There’s something about grilled cheese that hits home for all of us: comfort, warmth, taste, great memories, and satisfaction and delight. Fresh sourdough elicits the same – more unusual memories than simple grilled cheese, sourdough is always a favorite delight – especially baked fresh out of the oven. (Who gets that? Well, WE DO, at my house).
Then, Breadcheese? What the fuck is that?
Well, it’s amazingly sweet, tart, tangy, sturdy cheese that goes SO well with anything and everything, including sourdough bread and an Indian inspired cherry onion jam and fresh carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro.
What Is “Bread Cheese”?
Juustoleipä, or “bread cheese,” is a buttery, slightly sweet cheese native to Scandinavia. If you want to be authentic, try pronouncing it: hoo-stah-lee-pa. Contrary to the name, there’s no bread in bread cheese. Its name comes from its gorgeous, slightly charred crust that looks an awful lot like a piece of bread. It’s not your average cheese.
Traditionally made with reindeer milk, Wisconsin cheesemakers have adopted this Scandinavian transplant and now make it with cow’s milk for an authentic, but unique take on juustoleipä.
Cheesemakers like Brunkow Cheese and Carr Valley Cheese take fresh cheese curds and press them into bread-sized blocks. Then, the blocks are baked in special ovens that caramelize the sugars on the outside of the cheese. This process gives bread cheese its gorgeous lightly-browned crust reminiscent of toasted bread. Feeling adventurous yet? Explore Wisconsin’s “wildcard” cheeses, we’re sure you’ll find a new favorite among these tasty misfits of the cheese world.
What Does It Taste Like?
Bread cheese has a soft, buttery texture and mild flavor. You can eat it cold or warm, but many people prefer it warm, where the texture turns from slightly “squeaky” to silky and smooth. Warming the cheese doesn’t melt it, but rather softens it slightly—similar to Halloumi. Some people describe the texture of warm bread cheese as similar to French toast.
Honestly, this Indian inspired grilled cheese sandwich will blow your mind in any and every way!
Indian Grilled BreadCheese on Sourdough
Indian Grilled BreadCheese on Sourdough
4 thin slices of freshly baked sourdough bread
8 oz. BreadCheese, sliced into 8 long pieces
1 cup Cherry Onion Jam
2 large carrots, shredded
1 large cucumber, diagonally sliced
2 Tbs. fresh cilantro
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
*Cherry Onion Jam:
1/4 cup olive oil
3 large sweet onions, cut into 1/4″ dice
2 sprigs fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 sprig fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
sea salt and fresh ground pepper
1 cup dried cherries
1 tsp. roasted garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried ginger
1/4 tsp. dried cloves
1/4 tsp. dried allspice
In a large pot, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onions and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Bundle the parsley and rosemary together with kitchen twine. Add the herb bundle to the diced onions and cook over low heat, stirring a few times, until fragrant, about three minutes. Sprinkle the sugar over the onions and cook, without stirring, until the sugar melts, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to high and cook, without stirring, until an amber-brown caramel forms, about 6 minutes. Stir in the white balsamic vinegar and simmer over low heat, stirring a few times, until the jam is thick, about 5 minutes. Discard the herb bundle. Add the dried cherries. Season the jam with salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, cloves, and allspice. Let sit for 10-15 minutes to fully form and to allow all the flavors to develop.
Store any excess Jam from recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for several weeks.
