Recipe 8: Baked Brie with Pomegranate & Pistachios

Are you a big fan of charcuterie or decadent appetizers? Have we got a recipe for you!

Forget that boring old cheeseboard for your next gathering. This year, try making a gooey baked brie with a collection of supportive toppings inclusive of honey, pomegranate, and pistachios instead. This just may be the perfect, cozy comfort food for feeling your best through the cold winter months and the menopause transition.

So, how is this dish both beneficial and delicious? The ingredients included combine different nutrients that can help support women traversing both the metabolic and hormonal shifts during perimenopause into menopause.

Let’s dig in!

Pomegranate & Pistachios – Two Powerhouses

Two of the key ingredients in this simple appetizer provide important benefits for women in menopause and beyond. Pomegranates are known for being rich in antioxidants, which have been shown to help reduce the severity of some irritating menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, and may provide benefits for cardiovascular and bone health; more research does need to be done to determine more of these definitive benefits.^1,2

Pistachios can also provide essential nutrients for women who are looking to age well. They’re a plant-based protein that’s rich in both magnesium and potassium; nutrients shown to help support bone mineral density and muscle mass, both of which can decline during the menopause transition.³ Pistachios also may help with supporting healthy blood pressure and with easing post-meal blood sugar spikes.⁴

The Benefits of Raw Honey & Olive Oil

 Honey and olive oil both are beneficial for their anti-inflammatory effects in the body due to them both being powerful antioxidants.^5,6 Inflammation throughout the body can result during menopause due to the stark decline of estrogen – this can include causing inflammation in the digestive tract, skin, joints, eyes and heart.⁷  By incorporating these two ingredients, you’re doing your part to helping reduce some of that body inflammation.

Eat Well to Feel Your Best

Once the recipe is complete, take a ½ loaf of crostini bread in ½ inch thick slices for dipping and enjoy!

In addition to being delicious, this baked brie recipe brings together a wonderful combination of healthy fats, antioxidants, plant protein, and anti-inflammatory ingredients — a combination that can help to support your heart health, metabolism, bone/joint health, and menopause symptom relief during this transitional time.

While no single food will eliminate your menopause symptoms, choosing nutrient-dense,  beneficial ingredients can help support your overall health and wellness to keep you feeling your best during menopause and beyond.

Recipe Details:

• Yields: 6-8 appetizer servings
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1. 1 (8 to 12-ounce) wheel of Brie cheese
2. 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
3. 1 tablespoon raw honey
4. 1⁄4 cup unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped
5. 1⁄4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds (arils)
6. A small sprig of fresh rosemary for garnish (optional)

For the Crostini:

1. 1⁄2 loaf whole wheat sourdough bread, cut into 1⁄2-inch thick slices
2. 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3. A pinch of sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare the Crostini: Arrange the sourdough slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Brush both sides lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.
3. Prepare the Brie: Place the wheel of Brie in a small, oven-safe baking dish. Using a
4. sharp knife, lightly score the top rind in a crisscross pattern.
5. Drizzle the 1 teaspoon of olive oil and the 1 tablespoon of honey over the top.
6. Bake: Place the baking sheet with the crostini and the baking dish with the Brie in the preheated oven.
7. Bake the Brie for 20 minutes, until it is soft and gooey on the inside.
8. Bake the crostini for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crisp.
9. Garnish and Serve: Carefully remove the baked Brie from the oven.
10. Immediately sprinkle the chopped pistachios and fresh pomegranate seeds over the warm, melted top.
11. Garnish with the rosemary sprig, if using. Serve immediately with the warm crostini for dipping.

For a quick instructional video on how to put this recipe together, check out the below clip! 

Resources

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35134697/
2. http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37929766/
3. https://americanpistachios.org/nutrition-and-health/menopause-health
4. https://americanpistachios.org/nutrition-and-health/menopause-health
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5822819/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34959830/
7. https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/beyond-hot-flashes