What to Do with Leftover Cheese Fondue

Cheese fondue is amazing. What could be better than warm creamy cheese draped over tasty bits of food? Can you even imagine that there would be leftover cheese? Yeah it happens sometimes. I have a large fondue pot and just can't fathom only filling it part of the way with cheese even if it's just for my husband and myself. Cheese fondue is typically made of very high quality cheese and shouldn't be wasted. There are many wonderful dishes you can make from leftover cheese fondue.

If you are not using the leftover cheese right away you will need to refrigerate it. You may have concerns about re-using the cheese since fondue is a communal meal where each person is dipping their food into the pot themselves. I don't worry about this because fondue parties are usually small and intimate and all my close friends and family members use appropriate fondue etiquette. Using your leftover cheese usually requires it to be re-heated anyway, which should take care of any germs you may worry about.

Fondue Again

Have your fondue party all over again the next day. Fondue can be melted once again, poured back into a fondue pot to be enjoyed. Your fondue cheese will have hardened in the refrigerator to the point where you should be able to grate it or at least cut it up in to small pieces. In a heavy pot on medium heat simmer the same liquid the fondue was made with the first time. This is usually white wine but beer and other liquids can be used. Add the cheese a little at a time stirring it constantly. Once all the cheese is melted pour it into a fondue pot to keep warm while you dip your food. To make it a different experience try adding different flavors to your cheese. Swirl in a few spoonfuls of pesto and dip fresh vegetables and garlic bread into it. Or you could stir in chipotle peppers and dip tortilla chips and tomatoes. Get creative the second time around.

Potato and Cheese Soup

This is a great way to use up everything from your fondue meal. Boiled potatoes, fresh broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and celery are classic dipping items for fondue. Take what is left over, chop them finer and add them to a pot of simmering chicken or vegetable stock and cook until tender. To make a very creamy soup put part of it in a blender and process until smooth. Return the blended soup to the pot and stir it in with the remaining soup. The potato starch will create a lovely thick soup. Once your soup is done lower the heat considerably. Once your soup is still warm but no longer simmering add your fondue cheese a small portion at a time. Stir well until it is all melted. Be careful not to overheat your cheese or it will become rubbery. Garnish the soup with any leftover bread from your previous fondue party and enjoy.

Grilled Cheese

The gourmet cheeses used in fondue make wonderful grilled cheese sandwiches or paninis. Use a nice hearty bread like ciabbata and brush with olive oil on one side of each slice. Put your bread on a warm griddle olive oil side down and top with spinach leaves, sun dried tomatoes and slices of your fondue cheese. Top with the other slice of bread. Press down with a spatula or a panini press. Flip your sandwich once the bread is toasted.

Fondue cheese can be used in most recipes that call for cheese. It will melt nicely because the acid in the wine or liquid used to make the original fondue breaks down the protein in the cheese. So enjoy your fondue twice.