How to Make Cheese Fondue

If the weather outside is cold and just plain ugly, you do not want to go to a restaurant. Here is an alternative: The perfect dish to make on a cold winter day is cheese fondue. It automatically creates thoughts of a mountain cabin covered in snow, a roaring fireplace, simply a romantic atmosphere. Don't worry if you have never done cheese fondue before; it's easy. You just need to keep in mind some of the points mentioned here.

Obviously, you need all necessary tools and ingredients. There are not that many actually. First of all, you need a pot. When you are shopping for cheese fondue pots, it is recommended to not buy cheap pots because they often do not last very long. Try to pick one that is made of strong metal and is very resistant to high temperatures. You also need fondue forks. A cheese fondue dinner is not real and authentic if you do not have the classic fondue forks. Apart from cheese fondue forks, you also need something like a stove-top or a tabletop burner.

As for the temperature of the stove-top, you should keep the heat rather low, so the cheese can cook steadily and consistently. Watch out that the cheese does not burn without you noticing it when you are in an engaging conversation!

For the complete recipe, you will need buttermilk, some type of sliced cheese, flour, mustard, and perhaps some garlic. You might also want to serve some dipping choices, such as tiny pieces of bread, ham, asparagus, or any collection of vegetables that would taste well with cheese. In case you have left-over cheese from your cheese fondue, you can still use it as cheese snacks on the next day.

Note: If you use Swiss cheese, be careful because it often thickens up faster than other types of cheese, so you need to reduce its cooking time.

Instructions: Put the buttermilk in a pot, and heat it thoroughly. Put cheese and flour in, and add a bit of salt. Now stir regularly until the cheese is properly melted. Then put the whole mixture on a low flame and heat it. But be careful not to boil it or else the cheese will not be as thin and delicious as you want it to be.

It is usually best to not serve anything else before the cheese fondue. The reason is that the cheese can be quite heavy, and you don't want your guests or your date to be half-full already when the cheese fondue set comes on the table. So for starters, only serve very light appetizers, if at all. Along with the cheese fondue, wines are often a popular choice. Again, drink whichever wine you prefer, but make sure it's not a heavy one. The same is true for any dessert you might serve after the cheese fondue. It is recommended to serve something light, such as fruit or a salad.