Italian Cheese Fondue Recipes

ITALIAN CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Toss the Fontina and Gruyere cheese with the cornstarch in a medium bowl to coat. Saute the pancetta in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a plate. Pour off any excess oil. Pour the wine into the same saucepan and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to medium. Whisk 1 handful of the cheese mixture into the wine until it is almost melted. Repeat with the remaining cheese mixture in about 4 more batches. Continue whisking until the cheese is completely melted and the fondue bubbles, about 1 minute. Stir in all but 2 tablespoons of the pancetta. Season the fondue with pepper, to taste.
• Transfer the cheese mixture to a fondue pot. Sprinkle with the remaining pancetta and chives. Set the pot over a candle or a canned heat burner. Serve with focaccia and vegetables.

ITALIAN FONDUE

Steps:

• Rub a heavy bottomed saucepan with garlic, add the wine and Grappa and heat over moderately high heat, being careful not to let boil. Reduce by 3/4. Have all ingredients measured and close by, as you will need to stir with one hand and add cheese with the other. When wine starts to show small, tiny bubbles, but is not yet boiling , gradually add cheese while stirring constantly. When you start to feel a slight resistance to the spoon, add heavy cream to desired consistency, and the Balsamic vinegar. Continue to cook until the fondue begins to thicken. Add to taste nutmeg, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Quickly transfer to a fondue pot.
• Classically, fondue is served with fresh fruit, nuts, and crusty French bread.
• For the Italian Fondue, it might be fun to serve an antipasto dish, breadsticks wrapped with proscuitto, sun-dried tomatoes, or even left over vegetables like asparagus and broccoli.

ITALIAN CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl, and leave to soften for 10 minutes.
• Remove tomatoes from water and chop into small pieces.
• Rub inside of fondue pot with cut side of garlic.
• Heat wine in pot until it begins to boil.
• Toss cheese with flour.
• Add cheese slowly to pot, stirring the constantly.
• Add tomatoes and basil leaves to mixture and stir until smooth.
• Serve with dippers.

ITALIAN FONDUTA

Steps:

• In top of a double boiler set over simmering water, melt butter. In a bowl, whisk together the milk and the yolks; stir in the cheese.
• Whisking constantly, slowly add egg and cheese mixture into butter. Continue whisking until mixture has melted and thickened slightly, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer fonduta to a warmed bowl and garnish with shaved truffle or truffle oil, if desired. Serve with bread, potatoes or asparagus, for dipping. Alternatively, arrange asparagus on a platter, drizzle with fonduta, and garnish with shaved truffle or truffle oil.

FIVE-CHEESE FONDUTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Brush an 8-in. cast iron or other ovenproof skillet with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, mozzarella, fontina, cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, garlic, rosemary, thyme, pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons butter until combined. Spread into prepared skillet. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve with baguette slices, pita chips or vegetables.