until they are well incorporated. Garnish with chives. Serve with pretzels or thinly sliced onions and radishes or sliced rye bread.
Video
Nutrition
Tips for Preparing Obatzda
Note that Obatzda can vary in taste and also in consistency. There isn't a single best way to prepare it. I've rounded up these tips to address any reservations or questions you may have.
- Do not fear the rind of the Camembert. Sometimes it can be removed, but there is no rule that says it should be. Besides Camembert you can use other soft, ripe cheeses such as Romadur, Bavarian Weichkäse or Brie. Even Limburger cheese will work nicely. Just be sure that the type you select is not too young as it will not lend itself to pressing.
- In addition to soft cheese a spreadable cheese is typically added to Obatzda. In Germany it is known as Schmelzkäse which is really processed cheese spread/spreadable cheese. It is used because of the added emulsifiers which help the dip come together better.
- Mascarpone and cream cheese could work if you don't have spreadable cheese, even creme fraiche/sour cream could work but the flavors will be off a little bit, they are not the traditional dairy product to use.
- Be sure to use room temperature cheeses and butter, do not microwave them to warm them up, just let them sit on the counter until they soften.
- Even the beer should be at room temperature. If this really upsets you, just separate about ¼ cup of beer and drink the rest before you get down to mixing the Obatzda. Start by adding 2 tablespoon of beer, then a bit more until you reach a consistency that is soft, but not even close to a thick sauce. You should not have to add more than ¼ cup of beer considering the amounts of the other ingredients in our recipe. If you can comfortably scoop the mixture with a pretzel, it is OK.
- When you first mix the dip you will taste the beer more than after the flavors have married together in the refrigerator.
- Do not obsess over the exact amounts and proportions of cheeses and butter. I have seen Obatzda made with 1:1:1 Camembert, butter and spreadable cheese and other recipes with less butter, not as rich such as 5:3:1. I like our recipe as provided best, but feel free to make alterations in the proportions to suit your own taste.
- The paprika should be sweet paprika (traditional is Hungarian) or spicy if you want a bit of heat, try cayenne powder or something similar. Spanish paprika which is typically smoked is not traditional, but if you must, use it. It will simply add a layer of flavor not typical for Obatzda.
- Use paprika per your liking, but at least 1 teaspoon (our recipe calls for 2 ½ tsp).
- You can soak the onions in water if you want to take some of the flavor edge off.
- Onions have a very high water content and will add a degree of extra liquid once folded into the obatzda. In order to not liquefy the spread too much you can gently squeeze out the water by placing the diced onions into a cheese cloth or clean cotton kitchen towel and twist to release excess liquids.
- The reason you fold the onions into the dip after you have refrigerated it to firm it up is that they will taste best.
- Ideally, Obatzda should be eaten fresh on the day it is prepared. It can however be refrigerated for a couple of days (you will notice how the onions impact the original flavor).
About the Beer
The choice of beer for Obatzda is important as the beer directly imparts flavor to the dip. Typically a German wheat beer or a dark German lager are added as they are on the sweet side.
I personally do not like using a Weissbier (please do not let my reservations influence you too much) because of the pronounced banana esters, even though the clove is very complementary. I prefer a Dunkel lager, but the drier, breadier and nuttier Franconian variety.
The Munich variety is often too chocolaty and doesn't work for me. So I chose our most favorite Dunkel brewed in the US (the same one we used to make Beer Falafel from scratch), brewed in the Franconian style by Prost Brewing Co. in Denver, Co. A Schwarzbier will be perfect as well.
If you want to avoid alcohol then do not hesitate to use a non-alcoholic beer.
Obatzda Serving Suggestions
The singular most popular item Obatzda is served with is the pretzel. Soft Bavarian pretzels (I baked the ones in the pictures and video using this exact recipe but shaping them differently) or hard pretzels are equally popular.
- Sometimes the dip is shaped like a ball, onto a plate and presented with a few hard pretzels sticking from the top and a bunch surrounding it.
- Frequently rye bread or fresh bread such as baguette is served along.
- Sometimes an Obatzda platter is arranged with the spread in the middle, surrounded by olives, veggies and slices of bread.
- Sweet onions, sliced in thin rings and thinly sliced radishes (or spiralized white winter radish) are often used as garnish.
- Sometimes to keep things simple a good sprinkle of chives is all you need.
By now you should be well equipped with knowledge to prepare the perfect Obatzda dip. Prost friends!
Other German Recipes you might like
Frikadellen (fried meat patties) | Wurstsalat sausage salad | Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick) | Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckles) | Bavarian Pork Shoulder Roast (Schweinebraten or Krustenbraten)
Torry Beaven
If I have to use Brie, do I need to remove the rind before mixing?
Milena Perrine
Torry, definitely keep the rind on. It is soft enough to be easily worked into the obatzda when at room temperature and it lends a lot of flavor.
Susan Clark
Can this be served warm?
Milena Perrine
Susan, even though not traditional and even though we have not done so ourselves, it stands to reason that it could. If I were to try to warm up Obatzda (it would obviously loose its consistency and become looser and more of a gooey dip) I would place it in a small oven safe ceramic or cast iron dish, place in the oven at 300 F for a few minutes and monitor it unti it appears to have the consistency that appeals to me, perhaps stiring it once or twice. Let us know if you try it and what you found out, others are probably curious about the same!
DMC
Caraway seeds or ground caraway??
Milena Perrine
Ground, clearly state in the recipe card.
Sara V
I first tried Obatzda at a bier garden in Milwaukee. This version was a little different, but very delicious. We will be making it again with a little less caraway. We're going to try adding some garlic too. I like how you can adjust this to satisfy your own palette. Thank you for the recipe!
Petra
I so missed obatzda like my late mom made it. Should have bothered to learn what she did when I could. Your recipe brought back so many memories. It tasted exactly as I remember. Thank you. This is the best obatzda recipe out there as far as I am concerned. Ich wünsche dir alles Gute!
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Kim
This is soooo good!!! Made last year for our Oktoberfest Party, making it again this year. I make my own pretzels and our guests couldn't get enough. I made ahead as I did many of the other dishes. Yummy!!! Thank you!
Trying to leave you 5 stars, for some reason not working :-/
CraftBeering
Thank you for the kind words, Kim! So glad that you liked the dip, it really goes with pretzels:) Thank you for letting us know about the rating feature not working - we will definitely look into that issue. For the time being - Prost! Thank you for stopping by.
Nancy
Can I substitute dried minced onion instead of raw for this Obatzda recipe?
CraftBeering
Hi, Nancy, given that you re-hydrate the dried minced onions before hand, absolutely.
Laura
WHAT FLAVOR LAUGHING COW DO@YOU USE? THE CREAMY SWISS OR THE CREAM CHEEESE ONE?
Marvellina|What To Cook Today
I can eat the Obatzda by spoonfuls! though I would grab those cute pretzel buns? in a heart beat too!
Miz Helen
This will be a delicious Cheese Dip! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
annie@ciaochowbambina
Now that's an inviting platter! My hubby will love this!!
Christina
OK, your video was adorable! I love the music 😀
I'm all about any type of beer/cheese dip and this one looks incredible! This makes me want to throw an Oktoberfest party JUST so I can make 16 portions of this dip 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Yes, I could definitely sit down to this just about any day of the week 🙂 Love the cheese dip and those lovely little pretzel buns to dip in it!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
So where has this been my whole life, huh?? Seriously, though, looks AMAZING...though, you knew I would say that 😉 Loves me some cheese!! This would be dangerous around me cause I'd want to eat the entire dish of it myself!! Helllllooooo treadmill!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
Although I'm not a beer guy, I'm petty much a Camembert and cheese dips lover! Cannot imagine how beer works in a dip, but I'd certainly give a try to this rich and velvety dish!
Laura
WHAT FLAVOR LAUGHING COW DO@YOU USE? THE CREAMY SWISS OR THE CREAM CHEEESE ONE?
CraftBeering
Hi Laura,
Either one will be fine. I'd say go with the one you prefer. The flavor of the spreadable cheese is overpowered by the Camembert and its role is mostly to bind all the ingredients together and create a spreadable dip.
Thank you for stopping by!
Laura
WHAT FLAVOR LAUGHING COW DO@YOU USE? THE CREAMY SWISS OR THE CREAM CHEEESE ONE?
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Delicious! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Can't wait to see what you'll bring next week! Have fantastic day!
Katie
how much salt and pepper does the recipe call for? I don't see it listed in ingredients.
CraftBeering
Hi Katie,
Thank you for asking and noticing I'd missed it in the recipe card. Add salt and pepper to taste, maybe start with a pinch of each, then taste and adjust.
Prost!
Milena
Marissa | Squirrels of a Feather
Wow, those pretzel bites and that dip look epic! I love cheese dip, I could eat it by the gallon! Going to pin it to my appetizers board 🙂
Marvellina|What To Cook Today
I can eat the Obatzda by spoonfuls! though I would grab those cute pretzel buns? in a heart beat too!
CraftBeering
Haha, I relate to that! Something about pretzels and cheese dip together - so irresistible:)
Marvellina|What To Cook Today
I can eat the Obatzda by spoonfuls! though I would grab those cute pretzel buns? in a heart beat too!
Kerryanne
What a fabulous combination of flavours Chris and Milena. One to try for sure!
Thank you for linking up at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring your Cheese Dip at tomorrow's party and pinning too.
CraftBeering
Thank you so much, Kerryanne!
Miz Helen
This will be a delicious Cheese Dip! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen
This will be a delicious Cheese Dip! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
annie@ciaochowbambina
Now that's an inviting platter! My hubby will love this!!
annie@ciaochowbambina
Now that's an inviting platter! My hubby will love this!!
Roseann Hampton
Looks delicious and easy! This would be great to take to a pot luck! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger's Pit Stop!
CraftBeering
Definitely a good choice for potlucks! Thank you Roseann for stopping by.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
OK - Pinning. I love the idea of the camebert in the dip - it looks and sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - have a great week!
Christina
OK, your video was adorable! I love the music 😀
I'm all about any type of beer/cheese dip and this one looks incredible! This makes me want to throw an Oktoberfest party JUST so I can make 16 portions of this dip 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Yes, I could definitely sit down to this just about any day of the week 🙂 Love the cheese dip and those lovely little pretzel buns to dip in it!
CraftBeering
Right? Bread, cheese, butter, beer...:)
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
So where has this been my whole life, huh?? Seriously, though, looks AMAZING...though, you knew I would say that 😉 Loves me some cheese!! This would be dangerous around me cause I'd want to eat the entire dish of it myself!! Helllllooooo treadmill!
CraftBeering
Thank you, Dawn! It is sooo rich though:)
Christina
OK, your video was adorable! I love the music 😀
I'm all about any type of beer/cheese dip and this one looks incredible! This makes me want to throw an Oktoberfest party JUST so I can make 16 portions of this dip 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Yes, I could definitely sit down to this just about any day of the week 🙂 Love the cheese dip and those lovely little pretzel buns to dip in it!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
So where has this been my whole life, huh?? Seriously, though, looks AMAZING...though, you knew I would say that 😉 Loves me some cheese!! This would be dangerous around me cause I'd want to eat the entire dish of it myself!! Helllllooooo treadmill!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
Although I'm not a beer guy, I'm petty much a Camembert and cheese dips lover! Cannot imagine how beer works in a dip, but I'd certainly give a try to this rich and velvety dish!
CraftBeering
You do need to try it out! Thank you, Ben!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
Although I'm not a beer guy, I'm petty much a Camembert and cheese dips lover! Cannot imagine how beer works in a dip, but I'd certainly give a try to this rich and velvety dish!