Recipe: Swedish Cheesecake (Ostkaka)

If you're looking for one of those sweet Americans style cheesecakes, forget it. This is the much less sweet Swedish version - 'Ostkaka' - which simply means cheesecake. It is a really old Swedish traditional favourite, first mentioned in the 16th century - it's that old. The original version requires you to go buy some rennet and make milk curds from scratch, but cottage cheese works well too, so that's what I use in my version. Indeed, most people use cottage cheese nowadays except purists. I'd say this cheesecake is not dissimilar to the ones you get in Northern Spain, in the Basque Country - and, like the Spanish ones, work well with a glass of sweet sherry on the side. This recipe is naturally gluten free. This cheesecake is served lukewarm, never cold and never hot. Most people enjoy it with a dollop of strawberry or cloudberry jam on top, although I prefer a quickly made compote and some fresh berries. The recipe fits a standard brownie tray, approx 20 x 20 or similar, but you can use any sort of dish or even a spring form. Just don't forget to line the dish.