Savory Baked Brie Recipe with Pesto, Artichokes and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

Do you take the rind off brie before baking? ›

Do you take the rind off before baking? Keep the rind on, as it will help the cheese hold its shape so it doesn't all melt out. The rind is also edible, so you can enjoy it with the melted cheese, or simply remove the top layer after baking and dunk in crusty bread like a fondue.

When baking brie, remembering a few key things will encourage good melting. The first is to score or remove some of the top rind. Your brie or camembert wheel comes in a bloomy rind, which, while perfectly edible, can vary in thickness and texture from one wheel to the next.

Why is my baked brie rubbery? This can be two things. If you left the rind of the cheese on, the baked brie may seem like it is rubbery once heated, or the brie was overcooked by leaving it in the oven too long.

Try Brie with mushrooms, rosemary and olive oil on your next pizza night for an herby twist on a classic dish. Another great option is combining caramelized onions and Brie for a savory-yet-sweet appetizer. Perhaps the simplest route is to emphasize Brie's buttery flavor by adding it to a fresh salad.

Brie cheese is the perfect partner to jam! It pairs beautifully with jam varieties, such as: fig, apricot, blackberry, boysenberry or cherry jam.

Unwrap your Brie and place your wheel on a small piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Note: if you have the time, take the cheese out of the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for an hour before baking. This is optional but helps the cheese bake more evenly. Bake for 10-20 minutes in the oven.

As mentioned, brie's mild, yet buttery and nutty flavor pairs well with so many things. Some examples are salami, prosciutto, pickles, apricots, apples, pears, dates, almonds, candied walnuts, and pecans.

Lots of people eat brie with the rind intact, but many find its taste and texture unappetizing.

It may be a turnoff but it's a consequence of aging, especially for bloomy-rind cheeses like Brie. As these cheeses ripen, their surface molds break down protein into amino acids and one byproduct of that breakdown is ammonia.

The white mold on a brie's rind is often said to smell and taste like white mushroom, so fans of brie will love the extra mushroomy flavors of this cheese. Try it melted over potatoes, pasta, or pizza and enjoy the rest with a glass of white wine.

What's the white stuff on brie cheese? ›

That marshmallowy white stuff on the outside of your brie is called a bloomy rind. These cheeses are coated with edible molds, such as Penicillium candidum. The cheeses ripen from the outside-inwards. Sometimes, a seductive gooey layer called the “creamline” forms around the fudgy interior.

Traditionally, the French give cheese its own dedicated course at a meal, served just before dessert. However, serving cheese at a party or for an appetizer is widely accepted (and with good reason). Don't hesitate to open your gathering, dinner party, or snack session with delectable Brie.

Brie etiquette

It is a general rule that you should always cut a block of cheese as to not misshapen it; that being said, it is advisable to cut Brie, as if cutting pieces of a cake, in slices. Always slice from one end, never start in the middle of the block of cheese.

Not only can you eat the rind, you should eat the rind. Technically, the rind is mold, usually Penicillium candidum, but it's good mold! The rind protects the cheese on the inside and helps to give the cheese its flavor. You're missing out on a big part of the flavor and textural experience if you do not eat the rind.

In this baked brie recipe, I do not remove the rind because I need the surface to spread my jam and to add my beautiful nuts and toppings. The rind keeps the wheel of cheese together, and once you take it out of the oven and slice into it, all the gooey deliciousness oozes out like a nice surprise!

The long answer is when cooking brie cheese recipes, the cheese will melt but the rind won't. The rind will break down a little bit, but it won't evaporate into thin air.