QUESO FONDUE

Queso Fondue image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Time 3h20m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

2 poblano chiles
1 jalapeno chile
Canola oil, for oiling the chiles
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk, heated
Pinch chile de arbol powder or cayenne pepper
3 ounces grated Monterey Jack cheese
2 ounces grated white Cheddar (see Cook's Note)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Pickled Red Onions, recipe follows
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
Tortilla chips, corn tortillas and radishes, for serving
2 large red onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
6 whole black peppercorns
4 sprigs fresh thyme plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Rub the poblano and jalapeno chiles with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan and roast, turning a few times, until golden brown and blistered all over, about 15 minutes for the jalapeno and 25 minutes for the poblanos. Remove to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let steam for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and seeds and dice or slice.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat, then add the flour and whisk until smooth and the raw flour taste has cooked out, about 2 minutes.
Slowly whisk in the hot milk, then bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and the chile de arbol.
Reduce the heat to low and begin adding the cheese a handful at a time, whisking until smooth. Taste for seasoning and fold in some of the diced chiles. Pour into a fondue pot.
Mix the remaining diced chiles with the Pickled Red Onions and cilantro and top the queso with the mixture. Serve with tortilla chips, tortillas or radishes.
Saute the onions in 1 tablespoon oil in a saute pan over medium-low heat until soft.
Meanwhile, place the vinegar, sugar, peppercorns, thyme sprigs and 1/4 cup oil in a noncorrosive saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the onions to the hot liquid and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the onions to steep for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight. (If steeping overnight, transfer to a bowl and cover.) When ready to serve, drain the liquid and top with chopped thyme.