Cheese Fondue

Method

Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.

1. Toss the grated cheeses with the cornflour in a bowl until every strand is dusted.

   Mark done

2. Rub the inside of a heavy caquelon or casserole hard with the cut garlic, then leave the garlic in.

   Mark done

3. Pour in the wine and lemon juice and bring to a bare simmer over medium-low heat. Do not let it boil.

   Mark done

4. Add the cheese one large handful at a time, stirring in a figure of eight — not a circle, which lets the cheese ball up.

   Mark done

5. Wait until each handful has melted before adding the next. The whole process takes about 10 minutes.

   Mark done Start 10 min timer

6. When it is smooth and coats the spoon, stir in the kirsch, nutmeg and white pepper.

   Mark done

7. Move it to the table over a low burner. It should stay just below a simmer, with the occasional lazy bubble.

   Mark done

8. Spear the bread through the soft side and out through the crust so it holds, and stir as you dip — keeping it moving keeps it smooth.

   Mark done

9. When only the toasted crust at the bottom is left, lift it out and share it. That is the religieuse, and it is the best part.

   Mark done

Chef’s Tips

• Grate the cheese and toss it with cornflour. Cubed cheese melts unevenly and splits.
• Figure of eight, never circles. It is not superstition, it stops the strands winding up.
• Day-old bread. Fresh bread falls off the fork.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
• A dry vermouth keeps for longer than an open bottle of white wine and is the closer swap than a random white left in the fridge; for an alcohol-free version, use the same amount of stock with a squeeze of lemon.

Pairing Suggestions

• The same dry white wine
• Cornichons and pickled onions
• A shot of kirsch

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate leftovers 2 days and reheat very gently with a splash of wine, stirring constantly.

Common questions

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.