Years ago my Mum introduced me to this recipe, and I’ve made it many times since, whether cooking for myself, friends or a crowd at a potluck brunch. It’s one of those perfectly simple recipes – a few good ingredients that come together to make something delicious.
1 sheet/square of puff pastry, thawed if frozen
1 ripe pear, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 bunch fresh basil, chopped
garlic herb butter
1 small wheel brie or camembert cheese
Roll out thawed pastry on a floured surface until a large, thin rectangle has formed; see below:
thawed dough rolled out
Next, melt the garlic/herb butter, and brush the centre third of the pastry with the melted butter, leaving a third on either side of extra room. Slice the brie or camembert into horizontal strips and lay down the centre of the pastry on top of the butter. Top with the sliced pear and chopped fresh basil.
Score the sides of the pastry dough into strips, and bring a strip from each side into the centre, pinching the dough together to form the braided top of the streudel.
Forming the streudel
Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes, keeping an eye on the pastry. Remove from the oven when the top of the pastry becomes golden brown. Allow a few minutes for the cheese to cool enough to serve.
Finished product
You can dust each serving with a bit of icing sugar for an added sweetness, or eat it as is!
