Homemade quark cheese

Take some milk, add a little acid and give the mixture time to do its thing -- who would have thought homemade cheese could be this simple? A creamy, fresh cheese, quark’s curds come together to form something magical -- rich with a gentle tang, it’s spreadable, kind of a cross between sour cream and soft ricotta cheese. And it’s surprisingly easy to make.

Spooning the set cheese into a cheesecloth-lined strainer.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Homemade quark.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Quark cheese crepes with fresh berries.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Quark tart with asparagus.   (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)