Frederic Melton
Brie is a soft-ripened French cheese with a delicate flavour and a gooey texture. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury. Its mild flavour and soft texture make it a great addition to baked goods, such as pastries and tarts, as well as a delicious topping for crackers or bread. When cooked, Brie melts beautifully, making it ideal for dishes like mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and even burgers. Its creamy texture and nutty flavour also pair well with fruits like figs, apples, and grapes, as well as nuts like pecans and pine nuts. Whether served as a simple snack or an elegant appetiser, Brie cheese is a decadent and indulgent treat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | Mild, buttery, nutty, fruity, creamy, delicate, soft, velvety |
| Origin | French region of Reuil-en-Brie |
| Texture | Ooey-gooey, soft, spreadable, creamy, velvety |
| Colour | Ivory with a greyish, off-white rind |
| Shape | Circular |
| Storage | Wrap in wax paper and place in the fridge |
| Ripeness | Ripe when the outside rind is firm and the inside is bouncy |
| Recipes | Baked brie with honey, pecans, rosemary, and fig jam; brie and cranberry filo parcels; brie, potato, and pork bake; brie pasta; brie rolls with apples and caramelised onions; brie with apricot and walnut compote; brie with cranberry chutney and toasted almonds; brie with pesto, sundried tomatoes, and marinated artichoke hearts; brie with pizza dough; brie, bacon, and red onion chutney sandwich |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Baked brie with honey, maple syrup, or jam
To make this dish, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a chilled 8-ounce wheel of brie on the baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until soft in the middle. Remove from the oven and carefully transfer to a serving dish. For a simple dish, you can now drizzle honey or maple syrup over the brie and serve.
For a more elaborate dish, you can top the brie with nuts such as pecans, pistachios, walnuts, cashews, or hazelnuts, and dried fruit such as apricots, figs, raisins, dates, cranberries, or apples. You can also add herbs such as rosemary or thyme. Drizzle honey or maple syrup over the brie and toppings, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
You can also make baked brie pastry appetizers by filling pastry dough with brie and jam, egg-washing, and baking until golden.
Rouladen with Swiss Cheese and Spinach: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Brie and cranberry filo parcels
These easy-to-make, 4-ingredient parcels are perfect for festive parties. They take under 30 minutes to make and bake and can be made ahead of time for drinks parties.
Ingredients
- Filo pastry
- Butter, melted
- Cranberry sauce
- Brie
- Poppy seeds (optional)
Method
- Heat the oven to 190°C/375°F.
- Cut the filo pastry into squares large enough to wrap a cube of brie.
- Brush one filo square with butter, then place another sheet on top at an angle to form a star shape.
- Brush with more butter, then place 1/2 teaspoon of cranberry sauce in the centre.
- Top with a cube of brie, then wrap and press the pastry to create a parcel.
- Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Brush the outsides of the parcels with more butter and sprinkle with poppy seeds (if using).
- Place the parcels on a lined baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutes (or 20-25 minutes from frozen) until deep golden brown.
- Leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving with extra cranberry sauce.
Tips
- These parcels can be covered and chilled in the fridge for up to a day or frozen for up to three months.
- Keep a damp tea towel on hand to prevent the filo pastry from drying out while you work.
Velveeta Cheese and Ground Beef: The Ultimate Comfort Food
You may want to see also
Brie grilled cheese sandwich
Ingredients
- Brie cheese
- Bread
- Butter
- Red pepper jelly
- Old white cheddar (optional)
- Chicken breast (optional)
- Mozzarella (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the brie into thick slices. You can remove the rind if you prefer, but it is edible and can be included in the sandwich.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Place a slice of bread in the skillet and top with sliced brie, slightly overlapping the slices.
- Add dollops of red pepper jelly to taste. The jelly tempers the richness of the brie beautifully.
- If using cheddar, sprinkle some shredded old white cheddar on top.
- Place the other slice of bread on top.
- Cook over medium-low heat until the underside is deep golden.
- Remove the sandwich briefly and melt the remaining butter in the skillet.
- Return the sandwich to the pan, with the grilled side up.
- Cook over medium-low heat until the underside is deep golden.
- If the cheese is not melted enough, cover the pan with a lid for a brief period to hold the heat in. Do not cover completely as we don't want the sandwich to steam.
- Remove the sandwich to a cutting board and cut in half.
- Serve with a bit of soup or another side dish. Enjoy!
Variations
You can add thin slices of chicken breast and mozzarella to make the sandwich even more filling and delicious. You can also spread the outer side of each slice of bread with garlic herb butter for extra flavor.
Easy Cheesy Crepes: Cooking Frozen Cheese Crepes
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Baked brie pasta
Ingredients
- Brie cheese
- Pasta
- Cherry tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Italian spices
- Basil
- Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the top portion of the Brie cheese, leaving the bottom and sides intact. Set it aside.
- In a 13x9” baking dish, toss together the cherry tomatoes, olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Push them to the sides of the dish.
- Place the wheel of Brie in the center.
- Bake for about 35 minutes, until the rind has softened and the cheese is melted.
- While the cheese is baking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and set it aside.
- Remove the cheese from the oven and immediately stir it together with the tomatoes until combined.
- Stir in the pasta, garlic, Italian spices, red pepper flakes, basil, and parmesan, then serve.
Tips
- You can add other ingredients such as spinach, pesto, rosemary, parsley, shallots, or garlic confit.
- If you don't want to use the oven, you can microwave the Brie for about 2 minutes.
- You can also try this recipe with other types of cheese, such as Camembert.
- For a more budget-friendly option, choose an economical Brie or Camembert.
- This dish can be served as an appetizer with French bread or crackers.
- It can also be enjoyed cold the next day.
Cheese-stuffed Bell Peppers: A Tasty, Easy Meal
You may want to see also
Baked brie with nuts
Baked brie is a popular appetizer that is easy to make and is perfect for sharing. It is also versatile, as it can be served with a variety of toppings and accompaniments.
Ingredients:
- Brie cheese
- Nuts (walnuts, pecans, or a combination of both)
- Honey
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Dried fruit (optional)
Method:
First, preheat your oven to 350°F. Place a wheel or wedge of brie on a baking sheet or in a small cast-iron skillet or oven-safe dish. Score the top of the rind with a small paring knife, creating a circle about 1/4-inch from the edge. Do not remove the rind at this stage.
Bake the brie for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is softened but not completely melted. While the brie is baking, prepare the topping. Toast the nuts in a skillet over low heat until they are fragrant and slightly browned. Be careful not to burn them. Add honey, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to the skillet and stir until the mixture is bubbly.
Once the brie is done, remove it from the oven and gently peel off the top of the rind where you scored it. Spoon the honey-nut topping over the melted cheese and sprinkle with a little more salt, if desired. Serve immediately with crackers, bread, apples, or other fruits for dipping.
Variations:
- You can add dried fruit, such as dried cherries, cranberries, or chopped apricots, to the honey-nut mixture.
- Instead of honey, you can use agave or pure maple syrup to coat the nuts.
- For a more savoury version, try using sundried tomato pesto instead of honey, and serve with toasted pine nuts and crackers.
- If you want to make it more indulgent, wrap the brie in puff pastry before baking, and fill with jam and nuts after baking.
Lasagna Cheese Sauce: The Ultimate Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Brie is a versatile cheese that can be baked, spread, or melted. It can be paired with sweet or savoury ingredients. Here are some simple recipes:
- Baked Brie with honey, pecans, rosemary, and fig jam.
- Brie and cranberry filo parcels.
- Brie, bacon, and red onion chutney sandwiches.
- Brie, apricot, and walnut compote in pastry.
- Brie, potato, pork, and onion bake.
- Brie, apple, and caramelised onion rolls.
Brie is ripe when the outside rind is firm and the inside is bouncy. If it's too firm, it's unripe, and if it's runny, it's overripe.
Brie can be served with crackers, sliced baguette, or fruit like apples, pears, and grapes.
