Obuolių sūris

Obuolių sūris is a traditional dessert of dried, stewed apples mixed with sugar. The name translates to apple cheese because one step in the preparation says to pour stewed apples into a cheesecloth, resulting in the final product resembling cheese in its shape and consistency. It is believed obuolių sūris originated in Lithuania sometime in the Middle Ages. The first written recipe can be traced to the 17th century and a cook for the Lithuanian noble house of Radvila. It was initially made with apples and honey, but honey was later replaced with sugar. The recipe calls for sliced raw apples (sour apples are preferred, Antonovka being the most popular variety), which are cooked with sugar until most of the liquid evaporates. At this stage, spices such as cinnamon and ginger can be added to enrich the taste. The mixture is then poured into a cheesecloth, drained, and pressed under a weight for a day. After that, obuolių sūris is traditionally hung to dry for up to six weeks, but some modern recipes suggest putting it into a warm oven to dry and harden. The final product is cut into sweet, chewy slices, which are best enjoyed as a snack or dessert, with some tea or (real) Lithuanian cheese.