French cheeses are considered delicacies. They are distinguished by a delicate and refined taste. One of the representatives of such products is Camembert cheese. Customer reviews testify to its excellent taste and unusual aroma. This cheese usually does not sit in the refrigerator and is eaten very quickly. How to use Camembert? And what is its use? Let's try to figure it out.
A bit of history
The birthplace of Camembert is France. This country is famous for its cheese making. Camembert was originally produced as one of the versions of the famous mold brie cheese. However, over time, large discrepancies arose in the formulation of the product. In addition, in different regions of France, cow milk differed in composition and taste. The result was a new variety of cheese, which was completely different in taste, aroma and texture to brie. It is called the Camembert.
At first, this cheese was known only in France. In 1890, a special wooden box was created to transport the product. Since then, Camembert has spread throughout the world.
What does cheese look like?
Camembert is made from cow's milk, which is not pasteurized. His recipe uses a special mold, Penicillium camamberti.
The texture of the cheese is soft and viscous. The pulp has a light yellow color. Sometimes when cutting a piece in the middle, a semi-liquid substance is found. This is not a defect, on the contrary, such cheese is very appreciated by gourmets.
Outside, the Camembert is covered with a dense white crust of mold. It may have streaks of red or brown.
The pulp has a slightly island creamy taste. The crust of cheese is also edible. It tastes like champignons. Buyers note the mushroom flavor of Camembert cheese. The reviews also mention the smell of earth or eggs. If a piece of the product gives away ammonia, then this is a sign of overripe low-quality cheese.
Camembert is produced in the form of cylinders with a diameter of 11 cm. The cheese heads always have the same size. This is a delicious and expensive product. Camembert price is about 2000 rubles per 1 kg.
Structure
Camembert can be attributed to a rather nutritious type of cheese. 100 g of this product contains about 300 calories. Fat content is about 50-60%. Therefore, people who want to lose weight should eat this kind of cheese in moderation.
Camembert is rich in phosphorus, sodium and calcium. By eating a 100-gram slice of cheese, a person receives half the daily allowance of these trace elements. The product also contains many vitamins, especially group B.
Benefit
Camembert cheese contains useful trace elements (phosphorus, calcium), which are necessary for bone strength. Therefore, doctors recommend including this delicacy in the menu for fractures. This will speed up bone fusion. Cheese can also be beneficial for dental health. Regular use of the product prevents tooth decay.
Camembert contains potassium and magnesium. These are minerals that support heart health and strengthen blood vessels. Mold cheese has a very small amount of lactose. Therefore, people with intolerance to this substance can safely feast on the delicacy.
Mold crust contains beneficial bacteria. Therefore, camembert should be included in the menu for intestinal dysbiosis. In addition, white mold contains melanin. This substance increases the skin's resistance to ultraviolet radiation and prevents sunburn.
Possible harm
Camembert cheese with white mold can be eaten by far to all people. It is better for pregnant women and nursing mothers to abandon this treat. The product should not be given to children under 7 years of age. This is due to the fact that unpasteurized milk is used in the production of cheese. It may contain harmful bacteria - listeria.
Camembert usually goes on sale after a long exposure, and the likelihood of infection with listeriosis is extremely small. However, such a risk cannot be completely ruled out.
In addition, Camembert is not recommended for people with obesity, hypertension, and also with high cholesterol. This cheese has a fairly high fat content.
Healthy people can eat about 50 grams of Camembert per day. Such a small portion is harmless to the body and does not lead to the appearance of extra pounds.
As it is
How to eat Camembert cheese? This delicacy is never consumed cold. At low temperatures, its taste worsens, and the texture becomes like butter. After you take the cheese out of the refrigerator, you need to cut it right away. The knife must be moistened with hot water, otherwise it will stick to the pulp. Then put the pieces on a plate. Before serving, they need to hold for 30-40 minutes at room temperature.
On the head of the camembert, mucus sometimes forms, it must be removed from the surface. If the cheese contains a liquid part inside, then you can serve small tablespoons to the table.
Does mold need to be cut? This is not necessary at all. The crust is quite edible, and many connoisseurs of Camembert love its taste. It is a food mold that does no harm to the body. However, if you do not like the sharp mushroom taste and smell, then you can cut off the crust.
What to combine with
In France, this cheese is eaten with fresh homemade bread or spread on a slice of baguette, sprinkled with olive oil. You can make delicious sandwiches with camembert and toasted bread.
This product goes well with red wines. The amount of alcohol should be small, otherwise you will not feel the peculiar taste of the delicacy. Alcohol is only a complement to cheese. Camembert should be washed down with small sips of wine.
This gourmet delicacy can be enjoyed on the festive table. If you are preparing a cheese plate, then you should add crackers, almonds and grapes to it. Camembert is also combined with pieces of melon, apple or pear.
An unusual combination of flavors can be created from Camembert and honey. Jam from acidic varieties of berries is also suitable for cheese.
Camembert can serve as an ingredient for preparing various dishes. It is added to salads, soups, pizza, pies.
There is an interesting French cappuccino recipe. Cut a crust from the Camembert and throw a small piece of pulp into the coffee. It is believed that cheese gives the drink a nourishing and unusual taste.
Customer opinion
Buyers leave a lot of positive reviews about Camembert cheese. People note the pleasant, unusual taste of this product. This cheese is very easy to cut. However, smearing it is not so easy, so many lovers put it on bread slices.
Some buyers said that the taste of cheese reminded them of raw minced meat. However, such flavors are not at all characteristic of Camembert. It is possible that in this case it was a poor-quality product. Most people have a mushroom, creamy, or nutty flavor.
Negative reviews about Camembert cheese are associated with its pronounced smell. Not all gourmets like fragrant cheese products. However, the peculiarity of this delicacy lies precisely in the unusual aroma. This smell gives the cheese a white mold.
You can find reports that Camembert smells like ammonia. This is a clear sign of spoiled cheese. In no case should you eat such a product. Fresh camembert may smell like mold, but there should be no ammonia in its aroma.