FOOD NEWS
Polish Gzik Is The Ultimate Way To Amp Up Cottage Cheese With Hardly Any Ingredients
By Elaina Friedman
Cottage cheese has proven itself to be an incredibly versatile ingredient that plays well in all kinds of unexpected dishes, including the Polish spread gzik.
While cottage cheese isn't necessarily traditional in gzik, it makes a great substitution for twarog, the farmer's cheese that typically serves as the base of the dish.
You can get as close as possible to gzik's smooth texture by mashing up small-curd cottage cheese with a fork and adding Greek yogurt or sour cream for extra creaminess.
Once the base is ready, add finely chopped radishes, chives, salt, and pepper to taste. You can also add chopped cucumber and fresh herbs as well.
While gzik sounds like a mild spread, the spiciness of the radishes and the onion-y flavor and aroma of the chives lend plenty of character to plain cottage cheese.
Buttered rye bread might be the most common vehicle for gzik, but it can also work great as a topping for potatoes and a dip for crackers.