Camembert cheese: history and homeland of cheese
The birthplace of the product is France, but many people all over the world love cheese.
Camembert has a rich history that dates back to 1791. A peasant woman, originally from Normandy, named Marie Harel hid the French monk from her pursuers. This happened during the French Revolution. For this, he revealed to her the secrets of making delicious cheese, which turned out to be soft, creamy inside with beautiful mold on the surface.
The prepared product tasted different from the original recipe, since the taste is greatly influenced by the climate, soil and grass that the cows eat. All of the above conditions differed significantly from the French ones, so the result was a completely new variety with its own unique flavor.
For a long time, the Marie family produced and improved the recipe for cheese production. But the product did not have its own name. In 1863, it was served to Napoleon, presenting it as cheese from the village of Camembert. The emperor really liked the cheese and gave it the name of the village. Napoleon regularly included Camembert in his diet, so the whole of Paris became a fan of the new cheese variety.
Marie had to quickly expand production and supply the whole of France with the product. After wooden boxes were invented, Camembert was able to be transported over long distances. And he instantly conquered all of America.
How can you replace Camembert cheese?
The imposed sanctions on foreign goods do not allow us to purchase the cheese beloved by many. Therefore, the Krasnodar manufacturer released its Camembert for sale. White mold cheese differs slightly from French cheese in taste, since local milk is used for production. And the cows eat local grass. But all cooking processes are strictly regulated by the French side.
You can also replace it perfectly:
- brie cheese;
- an excellent substitute would be noble dor blue cheese, which can also be used in salads and baked;
- Livaro and Pont-Leveque cheeses, the structure of which is very similar to Camembert;
- Buch de Chevre cheese;
- cambazola cheese;
- if it is not possible to purchase elite cheese due to cost, then an excellent replacement is Dutch and Russian cheese. But these are the weakest substitutes.
What smell and taste does the product have?
The product has a specific aroma that is not to everyone's taste. Depending on the aging period, the sharpness of the odor changes, which is similar to the smell of rot. If you smell the aroma of ammonia, this product should not be eaten. This is a sure sign that the cheese is spoiled.
Camembert has only a creamy taste. Any type with the addition of garlic, mushrooms or bacon is fake. The delicacy has an islandy, piquant taste with a subtle taste of cream. The center of the cheese is always soft, and the rind is dense.
What does Camembert cheese go with?
Before slicing, you need to keep the product in the refrigerator. Cheese that has been left in the room cannot be cut.
If you purchased a product with noble mold for the first time, then you need to understand what Camembert cheese is eaten:
- Serve the product on its own with any greens, nuts and fruits.
- The French eat cheese with warm slices of baguette.
- Due to its ability to melt quickly, cheese is added to pies, warm sandwiches, sauce and pizza.
- The creamy taste of the product goes perfectly with young red or rose wines.
- Camembert makes the taste of salads richer and more original.
Every gourmet must know how to eat Camembert cheese correctly. The most important condition is the required temperature. The room must be warm so that the delicate cheese pulp remains soft and chewy. If the temperature is cool, the cheese will harden and you will not be able to feel the characteristic cheese flavor.
Remove from the refrigerator immediately before serving. At room temperature the product will quickly become soft. Cut only into large slices.
Revealing the secrets of French cheese making
As a rule, Camembert is a cheese with a hard moldy rind and soft contents. Even at room temperature, this type of cheese begins to melt. Do you know how to eat Camembert correctly? Gourmets prefer not to interrupt the taste of a delicious dairy product and wash it down with wine.
Although this is not the only way to consume Camembert. What else is this cheese eaten with? It is added to vegetable salads, snack dishes, desserts and soups. In general, this type of cheese is found in many French recipes.
Some housewives are trying to master the skill of cheese making and prepare Camembert themselves. This is quite possible, but in any case, true French cheese cannot be made in your home kitchen. It is prepared from selected cow's milk, which is left to settle for a long time, then poured into molds.
On a note! The moldy crust can have a color from light to dark brick. The crust has a damp smell. If it is too sharp, most likely the cheese has expired and this Camembert cannot be eaten.
Many housewives and lovers of overseas products are interested in: Camembert and Brie - what is the difference between them? Let's try to find a few differences:
- Camembert is produced in a round shape, and Brie in a triangular shape;
- Camembert has a damp smell, and Brie has a rich ammonia smell;
- Camembert has a higher fat content than Brie;
- they have different taste qualities.
On a note! When choosing any type of cheese, pay attention to its expiration date, condition of the rind and smell. The sharp, almost ammonia-like smell in Camembert cheese should alert you.
Fried Camembert cheese
The dish turns out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It amazes with its amazing aroma and attracts attention with its delicious crust. Served with a variety of sauces.
Ingredients:
- vegetable oil;
- salt;
- thyme;
- flour – 75 g;
- black pepper;
- breadcrumbs – 85 g;
- Camembert – 220 g;
- egg – 1 pc.
Preparation:
- Cut a piece of cheese. The triangles should be not very large in size.
- Mix the egg and thyme with a fork. Add spices and salt to flour. Mix.
- Take the cheese triangle with small tongs. Place into egg mixture. Dip in flour. Roll in breadcrumbs.
- Place in a hot saucepan with oil. Fry. Each side will take 2 minutes. The appetizer doesn't need any extra fat, so immediately place the triangles on a paper towel to help absorb the oil.
Roasted camembert with cranberry sauce
Ingredients
- 120 g Camembert cheese
- 3 tbsp. l. flour
- 3 tbsp. l. breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp. l. sesame
- 1 egg
- 60 g vegetable oil
- 100 g cranberries
- 1 orange
- 3-4 tbsp. l. Sahara
I decided not to be left behind and prepared a snack at home, which we recently tried in one establishment.
I didn’t have an exact recipe, so I had to improvise. It turned out great! We all really enjoyed it, the main thing is to eat the dish warm so that the cheese retains its soft, runny consistency.
Don’t be lazy, be sure to prepare the sauce yourself, no jam or preserves will go as well with cheese as this cranberry sauce.
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How to cook
To begin with, I will clearly show all the ingredients that we will need. Since I was preparing the dish for the first time, I took a head of cheese not 250 grams, but 120.
Let's do the cheese first, and then the sauce. Cut the Camembert into 8 pieces.
To prevent the cheese from spreading when frying, we will need to double bread it. At the first stage, dip a piece of cheese in water and roll in flour on all sides.
In the second stage, transfer the cheese, breaded in flour, into a bowl with a beaten egg. Turn over several times until all edges are coated with egg. You can use a fork or a regular toothpick for this.
Using a toothpick, transfer the pieces of cheese into a bowl with breadcrumbs mixed with sesame seeds. Bread each piece very carefully in this mixture. In this case, contact with fingers should be minimal.
Place the double-breaded cheese slices on a plate and place in the freezer for 10 minutes. At this time, let's make the sauce.
Place the berries and sugar in a small saucepan and place on the fire. While the mixture is heating, remove a little zest from the orange, chop it and pour cold water to remove the bitterness.
When the sugar has dissolved and the berries have released their juice, reduce the heat to low.
Squeeze the juice from one orange in any way convenient for you and pour it into a saucepan.
When the amount of liquid in the sauce has reduced by half, add the orange zest, chopped and pre-soaked in water.
Let it simmer for another 1 minute and turn off the heat. Our cranberry sauce is ready.
All that's left is to fry the cheese. Pour oil into a frying pan and heat it up. Take the cooled but not frozen cheese out of the freezer and place it in a frying pan. It fries quite quickly, you should constantly monitor it and turn it over on different sides.
When the cheese is fried on all sides, place it on paper towels to drain off excess oil. Decorate the plate with cranberry sauce, orange slices and lay out pieces of fried Camembert. The dish is ready.
Bon appetit!
How to marinate a product
The Czechs prepare an amazing appetizer that is served with beer. We invite you to appreciate the original taste of the pickled product.
Ingredients:
- Camembert cheese – 360 g;
- olive oil;
- onions – 3 pcs. red;
- Provencal herbs;
- sweet red paprika;
- garlic – 4 cloves;
- allspice – 3 peas;
- pickled pepper – 3 pcs. spicy;
- black pepper – 3 peas;
- bay leaf – 5 sheets.
Preparation:
- Cut the cheese into pieces. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped garlic cloves. Place in a jar.
- Cut the onions into rings. Cut the hot pepper. Send it to the jar. Sprinkle with herbs. Throw in the peppercorns. Chop the bay leaf. Pour in olive oil. Place in the refrigerator for 11 days.
Camembert cheese - recipes
Many exotic salads and desserts include this noble dairy product. You can find out what Camembert is, how to prepare cheese and what to serve it with, only by buying the coveted box and using good, proven recipes.
- It is advisable to serve dishes with Camembert while the cheese is still warm.
- It’s easier to fry camembert whole than cutting it into pieces, so you only have to work with one large slice. At the end of the frying process, the Camembert cheese is placed on a paper napkin to remove excess oil.
- Raspberries, blueberries and grapes go best with cheese, but if you wish, you can season it with any berries or jams. In its salted version, Camembert harmoniously combines with breading crumbs and dried herbs: thyme, rosemary, thyme.
Camembert cheese baked in the oven
The best way to surprise your guests with a new dish is to learn how to bake Camembert in the oven. You can eat it with a dessert spoon or by dipping pieces of soft croutons or crispy croutons into the viscous mass. The proposed recipe suggests preparing a mixture of dried cranberries and nuts. Eat by dipping the crouton into hot cheese, then into a plate with nuts and cranberries.
Ingredients:
- camembert – 2 pcs.;
- chopped pistachios, dried cranberries and dates (chopped) - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- honey - 2 tbsp. spoons.
Preparation
- Bake the camembert in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Make several cuts on top of the hot cheese and pour honey over it.
- Top with crumbled nuts, pistachios and dates.
- Serve immediately.
Fried camembert cheese
This delicacy is most often consumed not raw, fried camembert is a very popular recipe in Europe. The appetizer turns out tasty and crispy, it is not a shame to serve it to the table for guests or prepare it for breakfast or a quick light dinner. The dish would also be appropriate for a romantic date. The most delicate taste of the cheese and the incomparable piquancy of the dressing will not leave anyone indifferent.
Ingredients:
- cheese – 250 g;
- olive oil;
- salt, pepper - 1 pinch each;
- strawberry jam – 1 teaspoon;
- lemon juice – 1 teaspoon;
- lettuce leaves - 4 leaves;
- arugula – 1 handful;
- sesame – 10 g;
- chopped greens – 20 g.
Preparation
- Wash and dry the greens and leaves. Grind and mix, adding salt, pepper and oil.
- Beat the jam with lemon juice and add butter. Salt and pepper the mixture.
- Cut the cheese into triangles, fry in a frying pan with butter until golden brown.
- While frying, sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Place the roasted Camembert on top of the greens and serve immediately.
Marinated camembert cheese
This appetizer must be prepared in advance so that the soft Camembert cheese has time to soak in the aromas of herbs, spices and balsamic vinegar. Ideally, leave the dish to steep for two weeks, but better for a month. For the preparation you need a jar with a wide neck and a screw-on lid, the number of accompanying components is optional, you can put more or less to taste.
Ingredients:
- camembert – 2 pcs.;
- red onion – 1 pc.;
- oregano, marjoram – 1/2 teaspoon each;
- paprika – 1/4 teaspoon;
- garlic – 2 cloves;
- balsamic vinegar – 2-3 drops;
- olive oil;
- allspice – 3-5 peas;
- hot red pepper.
Preparation
- Cut the onion into half rings and the garlic into thin slices.
- Cut Camembert lengthwise into two discs. Sprinkle each part with paprika and add garlic, sprinkle with balsamic vinegar.
- Place both halves together.
- Place onion, garlic at the bottom of the jar, add peppercorns and hot peppers, then add cheese.
- Repeat layer of onions, garlic, peppers, herbs, sprinkle with vinegar.
- compact and pour olive oil.
Camembert cheese in the microwave
Extraordinarily tasty, aromatic Camembert baked in a microwave oven, which spreads over a piece of French baguette. The proposed version of the dessert is very minimalistic; if desired, the composition can be expanded with nuts or fresh berries. The filling can also be replaced with a savory one - made from herbs, spices and hot peppers.
Ingredients:
- Camembert – 150 g;
- Lingonberry confiture – 1 tbsp. spoon.
Preparation
- Place the cheese in the microwave for 1 minute. at a power of 1000 W.
- Take it out, make a cut, pour over the confiture.
- Serve immediately.
Grilled camembert cheese
One of the easiest ways to prepare a filling and appetizer is to learn about Camembert, how to eat it, and cook it on the grill in just 5 minutes. You can add some light snacks that need to be dipped in cheese in the style of fondue - pieces of croutons, fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, mushrooms and seafood. Small portions (90–120 g) are easy to turn over with a fork, large portions (250–350 g) are turned over with a spatula.
Ingredients:
- Camembert – 250 g;
- vegetable oil – 1 tbsp. spoon;
- baguette – 1 pc.;
- garlic – 1 clove.
Preparation
- Grease the cheese with butter.
- Slice the baguette and brush with butter on both sides.
- Place cheese and bread on grill. Fry on both sides for 3-5 minutes.
- Grilled Camembert is fried a little longer until the melted cheese appears on the surface.
Dessert with French Camembert cheese
The dessert is endowed with the most delicate, unique creamy taste and is very popular among the French.
Ingredients:
- walnuts – 55 g;
- black bread - 4 slices;
- honey – 15 g;
- lemon juice;
- apple – 1 pc.;
- Camembert cheese.
Preparation:
- Slice the apples. You should get thin slices. To prevent fruit slices from darkening, sprinkle with a small amount of lemon juice.
- Chop the nuts.
- Spread honey on the bread. Place the cheese slices so that there is space between them. Place the apple slices tightly in the reserved space. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with nuts.
- Place in the oven (185 degrees) for 23 minutes.
Dishes with Camembert
In addition to bread, recipes with Camembert cheese are combined with nuts, grapes, melon, and pears. To form a snack plate, in addition to cheeses, you need to prepare crackers, almonds and sweet, not too juicy berries.
- The cheese is served with the crust and sometimes cutting it off - it all depends on taste and preference.
- For alcoholic drinks, red wine is preferable.
- A very tasty combination of camembert and fresh croissant without filling.
- A combination of cheese and honey or sour berry jam will be unusual, but incredibly tempting.
- In France, camembert is often used to season soups, add to salads, or prepare pie filling.
Camembert cheese with deep-fried bacon
You can prepare an unusual snack using a recipe for fried Camembert cheese in the form of unsweetened balls breaded in sesame seeds. The delicious aroma of roasted grains will captivate lovers of unusual treats. The proposed version has a small spicy composition, it can be expanded with fresh herbs, dried garlic, bacon fried until crisp. Serve conveniently on skewers or toothpicks.
Ingredients:
- Camembert – 500 g;
- parmesan – 50 g;
- egg – 1 pc.;
- oregano - a pinch;
- flour – 100 g;
- sesame for breading;
- oil – 150 ml.
Preparation
- Combine dry ingredients separately, combine Camembert with grated Parmesan.
- Break the egg into the cheese mixture and stir.
- Add dry ingredients.
- Knead into a thick dough. Divide into balls, roll in sesame seeds.
- Fry in a frying pan with oil until golden brown.
- Sprinkle with crumbled bacon.
Pasta with Camembert
Italian connoisseurs note that Camembert cheese and dishes made from it are an excellent combination with pasta. In Italy, this is the name for pasta, which is served with sauce; the components complement each other, the food is easily digestible. Since pasta is made from durum wheat, there is no threat to your figure.
Ingredients:
- Camembert – 100 g;
- pasta – 250 g;
- cream – 200 ml;
- onion – 1 pc.;
- garlic – 1 clove;
- olive oil – 2 tbsp. spoons;
- black pepper – 0.25 teaspoon;
- grated nutmeg – 0.25 teaspoon;
- parsley - 0.5 bunch.
Preparation
- Boil the pasta.
- Fry chopped onion and garlic. Pour in cream, boil.
- Throw in the pieces of cheese, melt, but not completely.
- Season with spices and mix.
- Mix cheese sauce with pasta and herbs.
- Serve immediately while the pasta is hot and the cheese sauce is chewy and not set.
Camembert pie
Many chefs who like to experiment with baking have a question: how to properly cook Camembert cheese in the oven as a pie filling? The wonderful combination of cheese and pear has an indescribably refined, subtle taste. It is better to make the tart crust unleavened so as not to overpower the sweetness of the fruit and the piquancy of the cheese.
Ingredients:
- Camembert – 350 g;
- flour – 320 g;
- water – 200 ml;
- dry yeast – 5 g;
- olive oil – 6 tbsp. spoon;
- pears – 2 pcs.
Preparation
- Dissolve yeast and salt in water.
- Add flour, butter, knead the dough.
- Place in a warm place for half an hour. Knead and leave for another 40 minutes.
- Place in a low-sided pan, trim off any excess.
- Drizzle with oil and place slices of pears and camembert in layers.
- Bake at 200°C for 15 minutes.
Salad with fried camembert
Fig and bacon salad with Camembert cheese will be incredibly tasty. Guests will not soon forget such a treat; it will perfectly complement a romantic dinner and transform a boring home meal. It is better to dry the bacon in advance until crisp and brittle. Serve the dish immediately, while the Camembert is warm and not frozen.
Ingredients:
- salad mix – 2 handfuls;
- chopped nuts – 50 g;
- figs – 3 pcs.;
- smoked bacon (fried) – 4 pieces;
- cherry tomatoes – 6 pcs.;
- honey - 1 tbsp. spoon;
- Camembert – 250 g;
- toast - 4 slices;
- flour – 150 g;
- eggs – 3 pcs.;
- crumbs for breading.
For refueling:
- mustard – 1 tbsp. spoon;
- wine vinegar - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- olive oil – 4 tbsp. spoons;
- shallot – 1 pc.;
- spices.
Preparation
- Fry the fig halves in a frying pan in honey - no longer than a couple of minutes on each side.
- Place greens, cherry halves, chopped bacon and figs in a bowl.
- Crush the nuts on top.
- Cut the Camembert into eight identical triangles, roll each one step by step in flour, egg and crumbs.
- Place the cheese in a deep fryer preheated to 170°C. Remove when the pieces are golden brown.
- Place on a paper towel to absorb any remaining grease.
- Transfer the fried Camembert to a common bowl with the salad.
- Top everything with dressing and serve immediately.
Camembert cheese sauce
The best sauce for fondue or to complement a light vegetable snack. Camembert is a universal cheese; a sauce based on it is suitable for both dessert and fish plates. It’s tastier when mixed with cream, because Camembert retains its delicate taste and aroma. Although nutritionists note that the gravy made with milk is less fatty and more healthy.
Ingredients:
- butter – 40 g;
- flour – 1 tbsp. spoon;
- cream – 200 g;
- Camembert – 90 g;
- black pepper – 0.25 teaspoon.
Preparation
- Fry the flour, mix with melted butter.
- Stirring, heat until brown.
- Pour in the cream, whisking the mixture, and bring to a boil.
- Add spices and pieces of cheese.
- Simmer until the camembert melts.
- Serve either warm or chilled.
- Store no longer than two days in the refrigerator.
Salad with Camembert cheese
If you are tired of your usual snacks, we recommend preparing a tender, tasty and very light dish. This salad has an original look and taste. Ideal for any celebration.
Ingredients:
- avocado – 1 pc.;
- Camembert cheese – 145 g;
- salt;
- lemon – 0.5 pcs.;
- pepper;
- pear – 1 pc.;
- olive oil – 3 tbsp. spoons;
- green salad – 45 g.
How to eat Camembert cheese?
If you managed to find the original, you need to find out how to eat Camembert correctly.
- You don’t need to eat it cold, otherwise its flavor won’t develop. You need to let the product warm up to room temperature.
- It is recommended to serve natural Camembert cheese with young tart wine.
- Soft white, with pearlescent mold, Camembert cheese is combined with jam or fresh berries. It is often combined with fresh or caramelized pears.
- Camembert cheese is fried, baked, served as an independent dish or as a component for sandwiches.