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It’s a sad day for camembert fans everywhere: The real, most authentic version of the soft cheese and appetizer platter staple is in danger of disappearing. Despite being the second most popular cheese in France, the original and historically accurate camembert—stamped “PDO Camembert de Normandie”—produced under strict conditions is becoming less common.
While the camembert most of us consume is made with pasteurized milk, PDO Camembert de Normandie is made with raw milk and only produced by three farmstead operators in Normandy. While 360 million wheels of camembert are made each year, only 4 million of those fit the authenticity bill.
In light of the fact that we may soon lose the chance to taste legitimate camembert (though for any Americans hunting it down, this Bloomberg article suggests trying Murray’s Cheese), we’ve rounded up eight cheesy recipes to make before it’s too late. Can’t find the real deal? It might not be as historically exact, but standard store bought camembert will work, too.
French Toasts with Caramelized Pears, Walnuts, Camembert, and Arugula
Marta Greber of What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today created the ultimate grown-up french toast with these sweet and savory takes on a classic brunch food.
Baked Camembert with Black Garlic and Balsamic Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Intrigued by black garlic? Its mellow and slightly sweet flavor perfectly complements the camembert in this recipe by My Fussy Eater.
Camembert and Prosciutto Tartines
Blend French and Italian flavors in one delicious open-faced sandwich. Ina Garten’s recipe, inspired by a Parisian bakery, is a must-try for a quick lunch or light dinner.
“Cheese Bread” with Fig and Onion Jam
Fig and camembert is a classic combination, and blogger Pickled Plum’s take on it is next-level decadent. Topped with caramelized onions and broiled to melt everything together, you won’t be able to eat just one.
Camembert and Tomato Tart
Think of these tarts as little individual French pizzas. Abigail Donnelly uses puff pastry, fresh tomatoes, camembert, and herbs to create flavorful tarts that won’t leave you feeling bloated.
Grilled Camembert with Macerated Cherries and Rosemary
Serve this melty sweet treat by Katie Barreira (of Cooking Light) as a dessert at your next get-together in lieu of a more traditional dessert course.
Camembert Blast Burger with Onion Chutney
Genius idea: Replace the beef patty in a burger with a wheel of camembert for a cheesy and delicious vegetarian burger. This KptnCook recipe incorporates a homemade onion and raspberry chutney for even more flavor.
Pear and Camembert Tart
Kirrily La Rosa’s super simple pear and camembert tarts are perfect for easy entertaining; just assemble and bake for a delicious starter course at your next dinner party.