Cheese and challah: Uncharted territory

(The Nosher via JTA) – I think you know by now that I will try to stuff challah with almost anything: meatballs, pesto, pastrami and even candy bars. So it just seemed silly that I had yet to try and stuff some challah with an entire wheel of cheese. It was time to tackle this uncharted territory.

But I guess it should come as no shock: challah wrapped around some brie is delicious, decadent and a great party appetizer, whether it’s for New Year’s Eve, an evening with friends and a case of wine, or Shavuot.

Here are a few tips for executing this recipe.

* Leave the Brie in the fridge until the very last moment before ready to bake.

* Don’t worry that the Brie will get too gooey – some will likely leak out, and that’s just part of the messy delicious fun.

* Experiment with different jams or chutneys for fun flavor combinations. Because it was fall and I had leftover cranberry sauce, that’s what I used. But you could also use a spicy pepper jelly, a mango chutney, raspberry jam, apple butter or fig jam.

You can use any plain challah recipe you like for this. My recipe should be split into two and can be made into two baked Bries for a large party, or you can make one baked brie and one regular challah.

Challah Baked Brie

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tablespoons dry active yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

4 1/2-5 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour (preferably King Arthur)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 tablespoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 wheel Brie, rind left on

1/4 cup cranberry sauce, chutney or jam of your choice

1 egg beaten

Thick sea salt, dried rosemary (optional)

Directions:

In a small bowl, place yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar and lukewarm water. Allow to sit approximately 10 minutes, until it becomes foamy on top.

In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, salt and sugar. After the water-yeast mixture has become foamy, add to flour mixture along with oil. Mix thoroughly. 

Add another 1 cup of flour and eggs; mix until smooth. Switch to the dough hook attachment if you are using a stand mixer.

Add another 1 1/2-2 cups of flour, mixing thoroughly, then remove from bowl and place on a floured surface. Knead remaining 1/2 cup flour into dough, continuing to knead for approximately 5 minutes (or however long your hands will last). 

Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with damp towel. Allow to rise at least 3 hours, punching down at least once if possible.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Split dough evenly into 2 pieces. Make a ball with the first half of challah and then roll out into an even circle of dough using a rolling pin and your hands.

Place the wheel of Brie (rind still on) in the middle of the challah. Top brie with cranberry sauce, chutney or jam if desired. Fold up ends to cover cheese and pinch. * You can make a small braid with extra dough and place on top if you want to get fancy.

In a small bowl, beat 1 egg for egg wash. Brush on top of challah. Sprinkle with thick sea salt and dried rosemary if desired. Repeat with other half of dough or bake into a regular shaped challah.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden on top and cheese is starting to ooze out.

Serve with apples, grapes, dried fruit or crackers while Brie and challah are still warm.

SHANNON SARNA is the editor of The Nosher. The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at TheNosher.com.