PISTACHIO AND FIG BRIE WHEEL WITH PITA AND BAGEL CHIPS

Each bite of this PISTACHIO AND FIG BRIE WHEEL is a little piece of heaven on a cracker!  The combination of melted brie, figs, dates, crunchy pistachios and orange is absolutely irresistible!

I’ve got a thing for Brie.  Actually, back in college, one of my husband’s friends and I had an informal “cheese club”.  He and I would get together to watch Battlestar Gallactica and try a cheese that was new to us.  When we landed on Brie, my love affair officially began.

Of course, we had initially tried it unbaked with crusty french bread along with some fresh and dried fruit. (I was already a disciple of Martha and reading cookbooks like novels by 18)

It was some time later before I had the opportunity to indulge in the oozing, creamy mass of yumminess that is baked brie. And the love affair intensified.

Thank goodness H.H. loves brie also, otherwise, I don’t know, maybe… well, it’s a mute point, he’s finally come to grips with the other “love of my life”!  

 

A PISTACHIO AND FIG BRIE WHEEL CAN EASILY FEED A CROWD

When you’ve got friends coming over, this is an easy, do-ahead appetizer.  It’s sure to have all your guests moaning with pleasure upon each and every bite. 

The fabulous combo of dried fruits, nuts and a hint of orange, with just the right amount of crunch, is truly sublime. 

Another nice thing about this recipe is that it can be adjusted to the size crowd you will have at your gathering.  Wheels of brie come in various sizes, from 8 ounces all the way up to 32 ounces at a specialty cheese shop.

The topping ingredients can be increased accordingly to make sure every bite has all the flavorful “goodies” on top. The cooking time and temperature also change with a huge wheel of cheese.

So, if you do decide to go with the mondo size, just drop me a note in the comment section below.  I’ll give you specific instructions!  

I chose this appetizer as part of my Fairies in the Forest Twilight Soiree menu because it could be assembled the day before and popped in the oven as our friends arrived.

Luckily for my guests, I will be too busy playing bartender to eat more than my share of this tasty party starter!

 

HOLIDAY DO-AHEAD FAVORITE

Needless to say, I’ll be using this recipe again when the holidays come around.  It’s a real crowd pleaser and is just so convenient to have ready-to-go in the refrigerator to bake at a moment’s notice.       

If you try this fabulous appetizer, don’t forget to share a pic and your thoughts at The Fab Life, our Facebook community.   

 

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Pistachio and Fig Brie Wheel with Pita and Bagel Chips

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Each bite is a little piece of heaven with the combination of melted brie, figs, dates, crunchy pistachios and just a hint of orange. Absolutely irresistible!

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Ingredients

• 8 oz. brie wheel
• 1/2 cup fig jam
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced dates
• 1/3 cup pistachios, roughly chopped
• 1 Tbs. fresh squeezed orange juice
• Zest of one orange
• 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• Pita chips
• Bagel chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Unwrap the brie and place inside a small oven-proof casserole or cast iron skillet.
3. Place sliced dates in a small bowl of warm water for 1 minute, drain and pat dry.
4. Remove the zest from the orange (I use a microplane) and then extract the juice. (Refrigerate the remaining juice)
5. Combine the jam, dates, nuts, orange juice, zest and thyme in a small bowl.
6. Spread the mixture over the entire brie wheel and top with some freshly ground pepper to taste.
7. Bake brie for 20 minutes, or until heated through with the skin intact.
8. Brie can be transferred to a serving platter with a large spatula for serving.

Notes

If you're feeding a big group, get a larger wheel of brie and double or triple the topping ingredients as necessary;. (NOTE: do not use more than 2 tsp. orange zest maximum, no matter what larger size brie you use.)

Nutrition Information

Yield 8 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 235Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 28mgSodium 245mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 2gSugar 15gProtein 8g

Calorie and fat counts will vary according to size of portions.