Kajmak is a Serbian / Croatian fresh, unripened or "new" cheese made from unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk.
It's usually served with bread as an appetizer (lepinja sa kajmakom), but also as a condiment melted on the Balkan version of a hamburger patty (pljeskavica sa kajmakom), as well as simmered with beef shank meat (ribic u kajmaku), or tucked in pita bread with cevapcici sausages.
If left to ferment, aged kajmak has a stronger taste and is yellow in color, and is required for a pastry (pita) called gibanica.
Makes about 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 2 quarts unpasteurized, unhomogenized (raw) cow or sheep milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
- In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a rolling boil. Turn off heat and let cool completely without stirring (4 to 5 hours). Skim off cream that has accumulated on top and refrigerate.
- Repeat the boiling and cooling process several times, skimming off cream and adding it to container in refrigerator. Add salt and mix well. Store in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
