Sometimes it takes a village to develop a new recipe. To start, an email in my inbox loudly proclaimed "Free Brie cheese". I was sold right there. I didn't know what was required to get the free cheese. Base-jump from the Sears Tower? Crawl across a bridge writhing with snakes? Sit through 8 hours of George W. Bush bloopers? It didn't matter. I was up to the task. As it turns out, all I had to do was develop a holiday hors d'oeuvres recipe, using a wheel of Ile de France Brie cheese. Full disclosure here: I did in face receive a free wheel of their cheese (which I happen to adore) to make this recipe.
The salsa:
Peel and dice two Fuyu persimmons into ¼-inch pieces and place in a medium-sized bowl.
Add 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice and 4 large fresh basil leaves, chiffonaded (rolled and thinly sliced). Stir well Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Set the salsa aside for up to 2 hours.
The Brie:
Cut one (7 oz) wheel of Brie cheese into ½-inch slices and then cut each slice into 2-3 squares (depending on the length of the slice). You should have about 32 squares of Brie.
In a small bowl, beat 1 egg and, in a separate bowl, place 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs. Dip each piece of Brie cheese into the egg, letting the excess drip off and then press into the breadcrumbs, ensuring that both sides of cheese is covered by breadcrumbs.
Place on a plate and repeat the process with the remaining pieces of cheese. Cover and chill until ready to cook the cheese. This can be done up to 1 hour in advance.
Just before cooking the Brie, place approximately 32 table water (or other neutral-tasting hors d'oeuvres cracker) on a serving platter. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add about ⅓ of the breaded Brie pieces to the pan. Cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the bottoms of the cheese pieces are light golden brown. Using two forks, flip the pieces over and let the other side brown slightly, an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Immediately remove from the pan and place the Brie pieces on the crackers. Repeat with the remaining olive oil and breaded Brie pieces.
Top each piece of Brie with 2 to 3 teaspoons of the persimmon salsa. Serve.
Pan-Fried Brie Cheese with Persimmon Salsa Canapés
Salsa:
2 firm Fuyu persimmons, peeled and diced into ¼-inch pieces
2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
4 large fresh basil leaves, chiffonaded (rolled and thinly sliced)
Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese:
1 (7 oz) wheel of Brie cheese
1 egg
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
3 teaspoon olive oil, divided
32 (approximately) table water crackers, or another neutral-tasting hors d'oeuvres cracker
Salsa:
Place the diced persimmon in a medium-sized bowl. Add lime juice and basil. Stir well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set the salsa aside for up to 2 hours.
Brie:
Cut the Brie cheese into ½-inch slices and then cut each slice into 2-3 squares (depending on the length of the slice). You should have about 32 squares of Brie. In a small bowl, beat the egg and, in a separate bowl, place the panko breadcrumbs. Dip each piece of Brie cheese into the egg, letting the excess drip off and then press into the breadcrumbs, ensuring that both sides of cheese is covered by breadcrumbs. Place on a plate and repeat the process with the remaining pieces of cheese. Cover and chill until ready to cook the cheese. This can be done up to 1 hour in advance.
Just before cooking the Brie, place the crackers on a serving platter. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add about ⅓ of the breaded Brie pieces to the pan. Cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the bottoms of the cheese pieces are light golden brown. Using two forks, flip the pieces over and let the other side brown slightly, an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute. Immediately remove from the pan and place the Brie pieces on the crackers. Repeat with the remaining olive oil and breaded Brie pieces.
Top each piece of Brie with 2 to 3 teaspoons of the persimmon salsa. Serve.
Makes approximately 32 hors d'oeuvres.
Elin
Wow...CC this is so good and I want to grab it from your post here. So delicious looking. As usual this is another winner for sure. Thanks CC for sharing the recipe. Great combo!
Miranda
This is a great recipe for the upcoming holiday functions...Thank you.
AppleC
Super App! I love brie but unfort. I'm the only one in this twosome who does.
This looks like a great way I can get my brie fix by serving it to friends and family.
Patty
Holy Smokes! I love brie and I can't get enough of persimmons! I generally eat persimmons straight up, but this is a wonderful spin on persimmons AND salsa! Thanks so much for sharing!
SouffleBombay
Different and lovely, thank you!
Lea Ann
What a great combination and so pretty. Can't wait to try this one.
janet
I've never tried a persimmon, but this looks amazing!
Chocolate Shavings
What a great way to use Persimmons, this looks delicious!
Bellini Valli
Brie and a fruit salsa have to be a combination worth waiting for.
5 Star Foodie
5 Stars! I love this, what a genius combination with fried brie and persimmon salsa! Picking up persimmons in the store tomorrow to make these!
Chef Fresco
Very nice creation! Looks delicious!
pegasuslegend
delicious for any party a real eye pleaser 🙂
The Foodie Forkful
This looks great! I've got some leftover brie loitering in my fridge that could find it's use here.
Diana Bauman
You had me at persimmons! I love how you've made them into a salsa, perfect!
Tasty Eats At Home
OH man oh man! You had me at fried brie...but this looks amazing.
MaryMoh
looks very pretty and delicious. Great for party.
Jessie
great appetizers, I'm very intrigued by the pan fried brie cheese, i am so tempted to try that!
Claudia
From start to finish this is a no-holds-barred perfect appetizer. Who doesn't love brie? Who doesn't love melted cheese? And the salsa is perfect.