An easy appetizer for two! Ooey, gooey melted Italian Fontina cheese, baked with garlic, herbs, and crushed red pepper, splashed with hot sauce for a little heat. Add a green salad and make it a meal!
Course Appetizer, Brunch
Cuisine American, French
Keyword appetizer, cheese, fontina, for two, french bread, garlic, herb
Budget Frugal
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 6 minutesminutes
Total Time 16 minutesminutes
Servings 2
Calories 597kcal
Equipment
6" cast iron skillet The advantage of using a cast iron skillet is the ability to quickly warm the dish on the stovetop if it starts to lose its ooey gooeyness.
Substitute frying pan that is approved for use under the broiler
Ingredients
8ouncesItalian Cheese
1TBSolive oil
3garlic cloveschopped or thinly sliced (recommend thinly sliced)
1teaspoonfresh thyme leavesminced
½teaspoonfresh rosemary leavesminced
½teaspoonkosher salt
¼teaspoonblack pepper freshly ground black pepper or crushed red pepper (recommend combination of the two)
¼teaspooncrushed red pepper
4ouncesFrench baguetteCrusty French Baguette
Instructions
Preheat the broiler and position the oven rack 6" from the heat.
Cut the Fontina cheese into ¾" cubes and place the cubes evenly in the bottom of a 6-inch cast-iron skillet.
Drizzle the olive oil over the top.
Combine the garlic, thyme, and rosemary in a small bowl.
Sprinkle the garlic and herbs evenly over the cheese and olive oil in the skillet.
Sprinkle the salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper over the cubes of cheese and place the skillet under the broiler for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and just beginning to brown on top.
When the cheese is perfectly meltd, remove it from the oven and add a few drops of hot sauce.
Serve the baked Fontina appetizer for two straight out of the oven in the cast-iron pan with chunks of crusty bread for dipping.