Norwegian Waffles with Brown Cheese

Japan has its sushi, Italy has its pizza, and Norway has… brown cheese? While it may not sound very glamorous, this Norwegian delicacy is actually quite tasty – pair it with some waffles, sour cream and jam and prepare to be mind blown by this unlikely pairing!

What is Brown Cheese?

So what exactly is brown cheese? Brown cheese is made from the liquid leftover from cheesemaking. It’s then boiled and reduced until the sugars caramelize and you’re left with this semi-hard cow and goat milk cheese. It’s incredibly rich, tastes almost nutty and sweet and has a very slight hint of goat cheese.

what is the best way to eat it?

Maybe now you’re intrigued and wondering how to eat it. Well, you just need to trust me on this one when I tell you how to eat it best. Brown cheese pairs perfectly with a soft Norwegian waffle with sour cream and jam. I know! It sounded a bit peculiar to me as well, but I figured – “When in Oslo”. I’m so glad that I tried it and I will continue to tell everyone that I know who visits Norway to do the same. It was so good we even had it twice.

Where is the best place to eat it?

In my opinion the best place to get it is about a 20 minute walk north of the Oslo city center. There’s a little restaurant called Haralds Vafel. Once you spot the bright pink and orange storefront, you know you’ve made it! They offer many varying toppings for their waffles, but the best and most traditionally Norwegian combination is jam, sour cream and brown cheese.

What does it taste like?

Norwegian waffles are thinner and Haralds Vafel adds cinnamon to the batter making it even more of a delicacy. Topped with a sour cream that is thinner and a bit tangier than American sour cream, sweet and tart raspberry jam and the famous brown cheese.