Easy Baked Brie with Manuka and Rosemary
Easy Baked Camembert or Baked Brie
Baked soft cheese is well known around the world in various interesting and delicious ways. In France, a wheel of baked Camembert is known as Camembert en Croute when wrapped in delicious puff pastry, and our recipe includes Manuka Pastry twists for dipping into your gooey baked cheese. Brie, Camembert, or any soft cheese with a firm rind are interchangeable in this recipe, so just use your favourite. With the spice of chili flakes and the aromatic herb rosemary, along with the rich sweetness of Manuka Honey and all its natural benefits, this is a simple, delicious and comforting snack to share, or a meal for two with a fresh side salad - try Sheryl's Roast Beetroot Manuka and Walnut Salad.
INGREDIENTS
2 sheets all natural frozen Puff Pastry (we have used one from a local New Zealand bakery, Paneton) or make puff pastry from scratch.
2 tbsp Manuka Honey, plus extra for drizzling
1 egg, beaten with a fork
Pinch of chili flakes
Pinch of sea salt
Small handful of rosemary, finely chopped
1
Sprinkle some flour onto your bench and roll a sheet of pastry onto it, dusting the top with a little more flour. Roll out just a little so the pastry is malleable, then lift the pastry onto your baking paper. Repeat with your second piece of pastry.
2
Spread your Manuka Honey over the first sheet of pastry, leaving about a 1/2 inch border, then gently lift up your second piece and place over the top of the manuka coating.
3
Unwrap the Camembert and place it in the centre. Score a criss-cross pattern through the top rind and heat the oven to 200°C, then, using a sharp knife, make slices radiating from the cheese out to the edge of the pastry. Your pastry ‘fronds’ will make your crispy pastry twists that you’ll be dipping into your gooey cheese!
4
Take a table knife and slide it under one segment, lifting it a little off the paper. Twist it around a few times all along the length, like making a cheese straw. Lay the twisted segment back down on to the paper, and repeat all the way around so you now have a starburst of pastry with the cheese in the middle.
Brush the pastry all over with beaten egg then sprinkle with sea salt and chill flakes. Drizzle some Manuka Honey over the top to caramelize.
5
Bake in the oven for around 25 minutes until the pastry is golden and crispy.
To eat... (yes we are giving you instructions on how to eat!) Tear off each twist of Manuka pastry and dip it into the cheese, or use a spoon to scoop the gooey cheese out onto the pastry if you prefer.
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