Camembert is a soft and creamy French cheese with a taste similar to that of brie. If you want to serve it in an original way, you can flavor it with different flavors and let it melt slowly in the oven. This recipe offers a combination with garlic, rosemary and olive oil or honey: aromas that go well with the taste of camembert and enhance its sweetness. You can accompany the warm cheese with your favorite bread, crackers, fruit, vegetables and a glass of good wine, for a complete gourmet meal.
Ingrediants
- A form of camembert
- Extra virgin olive oil or honey
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1-2 sprigs of rosemary
- salt
- Bread, fruit, vegetables, crackers and wine
- Chilli flakes (optional)
- Black pepper (optional)
- White wine (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making the Camembert
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 175 ° C
It will take about 15-20 minutes for the oven to reach the correct temperature, depending on the model. Meanwhile, cut and season the camembert so that it is ready to be baked.
Step 2. Score the top side of the cheese wheel
Place the Camembert on a kitchen cutting board or other flat surface. Make a diamond-shaped incision about half an inch deep on the top side of the cheese
The incision will allow the aromas to penetrate deeper into the cheese and make it even more appealing to the eye
Step 3. Spread the garlic and fresh rosemary over the cheese
Chop the garlic and separate the needles from the rosemary sprigs. Spread the garlic, rosemary needles and a pinch of salt on the camembert form.
You can also add a sprinkle of black pepper or red pepper flakes to add a spicy note to the cheese
Step 4. Add the oil or honey by pouring it over the cheese
Extra virgin olive oil and honey bring out the natural sweetness of camembert. Do not use both of them to prevent the flavor of the cheese from taking a back seat.
If you want to use olive oil, choose extra virgin
Part 2 of 3: Put the Camembert in the Oven
Step 1. Place the Camembert in its wooden box or on a baking sheet
Tradition has it that the camembert is melted in its wooden package, but if you prefer you can use a metal pan. The important thing is that the container is higher than the wheel, to prevent the cheese from escaping as it melts.
- Camembert is usually sold in a wooden box. If so, you can use it as a container to melt it in the oven.
- Make sure that the wooden strips that make up the box are assembled with metal staples and that the package is designed to be placed in the oven. If there are plastic parts or if the strips are glued, use a metal pan to prevent the plastic or glue from melting in the oven.
Step 2. Bake the camembert and don't lose sight of it
Take it out of the oven after 10-15 minutes or when the center is soft and melted.
Set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes to avoid forgetting the cheese in the oven. If you let it heat up for too long, it will eventually harden
Step 3. Test the consistency of the camembert with a spoon
After removing it from the oven, tap it on the top side with a spoon. It should feel similar to a waterbed: firm on the outside, but with a soft, liquid heart.
- If the cheese is still hard, put it back in the oven and repeat the test after 3-5 minutes.
- If the camembert is still hard in the center, but you have left it in the oven for more than 15-20 minutes, you may have overheated it. In that case, it will unfortunately not be possible to make it soften again.
Step 4. Serve the camembert immediately
If you want, you can transfer it to a decorative serving plate, otherwise you can serve it in the wooden box or in the baking dish. Bring it to the table immediately to enjoy its soft and warm heart.
- Accompany warm camembert with bread, a mix of fruit or vegetables and a wine that can enhance its qualities.
- You can store leftover cheese in an airtight container. In the future, just put it back in the oven to make it soft again. When you reheat it, check every 3-5 minutes to see if it has reached the right consistency to prevent it from hardening.
Part 3 of 3: Properly Pair Baked Camembert
Step 1. Make garlic bread to go with the baked Camembert
It will enhance the aromas with which you have flavored the cheese and you can dip it directly into its soft heart. To make garlic bread, spread garlic butter on a few slices of bread and toast in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
Ciabatta is a type of bread suitable for preparing garlic bread and goes perfectly with camembert
Step 2. Accompany the camembert with croutons prepared with stale bread
Cut the bread into cubes. Sprinkle the bread cubes with extra virgin olive oil and salt, transfer them to a baking tray and toast them in the oven for 10-15 minutes. If you've kept the rosemary sprigs, you can use them to skewer the croutons and dip them in melted cheese without getting your hands dirty.
- If you don't have stale bread at home, you can buy fresh bread from the baker and toast it in the oven before seasoning and reheating it.
- Alternatively, you can use crackers and dip them directly into the melted cheese.
Step 3. Serve the cheese with fruit or vegetables
For a healthier bread option, you can pair camembert with a mix of fresh fruit or vegetables. The most appropriate options include grapes, blueberries, apple slices, broccoli, tomatoes and peppers to dip directly into the melted cheese.
Raspberries together with a few drops of honey will accentuate the sweetness of the camembert
Step 4. Accompany the cheese with a good glass of wine
Camembert goes well with red wines, but also with whites and rosés. It is also excellent paired with a sparkling wine, in particular with champagne, which has the ability to enhance its aromas.
- Cider, pommeau, pinot noir and chenin blanc also go well with camembert.
- In general, most fruity red wines go well with this type of cheese.
Advice
- The time it takes to prepare and heat the camembert is about an hour, so make sure you start on time.
- Read this article to find out what other ways you can pair and serve camembert.
