Fried Camembert with Ham, Melon, and Cranberry Vinaigrette

Name: Fried Camembert with Ham, Melon, and Cranberry Vinaigrette
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 2
Ingredients: ½ cups flour; 2 eggs, beaten; 1 cup bread crumbs; 1 (8-oz.) wheel Camembert, quartered and frozen for 1 hour; 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, defrosted and drained; ¼ cups dry red wine; 3 tbsp. granulated sugar; ¼ tsp. kosher salt; ⅓ cups dried cranberries; ¼ cups balsamic vinegar; ¼ cups sherry vinegar; 2 tsp. Dijon mustard; 1 tsp. light brown sugar; 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice; ⅓ cups canola oil, plus more for frying; 1 oz. sliced Parma ham or prosciutto; 1 (2”) wedge cantaloupe, peeled and cut into ½” pieces; 2 tsp. hulled pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted; Chervil leaves, for garnish (optional); Sliced baguette, lightly toasted, for serving

Serves
serves 2

INGALLS PHOTOGRAPHY

Wedges of gooey fried Camembert are served with both a sweet wine-spiked raspberry jam and a tart cranberry vinaigrette at the Nauthóll bar in Reykjavik, Iceland. This recipe first appeared in our May 2014 issue with the story Happy Hour: Bar Snacks.

Ingredients

½ cups flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup bread crumbs
1 (8-oz.) wheel Camembert, quartered and frozen for 1 hour
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, defrosted and drained
¼ cups dry red wine
3 tbsp. granulated sugar
¼ tsp. kosher salt
⅓ cups dried cranberries
¼ cups balsamic vinegar
¼ cups sherry vinegar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. light brown sugar
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
⅓ cups canola oil, plus more for frying
1 oz. sliced Parma ham or prosciutto
1 (2”) wedge cantaloupe, peeled and cut into ½” pieces
2 tsp. hulled pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted
Chervil leaves, for garnish (optional)
Sliced baguette, lightly toasted, for serving

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Instructions

Step 1

Place flour, eggs, and bread crumbs in 3 shallow bowls. Dredge Camembert wedges in flour, then dip in eggs, and coat in bread crumbs; transfer to a parchment paper–lined plate and freeze until ready to fry.

Step 2

Bring raspberries, wine, granulated sugar, and half the salt to a simmer in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat; cook, mashing berries until sauce is thickened, 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; chill jam. Wipe pan clean; simmer half the cranberries, the vinegars, mustard, and brown sugar until cranberries soften and vinegars are reduced by half, 8–10 minutes. Let cool slightly and transfer to a blender. Add remaining salt and the lemon juice and purée until smooth. With the motor running, drizzle in oil until emulsified; set vinaigrette aside.

Step 3

Heat 2” oil into a 4-qt. saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350°. Working in 2 batches, fry frozen Camembert until golden brown and crisp, 2–3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cheese to paper towels to drain. To serve, spread some of the reserved jam and vinaigrette on a serving plate; arrange ham and cantaloupe. Top with fried cheese; garnish with remaining cranberries, the pumpkin seeds, and chervil. Serve with toasted baguette on the side.

Place flour, eggs, and bread crumbs in 3 shallow bowls. Dredge Camembert wedges in flour, then dip in eggs, and coat in bread crumbs; transfer to a parchment paper–lined plate and freeze until ready to fry.
Bring raspberries, wine, granulated sugar, and half the salt to a simmer in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat; cook, mashing berries until sauce is thickened, 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; chill jam. Wipe pan clean; simmer half the cranberries, the vinegars, mustard, and brown sugar until cranberries soften and vinegars are reduced by half, 8–10 minutes. Let cool slightly and transfer to a blender. Add remaining salt and the lemon juice and purée until smooth. With the motor running, drizzle in oil until emulsified; set vinaigrette aside.
Heat 2” oil into a 4-qt. saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350°. Working in 2 batches, fry frozen Camembert until golden brown and crisp, 2–3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cheese to paper towels to drain. To serve, spread some of the reserved jam and vinaigrette on a serving plate; arrange ham and cantaloupe. Top with fried cheese; garnish with remaining cranberries, the pumpkin seeds, and chervil. Serve with toasted baguette on the side.