Frederic Melton
Brie is a soft, creamy, and decadent French cheese with a mild, buttery flavour and a delicate texture. It is traditionally made from cow's milk and aged as large wheels or rounds. The French serve brie as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course. While it is usually consumed uncooked, baked brie is also a popular dish. This is made by placing the cheese in an oven and serving it with honey or maple syrup.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Soft, creamy, gooey, luscious, and spreadable |
| Flavor | Mild, buttery, nutty, earthy |
| Color | Pale yellow, ivory, whitish, pale |
| Shape | Circular |
| Rind | White, greyish, edible, bloomy |
| Milk | Cow's milk, goat milk, whole milk, semi-skimmed milk |
| Temperature | Bring to room temperature before consumption |
| Serving | Served as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course |
| Accompaniments | Bread, crackers, fruits, nuts, honey, jam, maple syrup |
| Variants | Plain, herbed, double, triple, smoked, Brie noir, Somerset, Wisconsin |
| Official variants | Brie de Meaux, Brie de Melun |
| Preparation | Baked, cubed, grilled |
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What You'll Learn
How to cook Brie cheese
Brie is a soft and creamy French cheese known for its mild, buttery flavour. It is traditionally made from cow's milk and aged as large wheels or rounds. The cheese is circular in shape with an ivory colour and greyish, off-white rind. The rind is perfectly edible and is said to taste exactly like the interior, but some prefer to cut it off to focus on the gooey cheese underneath.
Baked Brie
Baking Brie is a popular way to cook this cheese. It is a simple and elegant dish that can be served as an appetizer, sliced and spread across crusty bread, or put on crackers and eaten with fruit. Here is a simple recipe for baked brie:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place an 8-ounce wheel of brie that is cold from the refrigerator on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is soft in the middle.
- Carefully transfer the baked brie to a serving dish.
- Top with honey, pecans, thyme, or your desired garnishes.
- Serve with crostini, crackers, or a baguette for scooping up the melty cheese.
Toppings and Pairings
Brie goes well with a variety of toppings and pairings, including:
- Fruits like apples, grapes, or pears
- Sweet and zippy sides like fig jam or honey
- Nuts like pecans or walnuts
- Cured meats like prosciutto or salami
- Olives
- Crackers or crusty bread
- White wines like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Champagne
- Beers like Scotch Ale, Stout, or Porter
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How to serve Brie cheese
Brie is a soft, creamy cheese with a mild, buttery, and nutty flavour. It is traditionally made from cow's milk and aged as large wheels or rounds. The outside is firm, while the inside is slightly bouncy and gooey. Underripe Brie can be stiff to the touch, while overripe Brie may be creamier and almost runny.
To serve Brie, it is important to first bring it to room temperature. This allows the cheese to become softer and more flavourful. It should be removed from the refrigerator and allowed to sit out for at least 30 minutes before serving. Once softened, slice the Brie into small wedges, without removing the edible rind.
Brie can be served as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course. It is traditionally served with baguette or another crusty bread that won't compete with the cheese. Plain crackers are another convenient option. Brie can also be paired with fruits, nuts, or honey. The acidity of fruits like apples, grapes, or pears can bring out the cheese's velvety texture. Earthy nuts like unsalted pecans or candied walnuts also pair well with Brie.
Brie can also be baked and served warm. To do this, place a Brie wheel on parchment paper in a shallow baking dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. The cheese will melt on the inside, while the rind stays intact. It can then be served with crackers, figs, and honey. For extra decadence, the Brie can be baked in puff pastry with a layer of jam on top.
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What is Brie cheese?
Brie is a soft, creamy cheese known for its mild, buttery flavour. It is traditionally made from cow's milk and aged as large wheels or rounds. It is a soft-ripened French cheese, circular in shape with an ivory or pale yellow colour and a greyish, off-white rind. The cheese gets its name from the French region where it originated, the small commune of Reuil-en-Brie, where monks made it in the Middle Ages. Legend has it that the French Emperor Charlemagne sampled the cheese at a monastery in the 8th century and became entranced, influencing people to appreciate this fascinating, buttery cheese. Brie became known as the "queen's cheese" due to its royal popularity and was also given as a tribute to French monarchs.
The process of making Brie involves adding enzymes and rennet to help the milk curdle. The cheese is then separated into round moulds, and the whey is drained off before the cheese is left to rest for a week. The rounds are then sprayed with a mould on the outer layer, maturing the cheese from the outside in and creating its bloomy rind. The total time to make Brie from start to finish is four to six weeks.
Brie is a versatile cheese that can be served as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course. It pairs well with crusty bread, such as baguette, or plain crackers. It can also be baked, grilled, or melted and served with honey, maple syrup, or fruit such as apples, grapes, or pears. When serving Brie, it is recommended to bring it to room temperature to enhance its flavour and texture.
There are various types of Brie, including traditional Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun, which have protected designations of origin in France. Many countries produce their own versions of Brie, which can vary in taste and texture. While authentic Brie is typically only available in France, a stabilized version can be found in grocery stores worldwide.
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Different types of Brie cheese
Brie is a soft cheese with a white, velvety rind and a creamy texture. While the term "brie" is often used to describe any soft, mild cheese, there are many different types of brie cheeses, each with its own unique characteristics.
Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun
These are the two most well-known and protected versions of Brie. They are plush, unpasteurised cheeses that can only bear these names if they are made in the Brie region, located about 40 miles east and southeast of Paris. Brie de Meaux has a luscious interior with flavours and aromas of mushrooms, melted butter, yeast, and sometimes a hint of cruciferous vegetables. It is the largest of the two, weighing around 6 pounds, and has a thinner rind that is an off-white colour. Brie de Melun, on the other hand, is thicker but smaller and has a more potent flavour. Both cheeses have been granted the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) designation by the French government and the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) by the European Union.
Brie de Nangis, Brie de Provins, Brie de Coulommiers, le Fougerus, and Brie de Montereau
These are similar to the regulated Bries but are made in different regions. Brie de Provins, for example, has been around since the Middle Ages and is now made on a single farm, offering typical Brie flavours of mushrooms and butter with a refreshing, fruity acidity and a chalkier texture.
Saint André
While this is a triple cream cheese, it is less creamy than expected with a clay-like texture. It has a light and mild flavour and is meant to be enjoyed young. The rind, however, takes on more umami, mushroomy notes associated with aged cheese.
Montchevre Triple Creme Goat Brie
Unlike traditional Brie made with cow's milk, this Brie is made with goat's milk, resulting in a slightly different flavour profile. The dairy flavour is more concentrated and sour, with a light and bright overall flavour.
In addition to these specific types of Brie, there are also factory-made and artisanal versions of Brie available, which can vary significantly in flavour and texture.
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What to eat with Brie cheese
Brie is a soft-ripened French cheese with a rich, buttery, and mildly nutty flavor. It has a creamy, velvety, and gooey texture. It is a versatile cheese that can be served as an appetizer, dessert, or part of the main course.
When serving Brie, it is customary to eat the whole wheel, including the rind, as it is edible and adds flavor. It is best enjoyed at room temperature, so it is recommended to take it out of the refrigerator 30 minutes to an hour before serving.
- Fruits and Nuts: Brie pairs well with fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, and cherries. It can be served with dried fruit or fresh fruit preserves. Nuts such as pecans or walnuts also complement the cheese.
- Bread and Crackers: Brie can be enjoyed with crusty bread, especially a baguette, or plain crackers. It can be spread on bread like butter or cut into small wedges and paired with crackers.
- Meat and Charcuterie: Brie can be served with meat, such as sliced ham or turkey, as part of a charcuterie board.
- Salads and Vegetables: Warmed Brie can be added to salads, and it also goes well with grilled or roasted vegetables, such as garlic.
- Pasta and Sandwiches: Brie can be incorporated into pasta dishes and sandwiches, such as a grilled cheese sandwich with sliced pears and arugula.
- Pastry and Baked Goods: Brie can be wrapped in puff pastry and baked. It can also be paired with baby potatoes or added to quiches.
- Beverages: Brie goes well with acidic beverages like white wine, champagne, or light and fresh fruit juices like apple or grape juice. Hearty beers, such as Scotch Ale, Stout, or Porter, also complement the cheese.
These are just a few suggestions, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to pairing Brie cheese with other foods and creating delicious recipes.
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Frequently asked questions
Brie is a soft, creamy cheese known for its mild, buttery flavour. It is traditionally made from cow's milk and aged as large wheels or rounds.
Brie is ready to serve when it’s ripe: the outside will be firm, while the inside will be slightly bouncy and resilient. Underripe Brie can be stiff to the touch, while overripe Brie may be creamier and almost runny.
Brie is best served at room temperature. It is traditionally served with baguette or another crusty bread. It can also be paired with fruits, nuts, or honey.
Yes, you can cook Brie cheese. One way to do this is to bake it in the oven, which can transform a good value Brie into a spectacular one.
