A wonderfully gooey, flavorful, and famous French cheese is Brie, made of unpasteurized cow's milk and cream. From Seine-et-Marne region, this fromage is known for a rich taste, creamy soft texture, color like butter, and whitish edible rind. It can be eaten at room temperature, warmed, or in puff pastry. While brie is super simple to make at home, specialty toppings and recipe techniques are frequently taught at baking and pastry classes in Paris.
Despite many varieties available worldwide and in France, de Meaux and de Melun are the only 2 kinds that are certified by the French government. However, there are many others to choose from at local markets that are just as tasty and tantalizing to the palate. It's usually purchased by the wheel or wheel segment and makes a delicious warm appetizer served with accompaniments such as honey, syrup, sweet or tart fruits, nuts, crackers or baguette, and champagne.
First, be sure to avoid a selection that is triple cream. After it is baked, it will be too runny when cut open. Select double cream. Also, you'll know the brie is just ripe enough when the sides "give a little" if you squeeze them carefully. The top and bottom will be firm. The rind should have a whitish color. However, there is a longer aged variety known as old or black rind that has a stronger flavor and smell.
Next, to prepare your food for cooking:
You can choose from many combinations of pairings to drizzle over or stuff inside before or after you cook it. For example - delicately slice a crosshatch pattern into the top rind, slip in sliced garlic, fresh rosemary sprigs, and thyme leaves. You may also spread honey or jam on top and sprinkle with dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans, halved figs, or caramelized onions. Then, in just a few minutes, this culinary delight with oozing goodness will be ready to spread on some bread, fruit, or veggies.
As if it couldn't get any better, you can also melt brie in pastry. Simply wrap thawed puff pastry around the wheel and bake at 400 F until golden brown. Don't forget, you can still add many delicious ingredients before sealing up the pastry dough. Once cooled, cut a third off the top and lay it slightly off to the side to reveal the rich gooey inside for dipping.
Finally, in the unlikely circumstance you have leftovers, it is important to refrigerate promptly in its original packaging if possible. You may need to use a bit of plastic wrap to keep the soft inside intact. Because the rind is made of edible mold, it would be best to eat the remaining within 5 days. Once the cheese has been cut, the aging process is accelerated and bacteria can grow to unhealthy levels.
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