It's a night in with friends and the drinks are flowing. There are all sorts of little snacks and finger foods but what could possibly take this night to the next level? Fondue, of course, but not just any fondue -- beer fondue.
Beer fondue is a delicious treat to have at any social gathering and it's incredibly easy to make -- a few simple steps will get you some beer fondue in less than half an hour! Before you begin, it's important to make sure you have a proper fondue pot so that your dish comes out in the best way possible while also looking at presentable as can be.
What You Need To Make Beer Fondue
- 8 ounces of shredded cheddar
- 8 ounces of shredded Oka cheese
- 1 can (12 ounces) of your choice of beer (an India pale ale is recommended for its flavor, but any beer will do)
- ½ clove of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
- ¼ tablespoon of chili flakes
- Salt to taste
How To Make Beer Fondue
- In a stainless steel bowl, throw in the shredded cheddar, shredded Oka, minced garlic, black pepper, chili flakes, salt and all-purpose flour and mix together.
- Pour the beer into the fondue pot and put it on a low-medium heat. Bring the beer to a simmer.
- Add small amounts of the mix from the bowl into the fondue pot and stir thoroughly until it's completely melted. You don't want to dump in the whole mix at once or it won't melt and blend evenly. Continue to add small mixes and stir until the cheese is completely melted and blended together.
- Give the fondue a quick taste and add any additional seasonings to your liking. Give it one more quick stir and you're ready to eat!
Beer Fondue Pairings
Now you've got that delicious beer cheese mix but it's important to ask -- what goes well with beer fondue? Here are some great things to try and dip into that cheesy boozy goodness:
Bread
There are many types of bread that can be used to varying levels of taste, but a classic baguette or focaccia will always do the trick -- just slice about half an inch thick, drizzle with some olive oil and serve it alongside the fondue. If you feel like experimenting a bit, try using pretzel bread chopped up into little bite-sized chunks -- the pretzel flavor compliments the beer fondue very well.
Pickles
Pickles are also a wonderful addition to a fondue plate and the more diversity you can have, the better. Try experimenting with pickled red onions, pickled carrots, pickled cauliflower and pickled beets. The best possible pickle to have with fondue would be cornichons -- their small size and intense flavor compliment the cheese extremely well. Try and find these little rascals if you can!
Steamed Vegetables
Steamed vegetables go very well with fondue and can add a more firm texture that bread wouldn't bring -- try using chopped carrots, chopped potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower. They add a little something of their own without distracting from the flavor of the fondue and a part of you will feel a little healthier for getting some veggies in there.
If you want to take the whole dish to the next level, add some sliced ham to the plate! A slice smoked ham or sliced maple ham will add another dimension to the fondue's taste. The ham and cheese on some sliced baguette will do wonders.
Try different flavors of beer and mix and match various bread, vegetables, and pickles to find a fondue setup that works for you!