Kamil Perry
Brie is a soft-ripened, circular French cheese with a delicate flavour and a hard, bloomy rind. It is a staple at any memorable gathering and can be served as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course. When serving brie on a cheese tray, it is recommended to let it come to room temperature before serving to unlock its full depth of aroma and flavour. You can also cut some wedges ahead of time to indicate portion sizes, but avoid cutting into triangles as the centre is often the most flavourful. Instead, cut the wheel in half and then into small slices. To make your cheese tray visually appealing, use a large wedge of brie to anchor the display. You can also get creative with cookie cutters to make festive shapes, such as snowflakes or leaves, for a unique presentation. As for pairings, brie goes well with fruits like apples, grapes, or pears, crackers, honey, jams, nuts, and even meats like salami or prosciutto.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese tray presentation | Use cookie cutters or a sharp knife to cut the Brie into a festive shape, such as a leaf for fall or a snowflake for Christmas. |
| Temperature | Brie should be served at room temperature. Remove it from the fridge 30 minutes before serving. |
| Pairings | Brie is a versatile cheese that can be paired with fruits (apples, grapes, pears, apricots, plums, dates, figs), jams, honey, crackers, nuts (almonds, pecans, candied walnuts), bread, baguette, crostini, meats (salami, prosciutto), and pickles. |
| Drinks | Champagne, soft and fruity red wines (Pinot Noir), acidic white wines (Sauvignon Blanc), and beers (stout, porter, Scotch Ale, fruity beers, highly carbonated Pilsner) are good pairings. Fruit juices like apple or grape juice are also recommended. |
| Baking | Brie can be baked in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. It can also be microwaved for 2 minutes. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Brie serving temperature
When serving brie, it is important to consider the temperature of the cheese. Brie is a soft French cheese with a creamy texture and a mild, buttery flavor. To bring out its creamy texture and enhance its flavor, it is recommended to let the cheese sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour before serving. This allows the cheese to soften and become more flavorful. Warming the cheese a little can also reduce any ammonia taste that may have developed during refrigeration.
If you prefer your brie warm, it can be baked in the oven at 350 °F (177 °C) for about 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the desired consistency. Baking the brie will result in a luxurious, oozy, and gooey texture. To achieve this, place the cheese wheel on parchment paper in a shallow baking dish and heat it until the desired level of meltiness is achieved. The rind will usually stay intact during this process, and the parchment paper can be used to lift the cheese out of the dish for serving.
For a quick snack, brie can be sliced and enjoyed at room temperature on bread or crackers. The cheese can also be spread on bread and paired with toppings such as fruit, meat, or jam. When serving brie on a cheese board, it is recommended to cut some wedges ahead of time to guide guests on portion sizes. Cutting the brie wheel along the side, rather than into triangles, ensures that all guests can enjoy the different parts of the cheese.
In summary, when serving brie, it is best to let it come to room temperature for enhanced flavor and texture. For a warm treat, baking brie in the oven can create a delightful, melty consistency.
The Art of Serving Bloomy Rind Cheese
You may want to see also
Brie shapes
Brie is a soft-ripened French cheese, circular in shape with an ivory colour and greyish, off-white rind. It comes in many different sizes, flavours, and forms. The cheese is made with pasteurized and unpasteurized raw milk, with enzymes and rennet added to help the milk curdle. The cheese is then separated into round moulds, drained, and left to rest for a week.
The rounds receive an application of mould to the outer layer, maturing the cheese from the outside in and ageing it, creating the bloomy rind. The total time to make brie from start to finish is four to six weeks.
When serving Brie on a cheese tray, it is best to let the cheese come to room temperature to unlock its full depth of aroma and flavour. A large wedge of Brie can anchor the display, or smaller wedges can be pre-sliced for guests to serve themselves. To ensure all guests get to try all parts of the cheese, it is best to avoid cutting into triangles and instead cut the wheel in half and then into small slices.
For a creative touch, cookie cutters or sharp knives can be used to cut the Brie into shapes, such as leaves for fall or snowflakes for Christmas.
The Art of Serving Bergeron Cheese
You may want to see also
Pairing brie with other foods
Brie is a soft, creamy, and mild French cheese that has been enjoyed by cheese lovers worldwide for centuries. Its delicate flavour and texture make it a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed in many different ways and paired with a variety of foods.
When choosing what to eat with Brie, it is important to enhance its flavour without overwhelming it. Acidic foods are a lovely counterpart to the cheese's creamy, velvety nature. Fruits like apples, grapes, or pears, or sweet and tangy sides like fig jam or honey, pair well with Brie. Stone fruits such as peaches, apricots, plums, and figs cut in half are also a good match.
If you want something more substantial, try earthy nuts like unsalted pecans or candied walnuts. Toasted nuts in honey are another delicious option. You can also lay out a charcuterie board with multiple cheeses, meats like salami and prosciutto, and other savoury foods like pickles.
For a more indulgent treat, bake a wheel of Brie with a drizzle of honey or jam and serve it with crackers. Baked Brie goes well with a variety of sandwiches, so feel free to experiment with your favourite deli cuts. A great idea is a brie and apple sandwich with stone-ground mustard.
The French enjoy Brie as its own course before dessert, but it can also be served as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course. The go-to beverage to pair with Brie is champagne, but it also pairs well with certain wines and beers. Soft and fruity red wines, such as Pinot Noir, will contrast beautifully with the mellowness of Brie. Acidic, herbaceous, dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc are also a good choice.
The Perfect Pair: Brie and Jelly
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Baked brie
To make baked brie, first, preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the chilled brie on a baking sheet or a shallow, oven-proof dish. If you are using a dish, it is recommended to place the brie on crumpled paper to make it easier to transfer the delicate, baked cheese. Score the top of the brie rind with a serrated knife, making parallel cuts about 1/2 inch apart, cutting through the rind but not through the cheese. This makes the appetiser more inviting and allows those who prefer not to eat the rind to leave it behind.
Next, spread two-thirds of your chosen topping over the brie and dollop the rest around the sides. You can use a variety of toppings, but fig jam, honey, or maple syrup with toasted pecans, pistachios, or walnuts and rosemary or thyme are popular choices.
Finally, bake for 8 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is soft and starting to ooze. When serving, remember to place the dish on a heat-resistant surface and warn your guests that it is hot. Serve with crackers, crostini, or a sliced baguette and fruit, such as apples, pears, or grapes.
Moon Cheese: How Many Servings Per Pouch?
You may want to see also
Brie as an appetizer
Brie is a versatile cheese that can be served as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course. It is a soft-ripened French cheese, circular in shape with an ivory colour and greyish, off-white rind. It has a sumptuous yet delicate flavour and a soft, creamy texture.
When serving brie as an appetizer, it is important to bring it to room temperature before serving to unlock its full depth of aroma and flavour. You can serve it as a whole wheel or cut it into wedges or slices. If you want to get creative, you can use cookie cutters to cut the brie into festive shapes, such as leaves for fall and Thanksgiving or snowflakes for Christmas.
Brie pairs well with a variety of foods, including fruits, meats, crackers, and bread. For a classic combination, serve brie with seasonal fruits such as apples, grapes, or pears, which complement the cheese's delicate flavour and add a touch of sweetness. You can also pair brie with acidic foods like fig jam or honey to bring out its velvety texture. If you want something more substantial, try pairing it with nuts like pecans or candied walnuts.
For a simple appetizer, serve brie with a crusty baguette or plain crackers. If you want to get a little more creative, you can bake the brie and serve it warm and gooey. To bake brie, place it in a shallow baking dish and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15- 20 minutes. You can also wrap the brie in puff pastry and bake it for a decadent appetizer. Serve the baked brie with crackers, crostini, or bread for dipping into the melted cheese.
To enhance the presentation of your brie appetizer, consider using a large wedge of brie as the centrepiece of your cheese tray. Surround it with an assortment of fruits, meats, crackers, and other cheeses to create a stunning and delicious spread for your guests.
Serving Cold Brie: A Simple Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You can cut a brie wheel into wedges, but avoid cutting it into triangles as the centre is often the most flavoursome. Instead, cut the wheel in half, and then into small slices.
For a visually stunning cheese board, use a large wedge of brie as an anchor. If functionality is more important, pre-slice smaller wedges so that guests can serve themselves without having to scoop out the centre and leave the gooey rind behind.
Brie is a soft and creamy cheese with a delicate flavour, so choose accompaniments that complement its texture and taste without overwhelming them. Try seasonal fruits like apples, grapes, or pears, or sweet and zippy sides like fig jam or honey. You could also serve it with crackers, baguette, or another crusty bread.
Brie should be served at room temperature, as this unlocks the full depth of aroma and flavour. Take it out of the fridge about half an hour before serving. However, baked brie is also a popular choice, and can be served with crackers for scooping up the molten cheese.
