A roast recipe to die for… check out the sauce!
In Normandy in northern France lies the village of Camembert. Only about 200 people live in this idyllic spot, but the cheese said to have originated here is famous the world over. With its soft consistency and strong taste, it's ideal for cooking — like in this excellent and hearty roast recipe with mushrooms. Just the thing for the end of winter!
You'll need:
- 3⅓ lb pork butt
- 5¼ oz camembert
- 6¾ fl oz cream
- 2¾ fl oz béchamel sauce
- 8½ fl oz water
- 17½ oz mushrooms (fried)
- salt and pepper
- chives for garnishing
Here's now:
- First, season the pork butt thoroughly with salt and pepper, then sear it on all sides in a hot pan. Then cook it for 2½ hours in a convection oven at 390°F. Once it's done, cut the meat into slices and arrange them in a baking dish. Incidentally, you can usefully use the cooking time to brown the mushrooms in a pan, or prepare the béchamel sauce if you don't want to use something ready made.
- Then you can get started on the camembert; cut off the top layer of the cheese rind and spoon the creamy insides into a pan. Add the cream, the béchamel sauce and the water. Heat the whole thing while lightly stirring, until it reaches an even, creamy consistency, then season with salt and pepper.
- Now pour the camembert sauce over meat in the baking dish, add the cooked mushrooms on top, then slide the dish back in the oven on the convection setting for another 35 minutes at 350°F.
- Before serving, garnish the camembert roast with freshly chopped chives. This lends this substantial dish a fine finishing note.
Incidentally, if you were eating this in Normandy, you wouldn't drink red or white wine with it, but a fizzy, tangy cider instead. But whatever the beverage, after a long winter walk in the wind under gray skies, a hearty roast in cheese sauce will always be most welcome. And here's a little tip: you can prepare the recipe up to Step 3 and then put everything in the oven for the final stage when you get back from your hike!
As for the second recipe, if you're now craving another substantial meaty roast, you can find all the instructions from preparing our fantastic Roulade Roast here.