Brie En Croute

Fresh cherries have started to appear, but their taste leaves much to be desired. Many of them are, unfortunately, pare cherries, meaning imported cherries sold under a Romanian name, a reality of our market economy. But don't let this discourage you! I have prepared a delicious appetizer recipe using cherry jam, which will turn a disappointing situation into an explosion of flavors.

To start, we take care of the puff pastry, which needs to be cold, so leave it in the refrigerator before use. Then, we place the dough on a floured surface and roll it out carefully until it reaches a thickness of about half a centimeter. Depending on the size of the cheese we are using, we cut the dough, leaving a margin to fold the edges.

On each piece of dough, we put a teaspoon of honey, followed by a tablespoon of cherry jam. These will add a touch of sweetness that will contrast perfectly with the cheese. We sprinkle some toasted and sliced nuts on top, which will provide an extra texture and flavor. Here, you can choose between brie or mozzarella, but I warmly recommend brie cheese, which melts wonderfully and perfectly complements the dish.

After adding the cheese, we brush the edges of the dough with a mixture of beaten egg yolk and a little milk. This will help seal the dish and give it a beautiful golden color at the end. We fold the dough over the filling, forming a package, and turn the package with the open side down. Then we place everything on a baking tray, on which we have put a sheet of parchment paper to prevent sticking.

To give it an attractive appearance, we shape the dish as best as we can, brush with the remaining egg mixed with milk, and put it in the preheated oven. We bake for about half an hour, until the dough becomes golden and crispy.

This appetizer is so simple to make and incredibly delicious at the same time! When it's time to serve, cut it while it's warm, so the cheese flows onto the plate, creating a special presentation. This aspect is hard to capture in photos, but the aroma and taste will speak for themselves. You can accompany it with a fresh salad or serve it alongside some fruits and salty crackers for a perfect combination of textures and flavors. You will surely impress anyone who tastes it!