Squeaky Cheese: Finnish Leipäjuusto

Step 1

Set the oven to 400°F and wait until the indicator light or beep confirms it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Pour the flour into a small shallow bowl. Crack the egg into another small bowl and whisk it with a fork until the yolk and white are mixed together uniformly.

Step 3

Pat the cheese curds completely dry with a clean kitchen towel, rubbing each piece until no moisture remains—this ensures they fry, not steam.

Step 4

Dip each cheese cube into the beaten egg, coating all sides, then roll it in the flour until fully coated on the outside; place it on a small ungreased baking sheet.

Step 5

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 8–10 minutes until the coating is golden brown and the cheese starts to peek out slightly at the edges.

Step 6

Remove the baking sheet from the oven using oven mitts and let the cheese rest for 2 minutes so the inside stays melted but the outside sets slightly.

Step 7

Transfer the warm cheese to a plate, drizzle the lingonberry jam over the top, and sprinkle with 0.25 teaspoon black pepper, then serve immediately while still squeaky-warm.