Cheese is one of the most important food items that we have out there. It is so versatile that you could hardly have a dish go wrong if you are integrating cheese into it. There are various types of cheeses out there, but there is none that is as versatile as brie cheese. This cheese is regarded as the black dress of the cheese family.
Brie cheese is suitable for almost anything. It doesn’t matter if you are having it melted or spread, it works just fine. It can be made using cow or goat milk and is easily recognized by the edible white rind surrounding the entire cheese. If you haven’t had brie cheese before, here’s a chance to know what it tastes like.
What does brie cheese taste like? The flavor of brie cheese is very similar to that of camembert cheese. To many, it tastes grassy, salty, nutty, fruity, and like mushrooms. The taste cannot be compared to other cheeses like gruyere cheese or gouda cheese. When compared to camembert cheese, brie cheese has a milder taste with a more buttery creamy feel to it. For camembert, the taste and flavors are earthy and more intense.
The white mold rind covering brie cheese is also edible and very rich in flavor. Brie cheese might be very versatile, but it needs to be kept in the coldest part of your refrigerator else it will go bad too quickly.
Nutritional Benefits of Brie Cheese
Brie cheese is a good source of fat and nutrients. It is also filled with vitamins, minerals, and protein. In a slice of brie cheese, you have a calorie count of 100, 4 grams of saturated fat, 4 grams of protein, 5 grams of unsaturated fat, 150mg of sodium, 60 percent of the daily value (DV) for vitamin A and 20 percent for vitamin B12.
You also have calcium and riboflavin in brie cheese. The saturated fats in brie cheese come from the cow milk used during its production process. Saturated fats have a bad reputation for doing damage to the heart’s health. Little amounts would not put you at the risk of a heart attack.
Did you know that you can get as much protein that you can get from one egg from brie cheese? Brie cheese is a very good source of protein. Protein is essential for bodybuilding and cell development. Brie cheese is also a good source of vitamin B12 and riboflavin. The combination of all these vitamins, nutrients, and minerals is vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Calcium helps strengthen the bones in the body and also increases their density. Vitamin A benefits eyesight, phosphorus helps to reduce fatigue and replenish energy, while vitamin B2 helps to facilitate the circulation of blood through the body. Brie cheese also contains vitamin K2, it plays an important role in the body by helping to promote arterial health. It also helps to reduce the risk of cancer and heart-related diseases.
Culinary Uses of Brie Cheese
If any cheese deserves the title of the Queen of cheeses, it should go to brie cheese because of its versatility. For some, brie cheese could be an acquired taste, but once you get used to the taste, the flavor seems more exciting.
The soft, buttery, and creamy texture of brie cheese make it a perfect addition to many recipes and dishes. This texture also makes it perfect for any kind of cutting you wish to use on it. There are a lot of cuttings you can try out on brie cheese, if you have a cheese cutter, you would enjoy using it on brie cheese. The cheese just slides effortlessly on the cutter instead of making a mess of things.
When choosing what to pair with brie cheese, you pick food items that complement the flavor of the cheese, not overwhelm it. Brie cheese can be complemented with plum chutney, walnuts, and honey. If you want it as a snack, you can heat brie cheese in the oven and enjoy it with a cup of wine.
Brie cheese can be enjoyed in sandwiches. Instead of baking, you can grill the cheese. It has the same texture as baked cheese, but there is that smoky feel of cooking over an open fire. If you like barbecue, you might enjoy smoked brie cheese.
Brie cheese also feels right at home in Fondue Ricotta Brie. Pairing brie cheese with sweet fruits is also a perfectly good way to enjoy brie cheese.
What is the Origin of Brie Cheese? How to Procure It?
Brie cheese is named after the region from which it originated; Brie, Seine-et-Marne. It is pale in color, a grayish hue under the edible white rind that surrounds the cheese.
The flavor of brie cheese depends on the items that are used in its production process. In the US and Australia, the milk used in making brie cheese is supposed to be pasteurized by law, but in most of Europe, it is not.
Brie cheese is made from semi-skimmed or whole milk. You can obtain the curd for the cheese by adding rennet to raw milk then warm to a temperature of 99F. It is at this point that the cheese is cast, layer by layer into molds and then drained for approximately 8 hours. After this, the cheese is removed from the molds, salted, inoculated, and then left to age for 4 to 5 weeks.
If you walk in any store or department, brie cheese shouldn’t be too hard to get.
What is Brie Cheese Similar to?
If you can’t get your hands on brie cheese, camembert cheese will be your next best replacement. They have a very similar flavor profile although the flavors from camembert are deeper and earthy.
Facts You Don’t Know About Brie Cheese
- Brie cheese that has been made with unpasteurized milk and left to mature for years in cool cellars in the Brie region which is southwest of Paris is very expensive.
- Brie cheese and some other types of popular cheeses are banned by the FDA in the US due to the bacteria levels.