Baked shortcrust pastry with cream cheese and brie can be made sweet or savory. Personal creativity can be used to make a signature treat, and ingredients like fresh herbs, fruit preserves, nuts, and mushrooms can be added. Store-bought pastry can be used for convenience.
The cooks know how to reach for a round of brie and a package of frozen or chilled pastry to create entrees that will bring guests to their knees. Baked shortcrust pastry is one of the easiest appetizers to make, but the counterbalance of cream cheese and crusty pastry suggests elegance fit for a queen. Both sweet and savory versions of this mouthwatering delicacy can be created in a snap.
Dozens of recipes are online, but the smart cook knows that a little personal creativity will result in a baked shortcrust pastry that could become a signature treat. While dedicated pastry chefs have no trouble whipping up the homemade puff pastry, phyllo, or cookie dough into which the cheese round will be filled, those with less time can purchase a handy version in the refrigerated or frozen food department of the grocery store. local. It takes just a minute to roll out the dough, place the cheese in it — crust and all — and wrap it up like a baby.
Home cooks can spice up this basic approach to baked shortbread by placing one or more fresh herbs on top of the cheese before wrapping it. Alternatively, layering the round of brie with any type of fruit preserves will result in a sweeter treat. A little maple syrup drizzled over the pastry before it’s tossed in the oven makes this version even better. For cooks who want to please both diners with a sweet tooth and those who prefer a more savory entrée, fruit preserves can be served on the side and the syrup omitted.
Mixing dried fruits, nuts and fresh herbs atop the round of brie makes for a holiday-worthy baked flaky pastry. Dried cherries, cranberries, or apricots pair well with toasted almonds, nut flakes or chopped walnuts, and a little rosemary or basil for the herbal note. Chopped ginger adds excitement for those who like to be surprised.
For cooks who prefer savory baked shortcrust pastry, stuffing the cheese with shitake, portobello or porcini mushrooms that have been sauteed with a little onion and fresh or dried herbs does the trick. Other savory possibilities include eggplant, chili, or garlic cloves that have roasted in the oven long enough to bring out their subtle sweetness. A thin slice or two of ham, smoked ham, or bacon is another savory option, and a little sun-dried tomato will result in a baked pastry reminiscent of a good old-fashioned BLT.
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