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How to Make a Delicious Cheese Fondue at Home

Fondue is a Swiss dish that consists of melted cheese and wine served in a communal pot over a portable stove. It is a perfect dish for sharing with friends and family, especially on cold winter nights. You can dip bread, potatoes, vegetables, and pickles into the cheese using long-stemmed forks. It is easy to make and customize with different cheeses and seasonings. Here is how to make a classic cheese fondue at home.

Ingredients

• 200ml dry white wine
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 200g comte or gruyère cheese, grated
• 200g emmental cheese, grated
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 1 tbsp kirsch or schnapps
• 1 garlic clove, halved (optional)
• Crusty bread, boiled new potatoes, vegetable crudités and cornichons, to serve

Method

1. Pour the wine and lemon juice into a heavy-based pan over a medium-low heat and warm until steaming.
2. Add all of the cheese, a handful at a time, whisking between each addition until all the cheese has been added.
3. Continue to stir for 4-5 minutes until everything is fully melted, smooth and creamy.
4. Mix the cornflour with the kirsch in a small bowl, then stir this into the cheese mixture.
5. Continue to cook over a low heat for a minute more.
6. Rub the garlic on the inside of the fondue pot, if you like, then carefully pour the cheese mixture into the pot and immediately place it over the flame. (If you don’t have a fondue set, add the garlic along with the wine in step one, then remove and discard it before you add the kirsch mixture.)
7. Serve immediately with crusty bread, boiled new potatoes, vegetable crudités or cornichons for dunking, if you like. You can place the fondue back over a low heat if you need to reheat it after serving.

This recipe is adapted from BBC Good Food. For more information about fondue, you can visit Wikipedia.

Variations

You can experiment with different cheeses and wines to make your fondue more interesting. Some popular cheese combinations are cheddar and beer, brie and champagne, or blue cheese and port. You can also add some herbs, spices, or mustard to the cheese mixture for extra flavor. Some people like to add a splash of cream or milk to make the fondue smoother and creamier.

Tips

To make a successful cheese fondue, you need to follow some tips:

• Choose high-quality cheeses that melt well and have a strong flavor. Avoid pre-shredded cheeses as they may contain additives that prevent them from melting properly.
• Grate the cheese finely and evenly to help it melt faster and more smoothly.
• Use a dry white wine that complements the cheese. Avoid sweet or sparkling wines as they may interfere with the texture and taste of the fondue.
• Stir the cheese mixture constantly to prevent it from burning or separating. Use a figure-eight motion to keep the cheese moving.
• Adjust the heat as needed to keep the fondue bubbling gently but not boiling.
• Use a fondue fork or a regular fork to dip the bread or other items into the cheese. Avoid using your fingers as they may contaminate the fondue or burn yourself.
• If the fondue becomes too thick or stringy, you can thin it with some more wine or lemon juice. If it becomes too thin or runny, you can thicken it with some more cheese or cornflour.

Enjoy

Cheese fondue is a fun and delicious way to enjoy a cozy meal with your loved ones. You can make it as simple or as fancy as you like, depending on your preferences and budget. It is also a great way to use up any leftover cheese or bread you may have in your fridge. Just remember to eat it while it is hot and enjoy every bite!