Deep Fried Brie
If you’ve never tried deep frying an entire wheel of Brie - THIS IS YOUR SIGN!
It’s freaking incredible, and not as hard as it may seem! You don’t even need a deep fryer or an oil thermometer (although the latter can be super helpful). All you need for kitchen tools are a 5-6 quart dutch oven and a stainless steel strainer, like this spider strainer. Easy peasy, and a fool proof way to make friends. Just bring this to your next gathering and the people will FLOCK to it! ;)
The Wine Pairing
Since I made this for my Bubbles & Brie series on Instagram (S02, E02), of COURSE we need to pair this beauty with bubbles! The best possible pairing for this one is none other than Champagne (the real stuff), and there are two main reasons why this pairing works so well:
Contrasting texture: Champagne + Brie AND Champagne + deep fried foods are a classically great pairings because of their contrasting textures (creamy/oily/mouthcoating vs. refreshing, palate cleansing acidity).
Matching flavours: Deep fried foods are not only a great Champagne pairing for their texture, but also for their matching bready flavours! Champagne is made in what’s called the Traditional Method (or ‘Champagne Method’) for sparkling wine, which exposes the wine to something called the lees (aka dead yeast cells). This stuff adds to the gorgeous texture of wine and contributes to some delicious yeasty flavours (think fresh baked bread, biscuits, lager, or even cheese). Champagne requires a minimum of 24 months exposure to the lees, so even with the most inepexpensive of bottles you will always taste at least a hint of that breadiness.
My Recommendations
I recommend Le Mesnil Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc Champagne NV. This is a gorgeous with just the right amount of that breadiness, balanced by beautiful fresh citrus and orchard fruit flavours. This Champagne is great quality for a pretty reasonable price when it comes to Champagne ($50 USD / $60 CAD).
For a cheaper (but still awesome) option, try the Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut. This is around $20 USD or $30 CAD from Costco Liquor and is a great alternative!
Deep Fried Brie
Ingredients
Instructions
- Freeze your Brie wheel for around 20-30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare your breading station. Add your flour to one bowl, eggs (beaten) to a second bowl, and seasoned bread crumbs to a third bowl.
- Remove your Brie from the freezer and start breading. First coat in flour, followed by egg, then bread crumbs. Ensure your Brie is entirely covered with the breading, and then coat again with egg followed by breadcrumbs for a second coating. Place your Brie back in the freezer while you prepare your oil
- Using a 5-6 quart dutch oven, fill with canola oil and heat over medium-high heat. Aim for a minimum of 2 inches at the bottom of your pot, but avoid filling past half-way for safety reasons.
- If using an oil thermometer, heat until 350 degrees F. If you don't have an oil thermometer, throw in a piece of bread or a cracker after about 15 minutes, or whenever you suspect it's getting hot enough. If it starts to sizzle immediately, you're good to go! If you don't see an immediate sizzle, wait another few minutes and then try again.
- When your oil is ready, remove your breaded Brie from the freezer and gently place in the oil. A spider strainer is really handy for this. Watch closely as it starts to darken in colour and remove from the oil (again using a spider strainer) after 2-3 minutes or when your Brie wheel is a beautiful golden brown colour.
- Place on a serving board with crackers and sliced apples, drizzle with honey, and serve immediately with a chilled bottle of Champers!
Notes
Consider saving your oil after deep frying for the next use. Let it cool completely and then strain it into a resealable glass jar. Store at room temperature where you would store your other oils.
