Camembert Fondue Food

CAMEMBERT FONDUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderate heat (180 to 200 deg).
• Place camembert on baking paper or foil. Place on oven tray.
• Drizzle camembert with oil and wine, then sprinkle with garlic and thyme.
• Wrap, seal and bake in oven for about 20 minutes or until centre of cheese is soft.
• Dip in with crusty baguette slices!

CAMEMBERT FONDUE WITH TRUFFLE ESSENCE

Steps:

• In a 1-quart heavy saucepan cook shallot in unsalted butter, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add cream and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to about 2/3 cup. Remove pan from heat and stir in truffle butter or oil until incorporated. Season sauce with salt and pepper and sprinkle with chives.
• Cut Camembert into 4 pieces and arrange on 4 plates. Divide warm sauce among plates, spooning it on either side of cheese. Arrange pear slices, grapes, and walnuts around cheese and serve bread on the side.
• *available at some specialty food shops

MOLTEN FRENCH CAMEMBERT POTATO GRATIN WITH BACON AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 210C,425°F.
• Grease an ovenproof dish, I use a French Poele, a small pan like earthenware dish with a handle, but any oven proof dish which is fairly deep will be okay!
• Peel and boil the potatoes whole; cook for about 20-25 mins or until JUST tender but still holding their shape well.Plunge them into cold water to stop them cooking and set them to one side.
• Meanwhile, heat up a frying pan and cook the lardons or bacon cubes together with the diced onions. Cook them over a medium heat, pouring away any excess fat. Fry them until the bacon is crispy but not too brown and the onions are tender.
• Mix together the creme fraiche and glass of wine. Season the mixture very well with black pepper and just a touch of salt, as the bacon will be salty.
• Take your Camembert cheese and very carefully slice it into two pieces horizontally.
• Drain the cooled potatoes and cut them into 1/4" thick slices. Layer half of them in to the greased oven proof dish and then cover with half of the onion and bacon mixture.
• Pour over half of the wine and creme fraiche mixture. Place one half of the whole Camembert on top. Repeat the layer in the same order: potatoes, bacon and onion mixture, wine and creme fraiche mixture and end the layers by placing the last half a Camembert cheese on top.
• Season with black pepper again and just a pinch of salt if you wish.
• Bake in a pre-heated oven for about 45 minutes or until the gratin is brown and bubbling.
• Set to one side for about 3-5 minutes, it firms up a bit and is easier to serve then!
• Serve with a big bowl of crisp green salad, assorted Charcuterie such as cold meats, salami, terrine and sausage AND not forgetting crusty bread to mop all those juices up with!
• Great with a well chilled and dry white wine such as Chablis or Chardonnay.

CAMEMBERT FONDUE WITH TRUFFLE ESSENCE

Steps:

• In a 1-quart heavy saucepan cook shallot in unsalted butter, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened.
• Add cream and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to about 2/3 cup.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in truffle butter or oil until incorporated.
• Season sauce with salt and pepper and sprinkle with chives.
• Cut Camembert into 4 pieces and arrange on 4 plates.
• Divide warm sauce among plates, spooning it on either side of cheese.
• Arrange pear slices, grapes, and walnuts around cheese and serve bread on the side.