Hungarian Cottage Cheese Spread — Körözött

Körözött is a classic Hungarian savory cheese spread made with cottage cheese (túró), paprika, caraway, onion, and sour cream. Creamy, tangy, and slightly smoky from the paprika. 🌶️🧀

Makes: about 4–6 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 250 g cottage cheese
• 100 g sour cream
• 1 small onion, very finely chopped
• 1½ tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
• ½ tsp ground caraway seeds
• ½ tsp salt, or to taste
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp softened butter
• 1 tsp Dijon or mild mustard (optional)
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives or parsley (optional)

Method

1. Combine the cheese: Place the cottage cheese in a bowl and mash it with a fork until mostly smooth.
2. Add the creamy ingredients: Mix in the sour cream and softened butter.
3. Season: Add the paprika, caraway, salt, pepper, and mustard if using.
4. Add onion: Stir in the finely chopped onion and mix thoroughly.
5. Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. The flavors become much better as it rests.
6. Serve: Let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with a little extra paprika and fresh chives.

🥖 How Hungarians serve Körözött

Spread it generously on fresh crusty bread, rye bread, or toasted baguette. It’s also wonderful with sliced peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes.

🇭🇺 Authentic tip: Use Hungarian sweet paprika