Summer is upon us, and it’s berry season. The grocery stores and farmers markets have their shelves lined with fresh produce just waiting to be gobbled up by children and families alike. While berries are delicious on their own, it is also fun to add them into your cooking — whether it be a tried and true favorite dish from your past, or something out of the ordinary that caught your eye in a magazine or cookbook.
When you think of fondue, it usually conjures up images of warm cheddar and swiss cheese, raw meats being cooked in a flavorful broth, and lots of veggies, apples and breads for dipping. While these are still popular basics for fondue, it’s also a great alternative to take a modern twist on things and add additional options to the base for unique flavor combinations.
While walking through the supermarket recently, I sampled a slice of blueberry flavored cheddar cheese. DELICIOUS! I immediately thought of how this would make an amazing fondue and created a recipe that is just as great, if not better, than the cheese I tried in the store that day. Try it for yourself — it’s sure to be a family favorite!
Ingredients
14 oz cheddar cheese
2 tbsp flour
6 oz. vegetable or chicken broth
1/4 cup of blueberries
Suggestions for Dippers
Granny smith apples
Breads (especially rye and pumpernickel)
Tortilla chips
Chicken breast (grilled or baked)
Raw vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower
Instructions
To prep, grate and mix the cheese together with the flour. Liquefy the blueberries by putting them in a blender or food processor on low. Then turn the fondue pot on (for the Cuisinart electric, the setting I use is a 4 to mix everything and then I lower to 3 while we are eating).
Pour the broth into the fondue pot and mix in the blueberries. Slowly add the cheese and flour mixture while stirring with a whisk. The fondue should be the same consistency as honey after all the cheese is added. If the fondue is still not thick enough after adding all of the cheese, add about a tablespoon of flour. If the fondue is too thick, add a bit more broth.
Serve warm as an appetizer or snack with your dippers of choice (and don’t forget the fondue forks!). Enjoy!
