Camembert Apricot Appetizer Recipes

HERB AND GARLIC BAKED CAMEMBERT

Steps:

• Heat:
• The oven to 350°F.
• Assemble:
• Most Camembert comes in a little wooden crate. If yours does, remove the crate lid and any packaging or wrappers around the cheese, and place it back inside the basket. Yes, it is safe to bake it right in there for the short time that this recipe calls for. If you're nervous about leakage, you can wrap the Camembert in foil or line the basket with parchment paper as a layer of protection. Place the cheese in the wooden crate on a baking tray.
• With a thin sharp knife, make gridlike cuts in the cheese, 3 or 4 in each direction, about 1 inch apart and going about 1 inch deep into the cheese but without cutting through the bottom rind. Use your knife tip to "open" each cut and your fingers to press a little sliver of garlic into each cut. Combine the olive oil with the thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a small dish. Spread thickly on top of the cheese.
• Bake:
• For 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is loose inside the rind. Serve immediately with crackers.

CAMEMBERT APRICOT APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Start by placing one sheet of phyllo on a baking sheet.
• Brush a thin layer of melted butter on one side.
• Add the next sheet on top of the butter.
• Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have the appropriate amount of sheets 'glued' together.
• Place the whole cheese on one side of the pastry leaving a 2 inch border.
• Spoon your jam on top of the cheese (one side only).
• Fold the pastry around the cheese remembering to keep the jam side up.
• Tuck the ends under the cheese to create a tidy pocket.
• Remember that if you can see the cheese, it can leak out.
• Brush the jam side with melted butter.
• Place in the center of the baking sheet JAM SIDE UP and bake approx 10-15 minutes.
• Serve whole on a platter with plain crackers (I use Carr's table water crackers).
• Add knife or spreader so everyone can help themselves.
• Everyone loves this appetizer.
• DO NOT PREPARE THIS AHEAD OF TIME (UNLESS IT IS JUST TO RE-HEAT IN THE OVEN).

PEARS AND CAMEMBERT

Steps:

• Slice cheese wheel in half crosswise; set aside. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced pear, and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in brandy, and cook 1 minute more. Add rosemary, and stir to combine. Remove from heat, and spread pear mixture over bottom half of reserved sliced cheese wheel, reserving 2 tablespoons mixture for garnish. Transfer cheese to serving plate.
• Return skillet to stove, and heat balsamic vinegar and honey until simmering. Simmer mixture until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool, about 5 minutes. Pour half the glaze over cheese and reserved pear mixture; top with remaining half of cheese wheel and pears. Drizzle with remaining glaze, and garnish with walnut halves and rosemary. Serve immediately.

TARTE AU CAMEMBERT (FRENCH CHEESE TART)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Beat eggs in a medium bowl; add heavy cream, green onions, salt, and pepper and mix well. Pour into the crust.
• Slice Camembert thinly and add to the filling. Place tart on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden and cheese is melted and a bit crunchy, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

CAMEMBERT APRICOT CHICKEN PARCELS

Steps:

• Coat a pan with cooking spray, heat and cook the chicken until browned on both sides.
• Remove from the pan, cool and thinly slice.
• Preheat oven to 200°C.
• Coat a flat oven tray with cooking spray.
• Lay 3 sheets of phyllo together, light spraying between each sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange 1/6 of the chicken into the centre of the pastry and top with some cheese, mint and apricots.
• Roll pastry up to enclose chicken and to form a parcel.
• Place on the prepared tray.
• Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 6 parcels.
• Bake in the oven for about 20-30 minutes or until golden.