Nakládaný Hermelín (Czech Marinated Cheese)
User Reviews
5
Nakládaný Hermelín (Czech Marinated Cheese)
Description
Nakládaný Hermelín involves cutting a wheel of mold-ripened cheese such as Camembert into bite-sized wedges and combining it with thinly sliced onion, minced garlic, sliced red chili or chili flakes, paprika, dried thyme, whole black peppercorns, allspice berries, kosher salt, and bay leaves. This mixture is thoroughly stirred and placed in a glass jar, then fully submerged in olive or a neutral oil to preserve and marinate the cheese.
The cheese marinates in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or up to two weeks, allowing the flavors from the herbs and spices to permeate the cheese pieces. Before serving, the jar is brought to room temperature to soften the cheese and liquefy the oil for a pleasant texture. The resulting cheese is creamy with aromatic, lightly spiced notes and a complex herbal background from the infused oil.
This marinated cheese is traditionally served cold as a Czech pub snack, often with slices of rye bread and a pilsner beer. The oil mixture can become cloudy or thick when chilled, but agitation restores its liquid state. Proper hygiene, like using clean utensils when removing pieces, preserves the remaining cheese. Alternative marinating approaches include sandwiching spices within halves of cheese, but the cubed method is simpler.
Ingredients
- 7 to 8 ounce Camembert cheese or Hermelín or Brie cheese, wheel form
- 1 onion peeled, halved, and thinly sliced, small or ½ medium
- 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 ½ tablespoons
- 1 red chili pepper or jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced; or 1 teaspoon ground crushed chili flakes or cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon thyme dried
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns whole
- ½ teaspoon allspice berries whole
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 bay leaf
- 1 ½ cups olive oil or grapeseed oil or sunflower oil, or enough to cover
Instructions
- Cut the cheese into 8 cubes or wedges.
- In a mixing bowl combine the onion, garlic, chili pepper, paprika, thyme, peppercorns, allspice berries, salt, and bay leaves. Then add the cheese cubes and stir to coat.
- Transfer the cheese mixture to a glass jar (24 ounces is perfect but larger is fine) and add enough oil until it’s completely submerged. Seal tightly and marinate in the refrigerator for about 3 to 5 days or up to 2 weeks. The oil will get thick and cloudy when chilled (it may stay liquid until the first time you remove the lid and agitate it, but eventually will thicken).
- Allow the jar to sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving to allow the oil to liquify and the cheese to soften. Serve with rye bread (traditional) or any other bread you prefer.
Notes
- Camembert is the traditional cheese used, with Brie as a good substitute.
- Marinate cheese in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature to reduce food safety risks.
- Use a clean spoon or fork to remove cheese cubes to prevent contamination.
- The marinating oil thickens and clouds when chilled but will liquefy when agitated or warmed.
- This marinated cheese is typically served with rye bread and pilsner beer in Czech cuisine.
- The jar size should comfortably accommodate the cheese and oil; a 24-ounce jar works well.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 371 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 371kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 35g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Cholesterol | 57mg | 19% |
| Sodium | 394mg | 16% |
| Potassium | 161mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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