Ooh la La! How To Cook Camembert at Home

Rich and gooey, with a powerful aroma, camembert is one of the most popular French cheeses. You may be surprised to discover just how quick and easy it is to prepare at home. This pungent cheese is a real crowd-pleaser, so use these tips next time you’ve got a special dinner party planned.

How to cook camembert cheese

There are several different ways to cook camembert. You might want to try adding it to a soup for a rich texture and unmistakably cheesy flavour. It also works really well in toasted sandwiches, particularly when it’s paired with some sweet cranberry sauce. However, the most popular method of all has to be a whole baked camembert.

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How to bake camembert

Don’t throw away the wooden box that the camembert comes packaged in. It’s the perfect container for cooking the cheese.

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Remove any wrapping from the cheese and place it back in its box. Put the lid underneath the base of the box for stability.
• Lightly score the top of the cheese in a lattice pattern. Add any flavourings you wish. Finely sliced garlic is a classic choice, along with rosemary or thyme. Season with plenty of black pepper.
• Place the cheese on a baking tray and cook for about 30 minutes. When ready, it should be soft and wobbly.
• Let the cheese rest for 5 minutes before serving with bread or some other kind of dipper. This baked camembert recipe uses funky pesto pastry pinwheels.

How to air-fry camembert

Yes, you can cook camembert in the air fryer. Set the heat to 180°C and prepare the cheese just like in the previous recipe. Place the box into the air fryer and cook for around 10 minutes.

Camembert cheese vs brie

Brie is produced in large wheels and sold in wedges, while camembert is produced in small, individual wheels. However, the two cheeses are quite similar, and you can substitute camembert for brie in most cheese recipes. Keep in mind that the flavour will be quite different, though. Brie and camembert have similar textures, but brie is a very mild cheese. Camembert has a pungent aroma and powerful flavour. If you’re preparing food for brie-loving kids, they may not enjoy the more intense taste of camembert.

What to eat with camembert

Camembert pairs really well with something sweet. On this camembert and serrano ham charcuterie board recipe, sweet onion marmalade is added to cut through the intensity of the cheese. Fresh cherries or grapes are another great choice.

For something more savoury, try serving a baked camembert with sautéed mushrooms on toast. Both the mushrooms and the cheese have strong earthy notes, which complement each other perfectly.

Other types of cheese

Food trends come and go, but cheese will never go out of fashion. If you’re a fan of soft, white-rind cheeses like camembert and brie, then try Saint-André cheese. This is another French delicacy, but be warned — it’s got more fat than its cousins, which gives it a richer flavour but also makes it dangerous for calorie counters! Reblochon and Coulommiers are other good options for camembert substitutes.

Toma cheese is an interesting Italian alternative. It doesn’t have the soft, white rind of its French cousins, but it has a smooth, creamy texture and a slight nuttiness that is definitely reminiscent of camembert.

Best camembert recipes

Baked camembert is a classic dish. One of the easiest ways to switch things up is by changing the things you serve with it. Flatbreads and garlic bread are good choices, but if you’re a keen baker, you might want to try something a little more complicated. For a dinner party treat, try making a tear-and-share wreath of brioche or other bread balls with a whole camembert in the centre.

As camembert is popular at Christmas time, try incorporating some festive flavours. Slice it thickly and serve it in a toastie with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce for the perfect Boxing Day snack.

FAQs

How long should you cook camembert?

It will take about 30 minutes to bake a whole camembert in the oven. If you have an air fryer, that cooking time will be reduced to just 10 minutes.

Do you eat the skin on camembert cheese?

Yes. Just like brie, camembert has a perfectly edible rind. It is soft and has a unique flavour of its own.

What does camembert cheese taste like?

Camembert has an earthy, slightly nutty flavour. If you’re used to the mild flavour of brie, then you might be surprised by its pungent intensity. The flavour is generally stronger after baking, as the cooking process really brings out the cheese’s strength.

Can you substitute camembert for brie?

Yes, but the results will not be exactly the same. Camembert has a much stronger flavour than brie, although the two cheeses have the same texture.

Can camembert be eaten raw?

Yes, raw camembert is a popular addition to a cheeseboard. When eaten raw, it tastes a little milder than it does when cooked. It pairs well with rich ham like serrano or parma ham and something sweet like cherries, grapes or some kind of preserve.