ATK Farmer’s Cheese with Homemade Tomato Jam

If you can’t find farmer’s cheese, goat cheese works well, too. Fish sauce can be found in most supermarkets in the international foods aisle alongside other Thai and Vietnamese ingredients. If you want the jam to be spicier, add the reserved chile seeds. Serve with Garlic Toasts, thinly sliced baguette, or crackers

 

2 pounds plum tomatoes, cored and chopped

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 Cup red wine vinegar

1/4 C. fish sauce

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 large jalapeno chile, stemmed, seeds reserved, and minced

1 T. grated fresh ginger

2 star anise pods

8 ounces farmer’s cheese

 

Combine all ingredients except cheese in 12-inch skillet and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until mixture begins to thicken, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and discard star anise. Mash mixture with potato masher until relatively smooth, then continue to simmer until spatula leaves trail through jam, 5 to 10 minutes longer. Transfer jam to bowl and let cool to room temperature. (Jam can be refrigerated for up to 7 days; bring to room temperature before serving.) Transfer jam to serving bowl with spoon or spreader, and serve alongside farmer’s cheese.  (Makes 2 cups).