Idaho® Fingerling Potatoes and Fondue
Ingredients:
- 1-1 1/2 pounds Idaho Fingerling potatoes (such as Russian Banana Fingerling, Ruby Crescent Fingerling, French Fingerling, Red Thumb Fingerling, Purple Peruvian Fingerling, or a medley of fingerlings)
- Broccoli and/or cauliflower florets
- Raw apple slices (skin left on)
- Raw fresh small button mushroom
- Toothpicks or mid-size bamboo or metal skewers.
- Fondue
- 3 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese (12 ounces)
- 2 cups shredded Emmentaler, Gruyere, or Swiss cheese (8 ounces)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons kirsch or dry sherry
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- A grinding of fresh black pepper
Directions:
For the dippers:
- Scrub potatoes and place them in a steamer basket over 1 inch simmering water. Cover and steam until tender, about 10-15 minutes. You may also steam them without additional water in the microwave, about 4-5 minutes. Test with a fork to make sure they are done; they should be tender but hold their shape. Cut any large fingerlings in half, and leave the small fingerlings whole. Your goal is to have bite-size pieces. Place steamed potatoes in a serving bowl.
- Lightly steam broccoli and cauliflower florets just until they are crisp-tender (the broccoli should still be bright green), and place them in serving bowls.
- Core and slice the apples (leave skin on) and place in a serving bowl. Clean the mushrooms and place them in a serving bowl.
For the fondue:
- In a bowl, toss shredded cheeses with flour; set aside.
- Heat wine and garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat until very hot but not boiling. Just before it boils, reduce heat to low and stir in the cheese mixture, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Make sure the cheese is melted before adding more. Stir until mixture bubbles gently.
- Stir in milk, kirsch or sherry, mustard, nutmeg, and pepper.
- Transfer cheese mixture to a fondue pot and adjust fondue burner flame to low. Keep mixture bubbling very gently over the fondue burner.
- Serve with bowls of prepared dippers alongside the fondue, and toothpicks or skewers for guests to use to dip the potatoes and other items into the cheese bath.