One-Pot Wonders

Aged Cheddar and Pilsner Fondue

by:
December 10, 2012
5
4 Ratings
Aged Cheddar and Pilsner Fondue
Photo by Rocky Luten
  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 20 minutes
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

Fondue is my family's New Years Eve tradition, and there's nothing that brings people together quite like cheese and beer! Everyone devours this recipe, even the non-beer-lovers. —darksideofthespoon

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Darksideofthespoon is a former pastry chef living in snowy Canada.
WHAT: A fondue that's ready to party.
HOW: Sauté your shallots and garlic, add Worcestershire sauce and beer, then slowly add in your cheese and spices until it becomes smooth, melty, and bubbling. Dip everything in it.
WHY WE LOVE IT: We love how the beer and spices cut through the cheese's richness, making this fondue wonderfully easy to eat. Sautéing your garlic and shallots before adding the other ingredients gives this a savoriness that many fondues lack -- and tossing the cheese in cornstarch keeps it all lump-free.

This recipe is featured in the All For Farmers Market, sponsored by Tillamook. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Aged Cheddar and Pilsner Fondue
  • 1 pound Tillamook Extra Sharp Aged Cheddar, shredded
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, slightly rounded
  • 1 pinch chili powder
  • 1 pinch paprika
  • 1 pinch cayenne
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
  • 2 tablespoons Tillamook Extra Creamy Unsalted Butter
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 medium shallot, minced (or a small onion)
  • 1 cup pilsner or favorite ale
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (or to taste)
  • 1 pinch Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • Dipping Suggestions
  • 2 apples, sliced into wedges
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 3 spicy sausage links
  • 1 loaf of day old sourdough, cut into cubes
  • 1 bunch of asparagus
  • 1 bunch of broccoli
  • 1 pound potatoes
  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 4 to 5 shallots
Directions
  1. Aged Cheddar and Pilsner Fondue
  2. Toss shredded cheddar in cornstarch, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, and mustard powder set aside.
  3. Heat butter in frying pan, then sauté garlic and shallots for 5 minutes. Be careful they do not brown or burn.
  4. Add the pilsner and Worcestershire sauce. Heat until simmering.
  5. Add the cheese, a little at a time until it's all melted and stir to combine.
  6. Pour mixture into your chosen fondue pot and light according to your manufacturer's instructions.
  1. Dipping Suggestions
  2. To keep the apples from oxidizing after cutting them, submerge these into water with a teaspoon of lemon juice.
  3. Bake or grill your sausage until cooked through, then slice into rounds.
  4. Cut your potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and shallots into large pieces. Leave your asparagus whole, or cut in half. Drizzle them with a small amount of oil and rub them with salt and pepper. Roast these at 375°F until cooked through but not too soft.
  5. Toast your sourdough cubes, or leave as is. Serve all of the above warm on a platter with fondue forks.
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  • Takako
    Takako
  • yjZuk
    yjZuk
  • arielleclementine
    arielleclementine
  • walkie74
    walkie74
  • darksideofthespoon
    darksideofthespoon

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9 Reviews

ann H.
ann H. February 5, 2022
I just made this and it was a huge hit. I was inspired to try fondue at home after a visit to the chain restaurant, The Melting Pot, which we all thought was very good.
But this recipe, everyone agreed, was far superior.
And it was so unbelievably easy!
My son and husband said they could eat this every day.
Thank you so much for sharing.
 
ChefyMcChefFace
ChefyMcChefFace December 2, 2020
Haven't made this, but you guys REALLY need to remove the gluten-free tag. This is made with BEER! And, if you actually cared about GF, you'd at least have a comment about contamination next to the bread cubes suggestion.
 
Spuds
Spuds September 20, 2022
There are gluten-free beers out there. Check at local liquor stores and grocers.

 
Takako
Takako November 1, 2020
This delicious recipe was a big hit at my party today!! Thank you :-)
 
Jane O.
Jane O. November 21, 2019
Recipe is suggested as gluten free but pilsner beer is not gluten free, it has wheat in it.
 
yjZuk
yjZuk March 17, 2014
the recipe sounds delicious.

Although I do not have a lot of experience with fondue;
I do have a good friend who is of Swiss origin.
Every time he flies back from Switzerland, he brings back a prepacked bags of shredded cheese mix for Fondue.
All I know that it tastes great, and saves cooking time.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine February 15, 2014
Thank you so much for this perfect fondue recipe! We had it for our Valentines Day dinner and it was so delicious and easy too! Will be my go-to fondue recipe!
 
walkie74
walkie74 January 13, 2013
Mmmm, I haven't made fondue in ages! I'll have to try this!
 
darksideofthespoon
darksideofthespoon January 30, 2013
Let me know what you think if you do! Considering how much we consumed over Christmas, I'm not allowed to have any more Fondue for a while. ;)