Okay, so today I decided to tackle something I’ve been eyeing for a while: cheese fondue bread. It just sounded so cozy and delicious, perfect for a chilly evening.
Getting Started
First, I gathered all my ingredients. I already had most of the stuff, just needed to grab some cheese and a good loaf of bread from the store. I went with a mix of Gruyère and Emmental because that’s what I saw most people recommended for fondue. For the bread, I picked up a nice, crusty sourdough boule – it looked sturdy enough to hold all that cheesy goodness.
Prepping the Bread Bowl
Back home, I preheated my oven to 350°F (175°C). Then, I took my sourdough loaf and sliced off the top, kind of like making a lid. I scooped out most of the inside, leaving about an inch or so of bread on the sides and bottom. Gotta make sure it doesn’t leak, right?
Making the Cheesy Magic
Next up, the fondue! I grabbed a medium-sized pot and rubbed the inside with a clove of garlic. Some folks say it’s optional but i like the flavour. Then, I poured in about a cup of dry white wine – I just used some cheap stuff I had lying around. I heated that up over medium heat until it was simmering.
Once the wine was hot, I started adding the cheese, a handful at a time. I stirred it constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure it melted smoothly before adding more. It took a little while, but patience is key! I also added a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of nutmeg – again, just going by what I’d seen in a few different recipes. A dash cornstarch to thicken it.
Putting It All Together
When the cheese was all melted and gooey, I carefully poured it into my bread bowl. I popped the whole thing into the oven for about 15-20 minutes, just until the bread was golden brown and the cheese was bubbly.
The Final Result (and Taste Test!)
Oh. My. Goodness. It looked amazing! The bread was all toasty, and the cheese was just oozing out. I let it cool for a few minutes (very important, unless you want to burn your mouth!), then dug in with some of the bread I’d scooped out earlier. It was seriously delicious – rich, cheesy, and with that perfect crusty bread. Definitely a win!
I need say that there are still a lot of bread left, maybe I should buy a bigger cheese next time!
