Brie is a soft and creamy French cheese made from cow's milk. If you are not familiar with it, first you need to know that the white rind is also edible. Traditionally it is cut into wedges and served with bread or crackers. You can also create tasty combinations with other foods or drinks. If you want to use it in a recipe, you can heat it in the oven to make it even more creamy and irresistible.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Brie
Step 1. Cut it into triangular wedges like a cake
Generally, removing the tip from the wedges is considered inappropriate, as the center is the tastiest part of the shape. If you remove the tip from the wedges and set it aside it is as if you are declaring to your guests that you want to keep it to yourself.
- If you don't intend to eat the rind, cut the cheese at a more open angle to get a larger portion of the inside. Nobody will notice it, as long as the triangular shape of the wedges is preserved.
- Give each wedge a portion of crust. If you cut the brie right, each wedge will have a portion of the crust. If you remove the tip from the wedges, you will inevitably end up with a slice that will largely be characterized by the outer crust.
Step 2. Eat the crust along with the rest of the cheese
Generally, the cheese rind is discarded and everyone wonders what to do with it, but the brie rind is edible. Do not try to scrape the inner portion of the clove to avoid the crust, it would be like pulling the sliced from a sandwich and throwing away the bread. The crust of the brie is soft and has a bitter but delicate aftertaste, which does not distract the taste buds from the creamy part of the cheese.
Try tasting the brie crust if you've never eaten it before. Consider that not everyone likes it and that, as the cheese ages, its flavor becomes more intense, so the first time you make sure the brie is fresh
Step 3. Remove the crust from the brie slice if you don't want to eat it
Some people don't like the crust and that's okay, but wait until you have the cheese wedge on your plate before removing it. Brie is soft and sticky, so removing the crust isn't easy. Try cutting the top portion to be able to remove the remaining crust more easily or to eat the creamy portion directly more easily.
When serving brie in a family setting, you can remove the crust with the knife before cutting it into wedges. Put the form in the freezer for about thirty minutes, then remove the crust with a sharp knife. Don't remove the crust from the brie if you have guests and don't know if they like it or not
Step 4. Throw away the cheese if it smells like ammonia
Generally, brie can be stored for a couple of weeks as long as the package is unopened and, once opened, it lasts about a week or less. When it goes bad, the crust turns gray and hardens, while the inside of the brie becomes soft and begins to give off an unpleasant odor, similar to that of ammonia. In particular, if you notice that pink or green mold has formed, it means that it is time to throw the cheese away so as not to take any health risks.
- When it is too fresh, the brie feels strangely hard to the touch: the crust is tough and the inside has a springy texture. When it is too old, it becomes excessively soft.
- The brie stops ripening after the form is opened, so try to finish it as soon as possible to prevent it from spoiling. If you need to store it, wrap it in parchment paper and place it in a refrigerator drawer to protect it from moisture.
- It is generally not recommended to freeze brie, unless you are using it in a recipe where consistency is not important, for example in a flan or a quiche. If you intend to freeze it, put it in a container and consume it within 6 months. When you're ready to use it, let it defrost in the refrigerator, cold water, or microwave until it's soft again.
Method 2 of 3: Serve the Brie
Step 1. Leave it at room temperature for an hour
Take it out of the fridge and let it set. It will become soft and creamy, so you can enjoy its flavor to the fullest. Allowing it to cool will erase the ammonia taste that may have developed if you have stored it in the refrigerator, pre-cut, for a few days.
If you want, you can also heat it to make it even creamier inside. Heat it for about 1 minute in the microwave on high power, until the heart of the brie softens. If you prefer to use the conventional oven, heat it to 175 ° C for about 5 minutes or until it has reached the consistency you want
Step 2. Serve it cut into a triangle
If you have already bought it in this form, all you have to do is transfer it to a tray and serve it with a knife next to it. Brie is also often sold in a round shape, in which case cut a wedge, starting from the rind towards the center, with a cheese knife with a narrow blade. The slice should be relatively small, about 3 centimeters or less depending on the desired portion.
- Cutting a form of brie is a bit like cutting an apple pie, but being the first to serve yourself can be embarrassing. Cut a slice first to not embarrass your guests.
- When you cut the brie, you start from the center of the form and work up to the crust. Do not cut off the tip of the slice as it is the most delicious part.
Step 3. Place the cheese on the bread or crackers to enjoy it plain
Take a baguette or other bread with a crunchy crust, cut a slice and put the cheese on it. This is how French people normally eat brie who prefer to use bread to avoid covering up the delicate and delicious taste of the cheese. Taste it alone on bread to notice all its nuances of flavor.
It is not necessary to spread it. Brie is soft and creamy, so simply lay it on a piece of bread that is roughly the same size and enjoy without waiting any longer
Step 4. Accompany the brie with fresh or dried fruit to play with the flavors
If you can resist the temptation to put it in your mouth immediately after cutting it, you can combine it with other delicious ingredients. The most traditional combination is with slightly acidic fruits, such as apples, pears and grapes. The combination with dried fruit is also a winner. For a burst of flavor you can try a combination of brie, unsalted pecans, caramelized nuts and honey.
- You can create great flavor combinations with jams too. For example, try spreading your favorite jam on the brie. The most successful combinations are those with sweet and sour fruit jams, such as figs, cherries and berries.
- If you want to offer a wide range of options at a party, prepare a plate of mixed cold cuts and cheeses. You can use different cured meats, such as ham and salami, and other cheeses, for example a blue cheese and pecorino.
Step 5. Serve a fruity or sour drink to pair with brie
You're about to eat a French cheese, so it doesn't get any better than champagne. Even red wines with a sweet or slightly acid note, such as Pinot Noir, go well with brie, but nothing prevents it from being paired with a beer with an intense flavor. Those who prefer to avoid alcohol can drink a fruit juice, such as a grape or apple juice, whose flavor goes well with the mild cheese.
- Soft cheeses like brie tend to go well with dry and fruity French red wines, such as Riesling, Marsannnay or Viognier. A lighter red wine, such as Pinot Noir, can also work because of its delicate yet rich taste, which creates a pleasant contrast to the sweet taste of the cheese.
- If you prefer white wines, choose a dry one with a strong acidity. The herbaceous taste of a Sauvignon Blanc goes well with a slice of brie.
- If you prefer to drink a beer, choose one with a strong taste, for example a Scotch Ale, a Stout or a Porter. If you prefer, you can also opt for something lighter and more fruity, like a Pilsner.
Method 3 of 3: Cooking with Brie
Step 1. Heat the brie in the oven to make it creamier so it can spread
Brie is a very versatile cheese that allows you to create real masterpieces. Try placing it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake it in the oven preheated to 175 ° C. Wait until it becomes soft and the first bubbles begin to form, but be careful not to leave it in the oven for too long or it will become liquid and spread on the pan.
- You can add some decorative and delicious ingredients before baking the brie, for example honey, jam, fresh herbs or chopped nuts.
- If you want to dip the bread in the hot cheese, remove the crust from the top of the form before putting it in the oven. Leave the rest of the rind intact so that the cheese retains its round shape. When it becomes soft and creamy, you can dip the crackers in it or spread it on the bread.
Step 2. Prepare the crusted brie to serve as an aperitif
Brie in crust is a recipe in which the form of brie is covered with phyllo dough and baked in the oven until the phyllo dough is crisp and golden. You can add a wide variety of ingredients to make the recipe even more inviting and delicious. Remove the crust from the top of the form and add the desired ingredients before coating the cheese with the phyllo dough. When you are ready to bake the brie, brush the phyllo dough with a beaten egg to seal it and to give it a nice golden color.
- For example, you can spread cranberry jam on brie and serve it in wedges, on its own or on crackers, for a winter aperitif.
- You can add all sorts of ingredients for a delicious result that takes no effort. For example, you can use a combination of chopped pecans (45g), melted butter (15g), brown sugar (50g), and cinnamon (a pinch).
Step 3. Stuff the salmon with brie and crabmeat for a seafood dinner
With its sweet and delicate taste, brie goes well with the strong and savory flavors of fish and seafood. Score 4 salmon fillets on the side to create a pocket for the filling. Fill the pocket with 170g of crabmeat and 170g of brie cut into 1cm cubes (you can also use shrimp). Cook the fish in the preheated oven at 200 ° C for about 10 minutes for a delicious and sophisticated dinner.
Brie doesn't just go well with sweet flavors. You can also stuff the salmon with peppers, onion, pine nuts and other savory ingredients and make a beurre blanc for an extra note of flavor
Step 4. Serve the brie as a snack by experimenting with new combinations
Basil pesto is one of the many ingredients you can pair with brie spread on bread or crackers. It is great whether you have guests or eat as a snack. Cut a form of brie in half horizontally, then spread a generous amount of pesto in the middle. Pair it with bread, crackers, and pretzels.
You can make pesto with fresh basil, cheese, pine nuts, garlic, etc. If you want to serve a cheese sauce, add the brie to the pesto ingredients. Serve the sauce with bread, crackers, or veggies cut into sticks
Step 5. Put the brie in a bun for an easy fix
There is no easier way to enjoy brie than to eat it on its own. Put it in the oven and let it melt directly on the bread. If you want, you can also add a sauce, for example a pesto, or other ingredients of your choice, such as ham and avocado. Brie goes well with just about anything.
If you like to experiment with new flavor combinations, let the brie melt on the bread and then spread a jam, such as cranberry jam, on top. You can also add a slice of roast beef or turkey for a more complete sandwich
Step 6. Use brie as a substitute for another cheese to invent new recipes
When you get to know it, there will be no limits to the combinations you can make with brie. You can add it to your salad, let it melt on your fries, or add it to a gourmet burger. The important thing is to be able to avoid finishing it before you start cooking.
Advice
- Brie is high in saturated fat, so it's best to only eat it occasionally if you're on a diet.
- When cutting your wedge of cheese, try to keep the appearance of the shape unchanged. Take a small piece and don't leave all the crust to the others.
- When fresh, brie has a softer texture. As it ages, it acquires a more intense flavor and hardens, so don't wait too long before eating it.
- Brie is not meant to be spread, but to be placed on bread or crackers. However, if you heat it in the oven you can make it spreadable.
