Irish Dubliner Fondue
Irish Dubliner Fondue: Who says Saint Paddy’s Day means Corned Beef and Green Beer? Sometimes the most FUN holiday dishes aren’t the most traditional.
Don’t get me wrong, I love traditions. Hubs and I have a standing lunch appointment every Saint Patrick’s Day at a local Irish Pub. We’ve held our March 17th lunch appointment our entire marriage; even when we had to cart our babies (robed in Notre Dame attire) into the pub with us–don’t judge.
We have a lot of family traditions. In fact, fondue itself is customary in our house.
Lt. Dan and I got married directly after graduating from college. We saved every penny we earned waiting tables to take a marvelous honeymoon before we had to start our official jobs and “grown-up” life. After weighing our options, we discovered we had saved enough money to spend a month in Colorado or a week on some island. Colorado it was!
What great memories I have of our first month as a married couple. We spent a couple weeks hiking, horseback riding, four-wheeling and exploring all the natural hot springs in Steamboat Springs. We rafted down the Colorado River. Hand-in-hand, we poked through obscure shops in downtown Colorado Springs. We rambled around Red Rocks. Yet one of my favorite memories was dining at a little fondue restaurant in Manitou Springs. Nestled at the foot of Pike’s Peak, this quaint mountain town is home of The Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant, among other things. One evening we sat out on an idyllic balcony in the crisp mountain air and ate the most exquisite meal either of us had ever experienced in our 22 years of life.
Course after course, we laughed and whispered sweet nothings to each other, as we devoured every last morsel brought to our table. Upon returning home, we promptly bought our first fondue pot and our tradition emerged. Over the last twelve years, we have hosted uncountable fondue parties. We have gone through several fondue pots and have collected all sorts of fondue paraphernalia. Our tradition lives on…
So, nothing against traditions. But think of the wonderfully unconventional dishes one can make with traditional Irish ingredients! Dishes such as Irish Dubliner Fondue or Chocolate Guinness Floats… just off the top of my head. *wink*
Dubliner is a sharp nutty cheese with a slightly brittle texture. It melts well and stands up nicely against the tang of Harp beer. Irish Dubliner Fondue is a delightful deviation from classic Swiss fondue. This pub-style dip is easy to prepare and will disappear in moments when paired with fresh bread, pickles and fruit!
You can prepare your fondue in most fondue pots, but I like to cook it in another small pot. It makes a much tidier presentation.
Serve Irish Dubliner Fondue with smooth and creamy Chocolate Guinness Floats for Saint Paddy’s Day this year!
You won’t need a “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” T-shirt to get a little St. Paddy’s Day love!
Irish Dubliner Fondue
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic cracked
- 1 1/4 cup Harp beer or pale Irish beer
- 8 ounces shredded Dubliner Cheese or sharp cheddar
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- Pepper
Instructions
- Place a small sauce pot over medium heat. Pour the beer in the pot. Peel and crack one garlic clove; then add it to the pot.
- Mix the shredded cheese with the flour and ground mustard. Slowly add the floured cheese to the beer. Whisk until smooth. You will think you’ve made a mistake until the mixture gets hot enough to thicken and come together—just keep whisking! (5-10 minutes) Remove the garlic clove.
- Once smooth and thick, pour into a fondue pot and serve! Serve with bread cut into cubes, sliced apples, grapes, gherkin pickles, and boiled baby potatoes.
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Only one? I would love to have the Le Creuset Caribean Enameled Cast Iron 3.5 quart braiser. What a beautiful pot!
On Central Chef, I really need the set of stackable cooling racks. It’s one of those things that I intend to buy, but keep forgetting. : )
I already subscribe to Spicy Perspective on facebook !!!!
I would love to have the Capresso grind and brew coffeemaker…..!!!!!! This fondue pot is gorgeous !!! Wish i get to be lucky !!!
Your story is so charming that the give-away seems almost distracting. Of course, who wouldn’t want to win? I’d like the Tyler Florence Santoku knife should I be so lucky. I’ve met Tyler and I really need a Santoku. Enough said.
About your romantic story regarding your marriage, visit to Colorado and bringing the newborns to an Irish pub on St Patrick’s Day, wow! I love to go wine tasting in California with tiny children. You get much better service! Plus it is so cute. Your brilliant not succumbing to prudishness.
The fondue sounds marvelous. I adore Guinness and am convinced that anything made from that has to be perfect.
This all looks great! Love using a good stout in recipes! I made/posted Double Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Irish Cream buttercream using a Young’s Double Chocolate Stout in the cupcakes. So good!
Those Guinness floats look very inviting! And, I love fondue…. I’ve been looking for a good recipe. Thanks for sharing. Love the fact you guys got to go to Colorado for a month long honeymoon!
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I love the idea of a beer float!
I love Dubliner cheese, and I LOVE your Colorado story and annual lunch date! The BH and I have all kinds of traditions like that, too :) I am not a beer fan, but I think I could do a number on the chocolate floats sans beer :)
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I’d choose the Le Creuset 3.5 qt. pot – in the new purple, of course.
hi Sommer
your guinness float looks like a great way to celebrate any day! I could certainly go for one now!
We’ll have to try one at the festival!
Cheers
Dennis
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