Consuming Passions - Worldwide Events Managers

Deep-fried cheese squares - Fondues Bruxelloises

Serves: 12 as appetiser

Notes

These fondues bear no relation to what we normally think of as fondues. Rather, they are deep fried cheese squares, which could have been the inspiration behind deep frying Camembert cheese. This is a much more cost-effective way of deep-frying cheese and is a very popular Belgian entrée.

Ingredients

• 150g plain flour
• 100g butter
• 500ml cups milk
• 150g Swiss cheese (Emmental or Gruyere), grated
• 100g Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
• 6 egg yolks
• Salt and white pepper to taste
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp water
• 1 Tbsp oil
• Flour for dusting on squares
• Bread or cornflake crumbs
• Oil for deep frying

Method

The day before, or morning of day of use… Melt butter in heavy pan. Add flour and stir in. When mixed, gradually add milk stirring constantly. Once boiling, continue stirring over low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in cheeses and allow to dissolve. Return to heat, add cayenne pepper, nutmeg, egg yolks, salt and pepper. Continue simmering, while stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil. Pour into greased or oiled baking tray lined with baking paper. Spread evenly throughout pan, cover with a sheet of baking paper, and when cool, put in refrigerator. You could speed the process by putting in the deep freeze – but don't allow it to freeze solid. Next day (or later in the day)... Beat the 3 eggs till frothy, mix with water, tablespoon oil, and a little salt and pepper. Turn cheese mixture out onto cutting surface. Cut rectangles about the size of large fish fingers or roll into balls. Dust each rectangle or ball in flour, dip into egg mixture, shake off excess, and roll in bread or cornflake crumbs. Again, shake off excess. Or you could roll them into sausage shapes and treat as with oblongs. Deep fry until golden and drain on kitchen paper. Serve on shredded lettuce leaves (preferably not iceberg!)

Note: They can be fried from frozen. I like to serve half of them to 6 people and reserve the rest for another occasion.