The Absolute Best Accompaniments To Serve With Brie Cheese
If you plan to have friends over this weekend for food, wine, and good conversation, there's a good chance you'll share some of your favorite snack foods. Among the vast array of charcuterie board ideas to choose from, adding your favorite cheeses to a shareable serving platter is highly probable. Of the wide varieties to choose from, brie is considered one type of cheese that exudes a buttery taste with subtle nutty undertones.
Brie was created by French monks sometime between 600 and 700 AD and was often used as a gift to French kings long ago. A classic soft cheese, brie is traditionally made in France and exported to other countries, including the United States. This creamy soft cheese has a malleable rind, and the inner cheese is often made even more indulgent with the addition of extra cream. Since cheese pairs well with many ingredients, what are the best foods to serve with brie?
Brie pairs well with sweet acidic fruits and mellow nuts
As you sit and wonder how to make the ultimate cheese platter for your next get-together, there's no question that the ultra creaminess of brie will round out your charcuterie board. Since brie's flavor is quite subtle, you want to make sure that whatever foods you decide to pair it with will bring out its inner complexities. If you are looking to keep things simple, pairing brie with a crusty loaf of bread or your favorite multigrain crackers will ensure that the taste of this creamy soft cheese won't get lost in the mix.
More often than not, however, brie tends to get paired with acid-rich fruits such as blueberries or apples to counterbalance the creaminess of the cheese. If you don't have any fruit on hand, feel free to get creative and use some of your favorite jam or even a drizzle of honey. If you decide to add nuts alongside your wheel of brie, go for a mellow, unsalted, or candied variety to complement the brie's delicate texture. Raw pecans, in particular with their earthy taste, pair perfectly with this soft cheese.
However, there's more than a charcuterie board filled with crackers and grapes to complement your next chunk of brie. You may want to get even more creative and literally and figuratively heat things up.
Melted brie makes the best appetizers and side dishes
Besides enjoying a slice or two of this creamy cheese with fruit and crackers, you can also enjoy a cooked version, such as baked brie with fig jam. This classic appetizer is also known as brie en croûte or puff pastry wrapped around a wheel of brie and baked in the oven for 20 minutes.
However, if you decide to bake a wheel of brie all on its own, you still need to keep a watchful eye on the oven. You should bake it until it loses its form before melting completely. For baked brie, the Ina Garten way, the famous chef scores a wheel of brie, adds a drizzle or two of honey, and then bakes the cheese on a sheet pan for only five to seven minutes before serving (via Food Network).
If you want to add depth to your favorite side dishes, there are several ways to add brie for an extra flavor boost. Feel free to spice up potatoes by trying Président's au gratin potatoes with brie and caramelized onions or Ree Drummond's brie and broccoli quiche. As long as you choose accent foods that aren't too robust, you're guaranteed to taste brie's nuanced flavor in your favorite appetizers and side dishes.