Creamy camembert, crispy English bacon, golden onions, and crunchy puff pastry create a hearty combination, complemented by a handful of cooked pasta. This stuffed camembert works great as a filling starter or a main course.
Preparation is simple: hollow out the cheeses, melt their centers into the bacon filling, and refill the cheese rings with the resulting mixture. For a spicier result, add hot ketchup. The finished parcels can be served with a vegetable salad or fries made in an air fryer.
What You’ll Need
- 400 g puff pastry,
- 4 camemberts, ideally Sedlčany brand,
- butter for frying,
- 100 g block English bacon,
- 1 medium onion,
- a handful of cooked pasta,
- 1 egg for brushing,
- sunflower or other seeds for sprinkling,
- hot ketchup, optional.
Step-by-Step Preparation:
1. Preparing the Camemberts: Carefully cut out the centers of each camembert so that you are left with an intact cheese ring. Do not discard the removed centers—cut them into smaller pieces, which will later be melted into the filling.
2. Chopping the Bacon and Onion: Cut the English bacon into small cubes. Peel and finely chop the onion so it sautés evenly and blends well with the other ingredients.
3. Sautéing the Base: Heat butter in a pan, add the chopped bacon and onion. Sauté together until the bacon is crispy and the onion turns golden.
4. Finishing the Filling: Add the chopped camembert centers to the sautéed bacon and onion. Let them melt, then stir in a handful of cooked pasta. Mix the filling thoroughly so all parts are evenly combined.
5. Dividing the Puff Pastry: Roll out the puff pastry and cut it into four equal pieces. Place one prepared camembert ring on each piece and fill the center evenly with the cheese mixture with bacon, onion, and pasta.
6. Seasoning: If you like a spicier taste, add a bit of hot ketchup to the filling. This is optional, so you can skip it and let the creamy cheese and bacon flavors shine.
7. Wrapping the Camemberts: Beat the egg and brush the edges of each pastry piece. Carefully wrap the camemberts and press the seams together well. Brush the parcels with egg all over and sprinkle with sunflower or other seeds.
8. Baking: Place the wrapped camemberts in an oven preheated to 180°C and bake on the convection setting for 30 minutes. They are ready when the puff pastry is golden and crispy on the surface.
9. Serving: Serve the baked camemberts with a vegetable salad or frozen fries prepared in an air fryer. Thanks to the cheesy filling and bacon, the dish is flavorful enough even without any extra sauce.
How to Properly Fill and Wrap Camemberts
When hollowing out the centers, make sure the outer rings remain intact. They form the edge that keeps the melted cheese filling inside the parcel. Divide the filling evenly among all four camemberts.
It is also important to seal the puff pastry carefully. Edges brushed with egg stick together better, but the pastry may still partially open during baking. Brushing the entire parcel with egg also helps it achieve a beautifully golden surface.
What to Serve with Stuffed Camembert
For a lighter serving, choose a fresh vegetable salad to balance the strong flavors of cheese and bacon. If you want a more filling main course, serve with frozen fries made in an air fryer.
Final Tip
You can choose the seeds for the topping according to your taste. Sunflower seeds are a tried and true option, but the recipe allows for any kind. Adjust the spiciness easily by the amount of hot ketchup, or leave it out entirely.
