Recipe: Layered Blueberry Hazelnut Cheese Wheel

By: The British Columbia Blueberry Council

This recipe was created using delicious locally grown blueberries and hazelnuts from the Fraser Valley. A layered blueberry hazelnut cheese wheel is ideal for holiday entertaining. It is a beautiful addition to a cheese board, combining warm, melting cheese with the sweetness of blueberries and the crunch of hazelnuts but without the fuss and mess of baking.

Yields 1 wheel with 3 cups of compote

Ingredients

5” round (350 g) Brie, Camembert or any soft rind cheese

1½ cups (225 g) B.C blueberries – fresh or frozen

¼ cup (60 ml) red wine

2 tbsp (30 ml) balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp (30 g) brown sugar

1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon zest

2 tsp (10 ml) lemon juice

¼ tsp (pinch) black pepper

⅛ tsp (pinch) salt

Sprig fresh rosemary

½ cup (75 g) hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped

Directions

• Cut the cheese round in half horizontally. Place bottom half, cut side up on a serving platter. Set aside at room temperature with the top half of cheese.
• In a saucepan, bring the blueberries, red wine, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, pepper and salt to a boil.
• Simmer uncovered on a medium heat for approximately 20-30 minutes, until reduced to a thick compote.
• Add the whole rosemary sprig in the last 2 minutes of cooking, then remove.
• Spoon half the hot compote over the bottom half of cheese. Cover with the top half of cheese (cut side down) and top with remaining compote and hazelnuts.
• Serve with fresh fruit and crackers.