Brie en croûte

Brie en croûte is an elegant and tempting dish, perfect as an appetizer or a main in the event of a special dinner. Here is the recipe for a delicious Italian-style Brie en croûte, with a touch of pesto to give it a unique flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 rectangular puff pastry roll
• 1 Brie cheese of about 250-300 grams
• 2-3 tablespoons of Genoese pesto
• 1 egg (to brush the puff pastry)
• Sesame or poppy seeds (optional, for garnish)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Roll out the puff pastry on a work surface, without removing the parchment paper that comes with it. If the puff pastry is too thick, roll it out slightly with a rolling pin.
3. Place the Brie cheese in the center of the puff pastry.
4. Spread the pesto evenly over the Brie cheese.
5. Fold the puff pastry around the Brie, sealing it well to avoid the cheese escaping during baking. You can cut off excess pastry pieces and use them to decorate the top.
6. In a small bowl, beat the egg. Brush the surface of the puff pastry with the beaten egg to give it gloss and color.
7. If desired, sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds on the surface for decoration.
8. Carefully transfer the Brie en croûte onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the puff pastry becomes golden and crispy.
10. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Trivia

Brie is often defined as “the king of cheeses,” and its origins are in the Île-de-France region near Paris. This recipe with pesto, a traditional Ligurian sauce made of basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan, creates a pleasant contrast between the creaminess of the Brie and the fresh, aromatic taste of the pesto, thus offering a combination of French cuisine and Italian flavors.