Layered Brie With Pesto Food

AIR FRYER BAKED BRIE WITH PESTO, SUNDRIED TOMATOES AND ARTICHOKE HEARTS

Steps:

• Preheat an air fryer to 350°F.
• Brush both sides of the sliced bread with the olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper. Transfer to the air fryer basket, shingling the slices so they all fit snuggly. Air fry until golden brown and toasted, flipping halfway through, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the artichokes, sundried tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of the pesto in a medium bowl until evenly combined. Set aside. Whisk the egg with a splash of water in a small bowl and set the egg wash aside.
• Dust a clean worksurface or cutting board lightly with flour. Roll out the puff pastry to a 14-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut 1/4-inch-wide strips of dough off the shorter end to create a 12-by-12-inch square, reserving the strips for decorating.
• Brush the center of the square of puff pastry lightly with the egg wash. Lay the reserved strips at an angle in a crisscross pattern in the center of the square of pastry, 4 going in one direction and 4 in the other. Press down gently to adhere. Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the puff pastry, then use the parchment paper to help flip the whole thing over so the crisscross pattern is now facing down.
• Spoon the artichoke-sundried tomato mixture into the center of the dough, then top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of pesto and the wheel of brie. Fold the puff pastry up and over the brie, brushing the edges with a little egg wash and pinching to seal. Flip the puff pastry-wrapped brie over so the crisscross design is now on top. Brush the entire exterior of the pastry with the egg wash, then refrigerate until the pastry is chilled, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat an air fryer to 375°F. Place the brie in the center of the air fryer basket and air fry until the pastry is golden brown and cooked through, about 18 minutes.
• Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve warm with the toasted bread, crackers, sliced bell peppers and endive.

ELEGANT BAKED BRIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cut Brie cheese horizontally in half, creating two equal rounds similar to a layered cake. Spread pesto sauce on the cut surface of 1 half; sprinkle pine nuts and brown sugar over pesto layer. Place the other Brie half on top of pesto mixture.
• Separate crescent rolls and cover entire Brie round with crescent roll dough, sealing all the gaps. Place covered Brie on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until Brie cheese is softened and crescent rolls are lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

LAYERED PESTO CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Line a 3-cup bowl with plastic wrap; set aside. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. In another bowl, combine pesto and Parmesan cheese. Layer half of the cream cheese mixture, pesto mixture and sun-dried tomatoes in prepared bowl. Repeat layers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour., Unmold onto a serving plate. Serve with crackers.

BRIE WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Prepare pesto by combining basil, pine nuts, garlic and Parmesan cheese in food processor; pulse to chop. Slowly add olive oil through feed tube and process until finely chopped and blended into a paste. Remove cheese from container and wrapper and slip in half horizontally to make two rounds of brie. Spread pesto on bottom circle, reserving small amount for garnish. Top with remaining circle. Garnish on top with remaining pesto, sprinkling of pine nuts. Wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight. To serve, unwrap cheese, place on serving plate and serve with crackers. NOTE: You may also use a commercial brand of pesto or use sun-dried tomatoes in oil. If using tomatoes, drain completely and pulse to fine chop in food processor.

LAYERED BRIE WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Cover tomatoes with hot water and soak for 30 minutes.
• Drain well.
• Chop in food processor.
• Add olive oil and lemon juice and process until mixture is pureed.
• Season with pepper.
• Set aside Freeze Brie for 2 hours to firm.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• With sharp knife, split Brie in half horizontally.
• Spread base with pesto and then with sun-dried tomato mixture.
• Leave 1/4" from edge.
• Cover with top of Brie and press together gently.
• Bake for 10 minutes to just soften cheese.
• Top with pinenuts, pressing gently into skin of Brie.
• Serve with crackers and fruit for spreading and dipping.