Q: I just bought "bread cheese" at Whole Foods, thinking it would be like halloumi. But after doing a bit of research, I found that maybe it is not like halloumi at all. Does anyone know a great way to use this cheese? Thanks!
Sent by Xela
Editor: If this is the same cheese I'm thinking of, bread cheese is a Finnish style of fresh cheese. In Finland, it's called juustoleipa. The "bread" description comes from the fact that the cheese takes on a toasted appearance when baked.
Like halloumi, this fresh cheese won't melt when warmed, but it will become softer. It sounds like it would make a great appetizer with some crackers for scooping up bits of cheese. It also pairs well with fruit and sweet toppings.
Readers, are you familiar with this cheese? How do you suggest using it?
Related: Vegetarian Cookout? Try Halloumi!
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It is spectacular with fresh fruit! What I normally do is grill it, then cut it into teensy squares, stick a toothpick in it, and lace a few blueberries onto the toothpick, so that people can eat it all in one bite. It's pretty salty and rich, so SMALL pieces are key.
You definitely want to heat it up -- either grill like AMYELIZC suggests or pan fry like I've done in the past. Plop it on an appetizer plate with a knife and some crostini and it's good to go.
Oooh yum! You can turn it into a Mexican dish by heating it up with onions, peppers, and tomatoes. It is best if you let it marinade in the liquids for a while. It is called Queso Panela and it is one of my favorite treats to get at Mexican restaurants, if they have it! I have had really spicy panela and mild panela, it is all good! You can cut it into strips and eat it with tortillas. Yum! To be honest, I have tried many times to get my homemade panela to taste like it came from a restaurant... but no luck. It is still good though!!
I love Bread Cheese! It's amazing. I'll often cut it into little bites and eat with ritz or a good tortillia chip. I've also used it on cheeseburgers before, which was fine but not amazing.
It's my understanding you can dip it in your coffee.
Grill it. In Brazil it's called Queijo Coalho. Serve it with some oregano sprinkled on top or dipped in molasses.
Or go the Scandinavian route and add lingonberries or cloudberry jam (I think Ikea sells both, along with a really nice elderflower marmalade).
My mom is Finnish and has always eaten this cheese dunked in coffee. You can also put it in the oven on a low temp for a little while to warm it up.
OMG! Finnish squeaky cheese! Get thee some Finnish pulla, some strawberry or lingonberry jam, and have yourself a perfect little snack.
It's also wonderful with soup (eaten on the side). Or you can just eat it plain, like I do.
I'm jealous! My previous supplier no longer carries it.. :(
@Tacit_Graffiti: CLOUDBERRIES?? I am in love with the name already. I gotta try some of that jam....
I've tried this awesome cheese in Finland and fell in love with it :)
This cheese is called "Leipäjuusto" or "Juustoleipä"
The way my Finnish friend served Leipäjuusto was :
1.Bake cheese in the oven for a few minutes
2.and Eat with CLOUDBERRY JAM (you can get cloudberry jam in IKEA)
This combination is just heaven.
YOU CAN BUY THIS IN NORTH AMERICA?!
When I was a kid, there was a finnish lady in town selling bootleg style juustoleipa to the other finn families in town. No more.
Eat it with jam, and toast, and coffee. You don't need anything else. I'm so jealous.
Rye bread + jam (any kind - I like lingonberry or raspberry w/this) + a slice of the cheese + toaster oven = DELICIOUS. I love it for breakfast w/coffee.
Because of this post, when I saw Bread Cheese for sale yesterday at my local market, I just had to get some to try. It is very delicious (sauteed this morning and eating with coffee, toast, honey and jam), but seems to be the same thing as the Indian cheese paneer, Does anyone else agree? Are these basically the same things?