LIPTAUER

Liptauer image

Provided by Nigella Lawson

Yield Makes about 4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 11

18 ounces cream cheese
2 1/4 cups cottage cheese
4 to 5 tablespoons capers
8 cornichons, chopped
3 teaspoons paprika
Pinch of salt
Good grating of black pepper
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
2 teaspoons French mustard
1 to 2 tablespoons flavorless vegetable oil
Fat pinch of paprika

Steps:

1. Beat the cream cheese and cottage cheese together until they are very smooth. Add the capers, cornichons, paprika, salt, pepper, caraway seeds, and mustard. Mix together well and turn into a 1-quart bowl lined with plastic wrap for easier unmolding later. Smooth the top with a spatula and cover with the overhanging plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator to set.
2. When it has become cold enough to turn out - a few hours should do it - unwrap the folded-over plastic wrap on top, place a plate over the now uncovered bowl, turn it over, and unmold. Pull the plastic wrap off and drizzle over a rust-red ooze made by mixing the oil with the paprika.
**3.**Serve this with bread or poppy-seed bagels, gherkins, and, if you like, some chopped red onions.