DISH NAME : CHEESE FONDUE

Preparation Time : 20 minutes

Baking Time : 1 hour

Description

Fondue comes from the French word 'fondre', which means "to melt". Fondue is pronounced as 'fon due'. Fondue pot is a dish in which either cheese (cheese fondue) or chocolate (chocolate fondue) is melted with other ingredients to form a thick creamy sauce. Food like vegetables or bread are dipped into cheese fondue and fruits and cake or cookies are dipped and eaten for chocolate fondue. A long stemmed fork is usually used to dip food. A fondue pot with a small lighted tea light is used for the purpose. Here fondue pot has been replaced with pumpkin. Hence pumpkin is baked and also cheese is melted in the oven rather than using tea light.
Fondue was started in Switzerland as a means of using up cheeses and bread during winters.

Note

1) I tried using the same cheeses in 2 ways-1) cutting into small pieces and 2) grating. The difference was that in case of the former, cheese turned a little stringy. So its advisable to grate cheeses for fondue.
2) The cream used here is dairy cream and not non-dairy whipping cream.

Method

1) Heat oven to 200 degree celsius.
2) Carve out the lid of the pumpkin. Scoop out all the seeds.
3) Bake the pumpkin with the lid in the oven for about 45 minutes.
4) Mix corn flour to the cheeses. Let corn flour coat the cheeses thoroughly.
5) Add the cheeses to the pumpkin. Add wine, nutmeg, pepper powder, garlic and cream and mix well.
6) Bake the pumpkin again for about 15 to 20 minutes till the cheese has melted.
7) Serve with bread and potatoes.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with bread, potatoes or any other boiled veggies.