Austrian Meat and Cheese Board (Brettljause)
Simply put, a Brettljause is a meat and cheese board, which integrates a couple of very special Austrian dips. And you'll definitely want the recipes for those! They are so unique, addicting and good!
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 328kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
Pumpkin Seed Spread (Kürbiskernaufstrich)
- 226 grams full-fat cream cheese one package, room temperature
- 4 Tablespoons pumpkin seed oil use the real Austrian kind! It makes a difference! I linked it for you.
- 1 garlic clove finely minced or grated
- 1 handful raw pumpkin seeds Tip: before chopping, dry roast them in the pan for a couple of minutes to add extra, nutty flavor!
- salt and pepper to taste
Bacon Spread (Grammelaufstrich)
- 250 grams uncooked bacon roughly chopped before cooking
- 1 small yellow onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Other Things Needed For A Brettljause
- sliced cheeses and meats Check out my notes below for which meats and cheeses I used
- sliced raw veggies like bell peppers, cucumbers, radishes, small tomatoes
- slices pickles and eggs totally optional, but so good!
- horseradish optional
Instructions
Pumpkin Seed Spread (Kürbiskernaufstrich)
- This is so easy! Dry roast the pumpkin seeds in a pan over medium heat if you have a few extra minutes. This step is worth it as it really helps to bring out the nutty flavor in the seeds!1 handful raw pumpkin seeds
- Whisk together the cream cheese, garlic and pumpkin seed oil (buy the good stuff from Austria!) until smooth. Add in the chopped pumpkin seeds and work them in with a fork. Season to taste with salt and pepper.226 grams full-fat cream cheese, 4 Tablespoons pumpkin seed oil, 1 garlic clove, salt and pepper to taste
Bacon Spread (Grammelaufstrich)
- In a pan, add ¼ c of water and the chopped up bacon. Start rendering the grease at medium heat. Adding the water helps to prevent the bacon from burning too fast, leaving you with the desired, lighter colored grease.250 grams uncooked bacon
- Cook bacon slowly until crispy and brown, then strain it, capturing the grease in a small bowl. Put bowl with grease in freezer for a few minutes to speed up the hardening process if you’re low on time.
- Finely chop the cooked bacon along with the onion and garlic, then transfer to a bowl with the parsley.3 garlic cloves, 2 Tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley, 1 small yellow onion
- Combine the grease with mustard until smooth, then add it to the onion-bacon mixture. Combine and season with salt and pepper to taste.1 Tablespoon dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste
Assemble the Brettljause
- Arrange the dips, meats, cheeses, veggies and any other condiments on one or two serving boards (depending on size), open a bottle of wine and enjoy!sliced raw veggies, slices pickles and eggs, horseradish, sliced cheeses and meats
Notes
Meats, Cheeses, Vegetables and Garnishes are not taken into account for the nutritional values.
A Note On Meats and Cheeses:
- Jarlsberg – mild, nutty tasting Norwegian cheese
- a young Dutch Gouda – a mild, creamy cheese that the kids love
- Somerdale Red Dragon with Mustard Seed – a flavorful, English cheddar
- prosciutto di Parma (I love buying mine at Costco)
- Country Paté or Leberwurst (I used the Whole Foods brand as there are no added nitrites or nitrates)
- Mortadella (I found it prepackaged at Whole Foods)
- Kürbiskernaufstich: Austrian pumpkin seed cream cheese spread – see the recipe card
- Grammelaufstrich: Austrian bacon spread – see the recipe card
Nutrition
Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 759IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg