Apple cheese: charcuterie for vegans

Admittedly, at first glance it bears some resemblance to blood sausage, and the name suggests a dairy product. But appearances can be deceiving: apple cheese is completely vegan.

The Eastern European delicacy is not made from cheese but from apples, and is eaten as a dessert in countries such as Lithuania, Belarus and Poland.

Sliced raw apples and sugar are boiled down for around 48 hours, after which spices such as ginger, cloves and cinnamon, along with loose pieces of apple, are added. The mixture is then placed in cheesecloth—hence the name—and pressed flat under a weight for 24 hours. To achieve the desired firmness, it is then hung up to dry for another 30 to 45 days.

The result: a chewy, sweet treat that goes well with tea. But the snack also works well on a cheese or charcuterie board. A fun alternative to fig or date bread.

Don’t feel like making it yourself? Then you could take a look at a Polish or Lithuanian supermarket; there are a few in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the chances of them having it aren’t very high, as it is being sold less and less because of the rather time-consuming production process. Shall you just make it yourself after all? You can find a recipe here.

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Main photo: © Archivio Slow Food