Baked Brie With Caramelised Onions, Rosemary & Honey

This is an opulent dish which can be served to vegetarians to give them some real flavour (and calories). It can be a main or a desert, and is incredibly easy. This will serve to as a main course with a side salad or four for desert.

INGREDIENTS

- One small circular box of Brie. I like to use President, which is the French classic and will cost you around $10 in any supermarket.

- One small sprig of rosemary.

- Three onions.

- Clove of garlic (or two, if you are feeling French).

- Half stick of butter (or about 6 tablespoons).

- Salt & Pepper

- Glass of red wine (preferably a heavier red : it does not need to be expensive).

- A tablespoon of honey

- Teaspoon of herbs (use herbs de Provence or thyme).

- French baggette / French stick.

METHOD

- Heat oven to 375F.

- Take the small brie wheel out of the wooden box. Remove the plastic wrapping and discard. Thinly slice off one side of the Brie so you only remove the rind. Place cheese back in wooden box, rind side down, cut side up.

- Place rosemary sprig on cheese. Place cheese and wooden box (only the bootom of the box, not the top) and put the cheese/bottom of box into the oven.

- You may want to place a tray under the cheese box to catch any spillage.

- Cook for 30mins or until cheese is bubbling and the top is golden brown.

- For the onions, slice them thinly. Do the same with the garlic.

- Cook butter inside a heavy saucepan. Add the onions, salt, pepper, and herbs. Cook until soft (approx ten minutes).

- Add the glass of wine and increase the heat until reduced. When the liquid is thicker, reduce heat, so the consistency seems right. If it gets too dry, add a little more wine.

- Add the honey and stir into the onions. The whole mix should stick to the spoon.

- Remove cheese box from oven. Using knife, gently break the box and then slide the baked Brie into a bowl. Take care not to puncture the sides of the cheese or the contents and magic liquid will be lost. It ought to resume a calorific French dairy 'water balloon' : don't break it!

- Place onions on top of cheese (with a spoon to make it look nice).

Serve with the French baggette (and the rest of the bottle of wine, bien sur).