Randy Chandler
A charcuterie board is a great way to serve a variety of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments at a party or as a snack. When preparing a charcuterie board with Camembert cheese, it is important to ensure that the cheese is at room temperature before serving, as cold temperatures can mute its flavour and aroma. Camembert is a soft cheese that pairs well with cured meats, fruits, nuts, crackers, and bread. To create a balanced charcuterie board, aim for a variety of textures and flavours by including other types of cheeses, such as hard and semi-soft varieties, and cured meats like prosciutto, salami, and chorizo. Assemble the ingredients on a board, leaving space for the baked Camembert, and provide knives and small dishes for your guests to help themselves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Soft, mild, creamy |
| Cheese texture | Spreadable, runny, ripe |
| Cheese color | Snowy-white |
| Cheese flavor | Earthy, buttery |
| Cheese amount | 2-3 types, 2-3 oz per person |
| Cheese tools | Kitchen knife, bowls, oven |
| Cheese temperature | Room temperature |
| Pairing | Honey, rosemary, pistachios, berries, crackers, cured meats, olives, dark chocolate, candied walnuts, jams, wine, beer, gin, vodka |
| Board type | Wooden chopping board, cutting board, serving tray, marble slab |
| Board tools | Small dishes, bowls, knives, forks |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Camembert cheese pairings
Camembert is a soft, creamy cheese with a rich texture and buttery, earthy flavour. It is a great addition to any charcuterie board. It is best served at room temperature, so remember to remove it from the fridge 30 minutes to one hour before serving. A younger cheese will be firmer and have a milder, milkier flavour, while an older cheese will be softer and have a stronger, earthier flavour.
When it comes to pairing Camembert, you can go in a few different directions. If you want to play up the subtle funk of this soft-ripened cheese, pair it with a rustic saison or biere de garde, or a tart, fruit-infused sour beer. For something stronger, try a Norman-style cider or poiré (made from pears) from the same region of France as Camembert. If you prefer cocktails, a fizzy, citrusy drink made with gin or vodka will also pair beautifully with Camembert.
For food pairings, cured meats, sautéed mushrooms, and olives are a great way to amp up the earthy notes of Camembert. Fresh, jammed, or pickled berries are also a fantastic pairing, as are other fruits like apricots or strawberries. If you have a sweet tooth, you can take Camembert in a dessert direction by pairing it with dark chocolate, candied walnuts, or honey.
When adding Camembert to a charcuterie board, remember to include a variety of textures and flavours. You can include other cheeses, such as soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese, or hard cheeses like cheddar and gouda. For meats, cured options like prosciutto, salami, and chorizo are classic choices. Don't forget to add some accompaniments like olives, pickles, nuts, fruits, crackers, and bread to round out your board.
Giant Broccoli and Cheese Servings: How Many?
You may want to see also
Preparing the cheese
Selecting the Cheese:
Choose an assortment of cheeses with different textures and flavours to add interest and balance to your charcuterie board. Camembert, a soft and creamy cheese, pairs well with harder cheeses like cheddar or gouda, and other soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese. An odd number of cheeses, such as 3, 5, or 7, is often recommended, depending on the number of guests.
Preparing Camembert:
Remove the Camembert from the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before serving. This allows the cheese to come to room temperature, enhancing its flavour and texture. A younger Camembert will be firmer, with a milder, milkier taste, while a softer, more liquidy wheel indicates a riper cheese with a stronger flavour. If you plan to bake the Camembert, you can skip this step.
Cutting the Cheese:
For triangular blocks of cheese, cut slices and alternate the direction they face on the board. For rectangular blocks, cut slices and layer them, alternating directions with each row. If using a whole wheel of Camembert, consider the texture before cutting. A younger, firmer cheese will yield cleaner wedges, while a riper, runnier cheese may be trickier to cut.
Baking Camembert:
Place the Camembert in a small baking dish and drizzle honey over it. Top it with a few pistachios and garnish with rosemary sprigs. Bake in the oven at 180°C or 350°F for about 12 minutes.
Accompaniments:
Pair Camembert with sweet or savoury accompaniments. Sweet options include honey, jams, berries, dark chocolate, and candied nuts. Savoury choices can be cured meats, olives, sautéed mushrooms, and crackers.
Remember, when preparing the cheese for your charcuterie board, feel free to experiment with different combinations and let your creativity shine!
Crackers and Cheese: Perfect Pairing Ideas
You may want to see also
Selecting a board
To keep the ingredients cold, especially if serving a large group where the food will be sitting out for a while, use a marble slab board and refrigerate it overnight. This will help keep the cheese fresh and prevent it from becoming too warm, which can affect its texture and flavour.
When arranging the ingredients on the board, it's important to group everything together rather than spreading out each element. Create a balance by separating colours and placing complementary foods next to each other. For example, pair sweet accompaniments like fresh fruit, jams, and candied nuts with cheeses such as Brie or goat cheese. Fill in any remaining spaces with crackers, nuts, or fruit.
The Perfect Cheese Ball: Serving Tips and Tricks
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Arranging the cheese
When arranging the cheese on your charcuterie board, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it's essential to have a variety of textures and flavours to provide balance and interest. Along with Camembert, you could include soft cheeses like Brie, triple-cream, burrata, goat cheese, or blue cheese. For hard cheeses, consider cheddar, manchego, Parmesan, or gouda. An odd number of cheeses is recommended—3, 5, or 7, depending on the number of guests.
If you're serving Camembert, it's best to remove it from the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before serving to let it come to room temperature. This enhances the flavour and texture. When cutting the cheese, go for medium bite-sized pieces. For triangular blocks, cut slices and alternate the direction they face on the board. For rectangular blocks, cut slices and layer them, alternating directions with each row.
The arrangement of the cheese on the board is also important. Group the cheese together with the other ingredients instead of spreading everything out. This creates a visually appealing arrangement and a sense of balance. Leave some space for baked cheese if you plan to include it. You can bake Camembert with honey, pistachios, and rosemary, for instance.
To enhance the presentation of your charcuterie board, use jars and bowls for spreads and pickles instead of store packaging. Look for containers that are not too high or wide so that the food is easily accessible. You can also provide small dishes or bowls for accompaniments when serving.
Delicious Pretzel Bites: How Much Cheese is Enough?
You may want to see also
Adding accompaniments
When preparing a charcuterie board with Camembert cheese, it's important to select a variety of accompaniments to enhance the flavour and texture of the cheese. Here are some ideas for accompaniments to consider:
Fruits and Berries
Fresh, juicy fruits complement the rich texture and buttery flavour of Camembert. Choose fruits that are in season, such as grapes, apples, pears, or berries. You can also pair Camembert with fruit preserves, such as raspberry, apricot, or strawberry jam. The sweetness of the fruit creates a delightful contrast with the savoury cheese.
Nuts
Toasted nuts, such as pistachios, candied walnuts, or other varieties, add a crunchy texture to the creamy Camembert. You can also pair the cheese with honey-roasted nuts or simply drizzle some honey on top of the cheese for a touch of sweetness.
Crackers and Bread
Camembert can be spread on crackers or bread, providing a neutral base that allows the flavour of the cheese to shine through. Baguette slices, breadsticks, or plain crackers are all excellent choices.
Cured Meats
Cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, chorizo, or soppressata are classic choices for a charcuterie board. They provide a savoury contrast to the creamy Camembert and offer a variety of textures and flavours.
Olives and Pickles
Briny olives, cornichons, or pickles add a salty, tangy element to the board. These accompaniments can be paired with the Camembert to create interesting flavour combinations.
Dried Fruits
In addition to fresh fruits, dried fruits such as berries or apricots can be included. They provide a chewy texture and a concentrated burst of sweetness.
When selecting accompaniments, it's important to consider the balance of flavours and textures. Separate colours to allow the brightest colours to stand out, and place foods together that pair well. For example, mustard and nuts go well with salami, while sweet accompaniments like jams or honey pair nicely with Camembert.
Cheese Servings: 5 Pounds Equals How Many?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Choose the size of your board depending on the number of people you're serving. You can use a cutting board, serving tray, or even butcher paper laid on a countertop.
Camembert is a soft cheese, so be sure to include a variety of textures and flavours on your board. You can include cured meats like prosciutto, salami, and chorizo, hard cheeses like cheddar and gouda, fruits, crackers, nuts, olives, and spreads like honey and jams.
Remove the Camembert from the fridge 30 minutes to one hour before serving. This will allow the cheese to come to room temperature, enhancing its flavour and texture.
Before cutting, give the cheese a gentle squeeze. If it feels firm, it's likely younger and milder in flavour. If it's soft and liquidy, it's probably riper and stronger in flavour. You're unlikely to get clean wedges from a ripe Camembert, so keep this in mind when deciding how to cut and serve it.
Group similar ingredients together, rather than spreading them out. This creates a sense of balance. You can cut the cheese into bite-sized pieces and arrange them in aesthetically pleasing ways, such as alternating the direction of the slices.
