Oscypek

Name: Oscypek
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients: 1 lb oscypek cheese (smoked sheep cheese); 2 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 0.25 tsp sea salt; 0.25 tsp black pepper; 4 tbsp cranberry jam or lingonberry jam; 1 tsp fresh thyme, leaves only

A traditional Polish smoked sheep cheese from the Tatra Mountains, with a distinctive flavor from oak wood smoking. Grilled or fried until melty, it's a rustic mountain delicacy.

15 minEasyServes 4245 cal/serving

PolishAppetizerGrillVegetarian

Ingredients

1 lb oscypek cheese (smoked sheep cheese)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp vegetable oil
0.25 tsp sea salt
0.25 tsp black pepper
4 tbsp cranberry jam or lingonberry jam
1 tsp fresh thyme, leaves only

Instructions

1

Cut 1 lb oscypek cheese (smoked sheep cheese) into 4 equal slices, each about 0.5 inch thick.
2

Lightly brush both sides of each slice with 2 tbsp vegetable oil and season with 0.25 tsp sea salt and 0.25 tsp black pepper.
3

Heat a grill pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp butter and allow it to foam.
4

When the pan is very hot, carefully place the cheese slices in the pan.
5

Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side until the cheese begins to melt and a golden crust forms on the outside. The cheese should soften but maintain its shape.
6

Transfer the grilled cheese to a serving platter.
7

Sprinkle with 1 tsp leaves only fresh thyme and serve immediately with 4 tbsp cranberry jam or lingonberry jam on the side or spooned over the top.
8

Serve while still warm and melty.

Questions

Can I make Oscypek dairy-free?

Not cleanly. Here the dairy (1 lb oscypek cheese (smoked sheep cheese), 2 tbsp butter) is the backbone of the dish, and plant-based substitutes change both its texture and its flavor. If you need strictly dairy-free, start from the dairy-free appetizer collection instead.

How long does Oscypek keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat in a hot skillet rather than the microwave to keep the char.

Can I halve or double Oscypek?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubling on the grill just takes more surface area; keep the heat zones the same.

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