A pot of cheese fondue.

How to Make Cheese Fondue

Happy National Cheese Fondue Day to all who observe

Hot, melty, gooey cheese all to be devoured with a crusty baguette 鈥 there may not be anything better to a piping hot pot of cheese fondue. (I know ICE鈥檚 marketing team would specifically like a continual flowing river of cheese on campus.)

The best part? It's super easy to make at home.

What types of cheeses are best for cheese fondue?

Whether it鈥檚 fondue, queso or beer cheese, there are certain cheeses that are best suited for the task at hand. For classic fondue, ICE鈥檚 Director of 国产福利 Affairs Herv茅 Malivert prefers a combination of Comt茅 and Emmental.

鈥淐omt茅 is stronger, has a little more edge and is peppery,鈥 he says. 鈥淎nd Emmental melts very well.鈥

If you don鈥檛 have one of those on hand, Chef Herv茅 recommends Gruy茅re as a fine substitute.

Related:  All About Alpine Cheese

Can you make fondue without a fondue pot?

The short answer: yes, absolutely. 

鈥淎ny pot you have at home is fine,鈥 Chef Herv茅 says.

What are the best dippers for cheese fondue?

Popular items for classic cheese fondue include crusty baguette, any crudit茅 you have on hand and Granny Smith apples. As for Chef Herv茅鈥檚 favorite fondue dipper?

鈥淏read,鈥 he says. 鈥淏read, bread, bread, bread.鈥

Oui, Chef. Here鈥檚 how to make it at home.
 

Recipe

Cheese Fondue

Ingredients

  • 1 garlic clove, halved
  • 1 pound Gruy猫re cheese, grated
  • 1/2 pound Emmental cheese or other Swiss cheese, grated
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons kirsch
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Freshly grated nutmeg
  • Salt, to taste

Directions

  1. Rub the inside of a cheese fondue pot or medium enameled cast-iron casserole with the garlic clove; discard the garlic.
  2. Combine the grated Gruy猫re and Emmental with the wine, cornstarch and lemon juice in the fondue pot and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the cheeses begin to melt, about 5 minutes.
  3. Reduce heat to low. Add the kirsch and a generous pinch each of pepper and nutmeg and cook, stirring gently, until creamy and smooth, about 3 minutes; don't overcook the fondue or it will get stringy. Season with salt. Serve immediately.

More Cheese, Please:  French Cheeses with 国产福利 Applications

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