Boursin Cheese is a creamy (75% butterfat), mild cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk to which is added cream and seasonings.
It is sold either in 5 oz (150g) cylinders, or in packages of 6 individually-wrapped portion pieces. Either way, it’s wrapped in foil.
There is a plain version, but more prevalent are the versions that are flavoured with garlic and herbs, or coated with pepper. Other flavours include onion and chive, salmon and olive, etc.
Rondelé and Alouette are American versions.
Cooking Tips
Bring to room temperature before serving.
Substitutes
You can buy some package seasoning mixtures that have you mix them with cream cheese and butter to make Boursin. If you’re going to go that route, the following recipe might do the same job as the seasoning mix if you have all the stuff to hand:
Mix in a food processor using steel blade:
- 8 ounces (225g) of cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Storage Hints
Refrigerate for up to a few days.
History Notes
François Boursin opened his cheese factory called “Société de la Fromagerie Boursin” in 1957 in Croisy-sur-Eure, France, He began making Boursin there in 1965. He based it on traditional Normandy fresh cheeses such as Neufchâtel Cheese.
In 1968, Boursin became the first cheese to have a television commercial campaign in France, based on the slogan “Du pain, du vin et du boursin” (bread, wine and boursin), which became famous.
In 1983, the business was bought out by Unilever.
Moretum was a Roman version of Boursin.