Camembert is a soft, moist and creamy cheese. It has a bloomy rind and a slightly runny interior. This soft ripened cheese can be baked, fried or simply enjoyed with crackers, bread, fruit and wine. Here’s how you can make your very own Camembert from home.

Yield

900g

Aging

Less than 2 months

Ingredients

Full Cream Milk (7.5 L)- Don’t use UHT/ UP milk

 ¼ tsp Flora Danica and 1/8 tsp MM100

 1/8 tsp Penicillium Candidum

1/32 tsp GeotrichumCandidum

 ¼ tsp rennet

 4 tsp cheese salt

¼ tsp Calcium Chloride (Use this if you’re using pasteurized milk)

Equipment

large pot

thermometer

curd knife/ curd cutter

 ladle or spoon for stirring

colander

cheese cloth

4 cheese hoops

5 draining mats

5-6 pieces of square wood/ rigid plastics

cheese wrapping paper

Instructions:

1. Sterilize the materials you need.

2. If using calcium chloride, add it to the milk before heating. Stir well.

3. Heat the milk to 32⁰ C.

4. Once you reach the target temperature, add the Penicillium Candidum, Flora Danica and Geotrichum Candidum. Allow the powder to rehydrate for 2 minutes. Stir well for 1 minute to make sure the cultures are well-mixed. Maintain the heat at 32⁰ C throughout this process.

5. Let the milk sit and ripen for 90 minutes. Continue to maintain the temperature at 32⁰ C.

6. Add the rennet and stir in an up and down motion for 1 ½ minutes. This way of stirring will ensure that the rennet is completely mixed with the milk and avoid chunky pieces in your Camembert.

7. Cover the milk and let it sit for another 60 minutes.

8. Check for a clean break. Slide your knife into the curd at an angle and lift the side of the blade. The curds should break cleanly around the knife and the whey runs into the crack you made.

9. Cut the cheese into ½-inch cubes using a curd knife or curd cutter.

10. Gently stir the curds in an up and down motion for 15 minutes.

11. Let it sit again for 15 minutes. You will notice most of the curds drop to the bottom.

12. Pour the whey up to the level of the curds.

13. Place the cheese hoops on the draining mats.

14. Fill the cheese hoop with curds. You’ll notice the curds shrink as the whey drains. Just continue to fill the hoops up with the remaining curds.

15. Cover the hoops with a draining mat and let the whey to drain out for an hour.

16. Put a board on top of the draining mat and flip the hoops over.

17. Continue to flip the cheese once every hour for 4 to 5 hours.

18. Remove the cheese from the mold. Lightly sprinkle and rub the cheese salt all around the cheese.

19. Let the cheese stand for 10 minutes to allow the salt to dissolve.

20. Cover the cheese with a draining mat or paper towel and let it dry for 24 hours at room temperature (20⁰ C to 25⁰ C).

21. Place the cheese in an aging container covered with the draining mat and store at 11⁰ C to 15⁰ C for 8 to 10 days. Turn the cheese over once daily.

22. After 10 days, you’ll notice a felt like mold growth on the surface of the cheese. This is the P. Candidum.

23. Wrap the Camembert with cheese wrapping paper and place it back in the aging container. Move it to a cool space of 4⁰ to 7⁰ C.

24. Ripen the cheese for 2 to 4 weeks.

25. Your Camembert should be soft and creamy after 4 weeks. It bulges slightly when cut.

Camembert Nutrition Facts

This creamy cheese first made in France is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Camembert is high in riboflavin, protein, calcium and phosphorus. It also has a high content of vitamin A, vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, folate and other minerals.

5 Ways to enjoy Camembert

Camembert is truly a decadent delight. If you’re a Camembert lover, here are 5 ways to best enjoy it.

1. Enjoy it with a glass of Normandy cider or Calvados, a crusty baguette, fruits and nuts like pecans and hazelnuts.

2. Baked garlic and herb Camembert

3. Grilled Camembert

4. Honey Camembert with bacon and rosemary

5. Camembert fondue