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Ostkaka
Småländsk ostkaka: Småland baked curd cheesecake with almond
Ostkaka, 'cheese cake', is the old festive pudding of Småland in southern Sweden: milk is set with rennet into fresh curd, which is mixed with cream, eggs, sugar and ground almonds, including a few bitter almond drops, and baked slowly until just set. It is eaten warm, never cold, with strawberry or cloudberry jam and whipped cream, at midsummer, weddings and on Småland Sundays. Animal rennet is traditional; vegetarian rennet works the same. A common mistake is baking it too hot, which makes it watery and grainy. Chef's tip: bake low and slow until it just wobbles in the centre; it firms up as it rests.
- Total time
- 105 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the curd
- 8 ¼ cups whole milknot UHT
- 1 tsp vegetarian liquid rennetor animal rennet, in 2 tbsp cool water
For the cake
- ¾ cup double cream
- 3 eggs
- 2 ½ oz sugar
- 2 ⅛ oz ground almonds
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- ⅓ oz butterfor the dish
To serve
- 8 tbsp strawberry or cloudberry jam
- ¾ cup whipped cream
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Warm 8 ¼ cups whole milk to 99°F, stir in 1 tsp vegetarian liquid rennet and leave undisturbed for 40 minutes, until set like a soft jelly.
40 minStep 2: Cut the curd into cubes and leave for 10 minutes, then drain in a cloth-lined sieve for 20 minutes, until you have soft curd.
30 minStep 3: Heat the oven to 325°F (fan 275°F) and butter a 1.5 litre dish with ⅓ oz butter.
Step 4: Whisk 3 eggs, 2 ½ oz sugar, ¾ cup double cream, 2 ⅛ oz ground almonds and ¼ tsp almond extract and fold in the curd gently.
Step 5: Pour into the dish and bake for 1 hour–1 hour 15 minutes, until golden and just set with a slight wobble in the centre. Common mistake: a hot oven; it turns watery.
75 minStep 6: Rest for 15 minutes and serve warm with 8 tbsp strawberry or cloudberry jam and ¾ cup whipped cream.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ostkaka take?
- About 105 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of double cream?
- Whipping cream, same amount (less rich; whips softer).
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