The Perfect Pairings For Camembert Cheese

Camembert is a French cheese with a rich texture and buttery, earthy flavour notes. It is a versatile cheese that can be eaten raw or baked and pairs well with many foods and drinks. In this article, we will explore the best pairings for camembert and provide some fun serving suggestions.

Bread, crackers, and fruit

Bread

Camembert is a soft, creamy cheese with a rich, buttery flavour and a moist, gooey texture when baked. The best bread to serve alongside it is something crusty and chewy, like a baguette, sourdough, or rye bread. The contrast between the crunchy bread and the soft cheese is heavenly. Breadsticks are also a great option, especially when seasoned with garlic and herbs. For a lighter option, you can serve toasted pitta bread or breadsticks.

Crackers

Water crackers, baguettes, and sourdough bread also work well as crackers to accompany Camembert. The rich, creamy flavour of the cheese pairs perfectly with the crispy texture of the crackers. You can also make your own crackers at home by baking a dough made of herbs and spices.

Fruit

Camembert goes well with a variety of fruits, including grapes, apples, pears, and figs. The sweetness and juiciness of the fruit complement the rich, creamy cheese. You can also add chopped nuts or dried fruit to the mix for an extra flavour and texture boost.

Salads

Baked Camembert Salad:

Camembert is often baked and served with a salad on the side. Baking Camembert enhances its creamy texture and flavour. You can bake it in the oven or an air fryer. Score the cheese with a sharp knife, season it with honey, herbs, and spices, and bake it until it's golden and soft. Serve it with a side of salad leaves dressed in olive oil and vinegar. You can also add bacon, onion, and thyme to your Camembert before baking for an extra savoury kick.

Fruits and Nuts:

Camembert pairs well with fresh fruits and nuts. Try adding sliced apples, grapes, strawberries, or dried apricots to your salad. Walnuts or pecans will also provide a crunchy texture and nutty undertones. Drizzle some honey or maple syrup over your salad for a sweet touch.

Crackers and Bread:

The contrast between the creamy Camembert and crunchy crackers or toasted bread can be delightful. Include some fresh bread or crackers on the side or crumble them into your salad for that extra crunch.

Caesar Salad:

Although not a traditional ingredient, Camembert can be a delicious addition to a Caesar salad. It will bring an extra layer of creaminess and blend nicely with the other flavours in the salad. Just remember to use it in moderation as its strong flavour can easily overpower other ingredients.

Other Cheeses:

Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese in your salad. Brie, for example, has a similar texture to Camembert but is milder in flavour. You can also try mixing in harder cheeses like Asiago or softer ones like mozzarella, depending on your taste preferences.

Meat

Camembert is a soft, creamy cheese with a rich and earthy flavour. It is often enjoyed as a spread on bread or crackers, in salads, or melted in various dishes. The cheese pairs well with cured meats, which provide a rustic contrast to the cheese's milder profile. Here are some specific examples of meat dishes that go well with Camembert:

Prosciutto or Serrano Ham

The saltiness of these cured meats pairs wonderfully with the creaminess of Camembert. This combination creates a delightful sweet-and-savoury contrast.

Saucisson Sec or Rich Pork Pâté

These meats, with their rustic and funky flavours loaded with umami, make a perfect foil to Camembert's milder profile.

Smoked Bacon and Irish Cheese Mash

This side dish combines smoked bacon, green onions, and creamy Camembert cheese with mashed potatoes. It is an excellent pairing with Camembert, especially when served with steak or pork chops.

Curried Beef Bowl

Alcohol

When it comes to alcoholic drinks, there are several options that pair well with Camembert cheese. The cheese's creamy texture and rich, buttery, earthy flavours can be balanced by drinks with good acidity or bubbles, and drinks with fruity or herbal undertones complement its mushroom-like notes.

Champagne is a classic pairing with Camembert. The lightness and bubbles of the drink contrast the creamy richness of the cheese, while its bright acidity and fruity and slightly toasty notes, such as apple and citrus, complement the cheese's earthy flavours. If you're looking for a more affordable option, sparkling wines like Prosecco or Cava offer a similar experience.

Other recommended white wines to pair with Camembert include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and dry Riesling. These wines have crisp acidity, zesty citrus notes, and flavours of green apple and herbs that complement the cheese's earthiness and cut through its richness.

For red wines, light or medium-bodied varieties like Pinot Noir and Beaujolais are good choices. A splashy red with sweeter tannins, such as the 2007 Mingot Napa Red, can also bring out the herbal complexity of the cheese.

If you're a beer drinker, a light pilsner can be a good pairing with Camembert. The crisp, clean flavour and gentle bitterness of a pilsner complement and cut through the cheese's richness, while its carbonation adds a refreshing contrast. For a more complex beer option, a pale ale offers a slightly more robust flavour and a gentle bitterness from the hops that pairs well with the cheese's richness.

Finally, cider is a natural pairing for Camembert, especially the crisp, dry variety from the Normandy region of France, where the cheese also originates. The slightly sweet and tart flavour of cider cuts through the fattiness of the Camembert, and the apple notes enhance the cheese's earthy undertones. Sparkling cider adds a fun, effervescent element to the pairing.

Honey and other sweets

Honey is a classic pairing with cheese, and Camembert is no exception. The sweetness of the honey balances out the boldness of the cheese, creating a delightful taste sensation. For the best experience, opt for a high-quality, dark, rich honey like buckwheat or wildflower honey. Start with a small amount and add more to suit your taste. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil or a pinch of ground spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to your honey for an extra special touch.

For a simple yet indulgent dessert, bake Camembert in a ramekin, drizzled with honey, and bake at 200 degrees until the cheese is bubbly and golden. You can also bake pears with honey, sprinkling them with cinnamon and sugar, for a sweet and easy-to-prepare side dish that complements the cheese.

If you're looking for a savoury-sweet combination, try drizzling honey on top of your Camembert and pairing it with a few slices of crusty bread and some chopped nuts. The crunchy texture of the nuts and the crispness of the bread contrast beautifully with the soft cheese.

Candied walnuts are another sweet and crunchy option to pair with Camembert. They are easy to make and only require sugar, walnuts, and 20 minutes of your time. Toasting the walnuts before adding them to the caramelised sugar brings out more flavour and aroma. If they turn out too sweet, sprinkle a little salt on top to balance the flavours.

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