A Spicy Perspective

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto & Fontina Fondue

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Of all the fondue recipes I’ve made over the years, this is a favorite. This Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Cheese Fondue Recipe will rock your party, or your romantic dinner for two!

Pesto Cheese Fondue Recipe | ASpicyPerspective.com #fondue #cheese #pesto #delallo

My first encounter with fondue was on my honeymoon in the summer of 1999… feeling old.

Lt. Dan and I had just finished college and after 3 and a half years of dating we thought, “What the heck, let’s get married!”

Lt. Dan had saved some money for our honeymoon and we determined it was enough for either a week on a tropical island, or a month-long road trip out west. Having just graduated college and not having to start work for a couple months, we opted for the road trip.

Pesto Cheese Fondue Recipes | ASpicyPerspective.com #fondue #cheese #pesto #delallo

We spent an entire month working our way through little towns in Colorado. From Vale, to Steamboat Springs, to Canyon City, to Colorado Springs. We stayed in several cabins a college buddy’s family loaned us, lounged in natural hot springs, hiked, rode horses, and ate in some amazing restaurants.

One of our favorite memories was finding a fondue restaurant called the Mona Lisa in Manitou Springs, the town at the foot of Pikes Peak.

Dan and Sommer CollierWeren’t we cute? Lovebirds in 1999.

We sat out on a tiny open-air balcony to enjoy our first experience with fondue. We were so young and care-free, that this opulent dining experience felt like it was straight out of the movies. Course after course, wine after wine, we laughed, flirted, and ever so slyly gorged ourselves with bread, cheese and chocolate.

To this day, it was one of the most romantic dinners I’ve ever experienced.

Pesto Cheese Fondue | ASpicyPerspective.com #fondue #cheese #delallo #pesto

We knew fondue was something we would have to do again. After returning home, we promptly acquired a fondue pot, so we could recreate our experience at home.

We have hosted many fondue parties over the years, each bringing back the memory of our first nostalgic fondue dinner on a balcony in the mountain air.

I’ve experimented with quite a few cheese fondue recipes: the classic swiss, beer and cheddar, irish dubliner fondue… but this pesto laced cheese fondue recipe is a real winner.

Pesto & Fontina Cheese Fondue | ASpicyPerspective.com #fondue #cheese #delallo #pesto

I recently discovered DeLallo’s new Simply Pesto, and immediately fell in love with the Sun-Dried Tomato & Olive Pesto.

Guys… it is so good.

Dare I say just as good, if not better, than homemade sun-dried tomato pesto, and made from natural non-scientific ingredients.

We’ve been eating it left and right over DeLallo Whole Wheat Pasta with a sprinkle of fresh romano cheese, but I digress.

This was just the pesto to breathe life into a creamy italian fontina cheese fondue!

Pesto & Cheese Fondue Recipe | ASpicyPerspective.com #fondue #cheese #pesto #delallo

I made a classic cheese fondue recipe, using creamy and nutty italian fontina cheese (sometimes called fontal or fontinella.) Then once the cheese was molten and hot, I stirred in a generous scoop of sun-dried tomato pesto to kick up the flavor.

Briny, nutty, fresh and fragrant oozing pot of goodness. That’s what this is.

Try dunking bread, gerkin pickles, or veggies in it, and you have a party in a pot. No noise-makers required.

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5 from 1 vote
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Pesto Cheese Fondue Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
This Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Cheese Fondue Recipe will rock your party, or your romantic dinner for two!
Servings: 6

Ingredients

For the Cheese Fondue Recipe:

  • 1 1/2 pounds Italian Fontina Fontal cheese shredded
  • 1/4 cup All-Purpose Gold Medal Flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
  • 1/2 cup DeLallo Sun-Dried Tomato & Olive Pesto

Possible items for dipping:

  • 1 loaf rustic Italian bread cut into cubes
  • Raw vegetables
  • Small pickles
  • Grapes
  • Apples cut into cubes

Instructions

  • Set a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add the oil and flour and whisk for 1-2 minutes until thick and smooth, but not dark. Whisk in the wine and bring to a simmer.
  • Meanwhile, heat a fondue pot on its stand in preparation for the fondue. Slowly add the cheese to the hot liquid, stirring continuously to melt. Once all the cheese is melted into the liquid, and the mixture is smooth, stir in the pesto.
  • Pour the cheese fondue into the fondue pot to keep it warm and serve with bread cubes, veggies and/or fruit.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 584kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 23g, Cholesterol: 133mg, Sodium: 1100mg, Potassium: 115mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1170IU, Vitamin C: 0.8mg, Calcium: 649mg, Iron: 0.9mg
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American, Italian
Author: Sommer Collier

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Delallo Foods. All pesto-loving opinions are my own.

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123 comments on “Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto & Fontina Fondue”

  1. Love this!

  2. Pingback: Cheddar- Beer Fondue - RecipeGirl

  3. Which store in Asheville do you get the pesto & cheese?

  4. What a lovely story about your early married years. I love fondue and will be trying this recipe for sure. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Such a cute photo of the two of you, and I love the pesto addition to classic fondue. Divine!

  6. Who won?

  7. Goodness, this looks so incredible :) I feel like I can taste it! Pesto is my favorite

  8. I love pesto!!! We haven’t had fonudue in ages – would love to get into it again.

  9. This is just too much fun!

  10. I love everything sundried tomato, that pesto sounds so good. My family would adore this cheese fondue!

  11. I love pesto spread on pizza dough with mozzarella and sauteed mushrooms and onions. But honestly, sometimes I eat it with a spoon. It’s amazing!

  12. I love pesto spread in the bottom of a baking pan with chicken thighs or breast laid on top. Spread more pesto on the chicken and some honey mustard and cheese and bake. Makes a wonderful sauce. Serve over Penne pasta with grated parm.

  13. We like to make pizza with pesto. Thanks.

  14. Feeling old & married ??? In a couple of days We’ll B married 43 years Little by little I have found cooking from scratch is the best…!

  15. spread on provolone and wrapped up with a thin slice of ham.

  16. OMG, that picture of you two is adorable! Love it. I haven’t had fondue in ages.

  17. Yum! I really need a new set… Mine is broken and I miss it!

  18. Take some olive oil and add a bit of cheesy pesto and you have the world’s greatest dipping oil for a crusty loaf of bread!

  19. I love a nice pesto pasta salad.

  20. We actually love to make a shrimp gnocci that has jarred marinara, basil pesto, and fresh mozzarella! So yummy!!!

  21. Awesome giveaway!

  22. I like putting it under chicken breast with goat cheese.

  23. Pesto shrimp pasta with spinach pasta, shallots, squash and extra parmesan!

  24. Love to use pesto in pasta sauce

  25. I love pesto on pasta with grilled shrimp on top.

  26. Oh that looks gooood! What an awesome prize

  27. I love to make Chicken, Roasted Pepper, and Pesto Sandwichs

  28. I love serving over freshly made pasta!!!

  29. My kids love fondue – it’s always such a treat. We do it for special occasions and it’s always fun!

  30. As a dressing for salad!

  31. Y’all are so precious!!!

  32. I love pesto in pasta! :-)

  33. I love to just stir pesto into soup, like minestrone. I also love it just tossed with pasta and served with roasted chicken or “Italian” meatloaf, or just served drizzled over roasted chicken.

  34. Fondue is always how my husband and I celebrate special days. And we pretty much always do it at home. It’s cheaper and we can make way more cheese fondue!!

  35. I like pesto over pasta dish

  36. I like to make Panini with pesto

  37. I usually use pesto on eggs, pasta, or chicken/pork/fish dishes. I’ve never thought to use it with a fondue dish.

  38. Pesto in a grilled cheese sandwich is divine!

  39. I love this delicious fondue…can’t go wrong with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes and cheese…oh my worrrrd!! Swoon!

  40. Looks like a winner, thanks for the recipe.

  41. my favorite way to serve pesto is to schmear it over crostini – yumm

  42. Over pasta or in a sandwich!

  43. Pesto. Love it on noodles and this fondue set would be so fun to have!

  44. I’ve been making pesto for years and while it isn’t hard, I’m always looking for an excellent “on hand” version. Hope I win!!!!! Oh, and my mother had my family eating fondue in the late 60’s and we haven’t stopped since!!!

  45. I like putting pesto on pasta, I also sometimes put a little in my salad dressing.

  46. I like a spoon of pesto in veggie soup!

  47. Just talking with a friend the other night about the good times that we each had having Fondue with friends, years ago. What ever happened to the good old days…

  48. I like pesto as an appetizer with crispy bread.

  49. Love a dollop or t

  50. I follow you on Pinterest and love all the pins you share! I just wanted to stop by today (for the first time) to let you know that your recipe pins are some of my favorites, I didn’t know you had a blog too… with gorgeous photos! I’ll be back! :)

  51. I love pesto on a tomato, basil and mozzarella sandwich.

  52. I adore the photo of you two!! Such love in your eyes! :)

    And this pesto sounds perfect for fondue! Love it!!

  53. I love pesto stuffed chicken breast. MMMM.

  54. Definitely craving fondue now! Great idea Sommer.

  55. My favorite is chicken pesto sandwiches. My husband even takes them to work.

  56. I don’t know if I have ever had fondue or not. How crazy is that! I need to make this!

  57. Pesto over pasta is my favorite, but I’m definitely open to trying it different ways.

  58. Love this fondue, adding pesto is such a great idea!

  59. Am not sure if it went through — we love pesto any way over anything! Our faves are still the classic, over pasta, although i punch up the midl flavors of fish and chicken with good pesto before baking.

  60. Oh, I was thinking I would scroll down and see the same pose today. I bet you’re just as cute today! Looks like such a tasty recipe!

  61. My favorite is still the classic pesto over pasta, although now I also used it to flavor fish fillets or chicken breast fillets– they are so mild, a nutty punch is always a good variation. We love pesto, thank you for this suggestion!

  62. I love pesto on a pannini!

  63. What a cute picture!! Love the idea of honeymooning on a month long road trip! ;) We honeymooned in 1997 in Key West so I’m feeling ya on the old comment. lol

  64. Awww!!! This is so cute and sweet!!! And this fondue….I’m getting out my fondue pot for this one!!! MMMMM!

  65. This fondue looks amazing! Love your story! So sweet!
    I love pesto on toasted French bread or pizza!

  66. I never thought about pesto and fondue but that sounds amazing!

  67. Loving this fondue lady!! !and love delallo :) Such a great combo!

  68. On a grilled sandwich/turkey/avacado any kind

  69. I love pesto blended in the warm pasta, and I also like to spread it in my sandwich.

  70. Favorite use of pesto is on grilled cheese sandwich! It takes it from kid to adult in no time flat!

  71. This looks absolutely wonderful and I am sure the kiddos will even love it!

  72. I love pesto tossed with roasted potatoes!

  73. awww what a cute picture of you two! love fondues!

  74. Looks amazing!

  75. with ravioli

  76. We love pesto on pasta!

  77. This would be fun-do for my kids.

  78. I put pesto on pizza and cheesy garlic bread

  79. Absolutely loved your story about the romantic dinner – so ideal, indeed! What a great post, Sommer. Thanks so much for sharing, and for hosting this terrific giveaway, too!

  80. I serve it with fresh French bread for dipping.

  81. I love pesto tossed with pasta for a quick yummy meal.

  82. Oh how I love a good Fondue!!!

  83. Love, love Pesto!!

  84. Pesto…in a sandwich! I loved your story and that picture…OMG…sheer cuteness!!

  85. any way!

  86. I love pesto as a pizza sauce

  87. I think that sounds like such a romantic honeymoon!! I love pesto on pasta!

  88. On my pizza!

  89. I <3 pesto and fondue the 2 together who knew LoL

  90. I love pesto on a sandwich!

  91. I love pesto on a crunchy baquette.

  92. I love pesto on grilled sandwiches!

  93. I like pesto as a spread on a toasted turkey sandwich

  94. Can I come over to fondue party? Please? Looks AMAZING!

  95. i make a pesto chicken “pasta” with shredded chicken and spaghetti squash instead of pasta

  96. Oh how I LOVE fondue…count me in on this party!

  97. I love it tossed with pasta.

  98. I had pesto with roasted cherry tomatoes and pasta this week– simple and delicious!

  99. Yum! I love fondues and this one sounds fantastic! Would love to win the giveaway!

  100. I’ve never tried DeLallo products…I’ll look for them now. Great post and what a sweet picture!

  101. Sommer, thanks for such a great post! Photos look amazing (as usual) and we love how you’ve used our Simply Pesto for this delicious recipe!

  102. I’m ashamed to admit that I have never had fondue! SHOCKING I KNOW! I do love pesto though on everything!

  103. We eat pesto on lots of things. Most recently we’ve been eating pesto on sandwiches

  104. Now that would be a tasty fondue!

  105. I love it on pizza, topped with lots of veggies, grilled chicken and cheese.

  106. You have been to Steamboat and I’ve lived in CO for 27 years and have not. WTH?? Sweet story; especially since I’ve been a fondue lover for so long; it was never a fad with me!

  107. I loved this little story…how sweet. :-) I think my first fondue experience was in 1970, I was about 10 years old, and was completely hooked. It was always a special treat when my mom took her fondue pot out! This pesto fondue sounds incredible. I can’t wait to try it!!

  108. Yum. This looks so good I’ve already forwarded the recipe to a dozen people!

  109. I like to toss it with pasta

  110. We are loving DeLallo’s pesto! They are all so tasty!

  111. How cute are y’all! Fondue is always fun!

  112. With pasta

  113. I haven’t thought about making this in so long – thanks for the great ideas!

  114. I make a white bean pesto dip when we have company over for football games.

  115. What an adorable story! I love pesto slathered in a sandwich (mixed with a bit of mayo!)

  116. I love fondue. My future husband has never had it (it’s a crying shame). I would eat fondue (specifically cheese fondue) all the time if I could. :)

  117. Love pesto over veggies

  118. Awe, such a cute story and so fun to ready since I live in Frisco, CO (about 20 minutes from Vail). I have never been to Mona Lisa, but wow ti sounds incredible. What a fun and adventure packed honeymoon!!

    This fondue is KILLER! I need to get a proper fondue pot and start making this once a week. Holy yum!

  119. I am allllll over this! Lovely recipe!