A cast iron skillet filled with baked fontina with rosemary and thyme.

I am all for buying two or three wedges of nice cheeses, plopping them on a cutting board, surrounding them with grapes and nuts and maybe something exotic like quince membrillo, and crossing “make-hors d’oeuvres” off my to-do list.

But every so often it’s nice to present something a teensy more special, more awe-inspiring, more spectacularly delicious. This baked fontina is the favorite party trick of my aunt — not the one that introduced me to salsa di parmigiano, the other one. She serves this bubbling fontina-herb-and-garlic-filled cast-iron skillet just as instructed with lots of crusty bread and swears that not a morsel ever remains. Because it is quite decadent, her other offerings consist of crispy kale chips and radishes with sea salt. My aunties are just full of good ideas.

This is definitely another good one to know this time of year — it’s super easy to put together and a guaranteed crowd pleaser. And if you are starting to feel anxious about how you might keep guests out of the kitchen this holiday season, here’s your solution: just plop down this cast-iron skillet in a nice cozy spot as far from your kitchen as possible — you’ll be sure to find some peace. But work quickly, because it won’t last long.

A bite of baked fontina with rosemary and thyme on bread.
ingredients for baked fontina on a board: fontina, rosemary, thyme, garlic, olive oil, salt.
minced herbs and sliced garlic on a board
cubed fontina, herbs, olive oil, garlic & salt in a cast iron skillet on a board.
Super easy to put together and a guaranteed crowd pleaser, this baked fontina is definitely a good one to know this time of year. When served to company, not a morsel of this bubbling fontina-herb-and-garlic-filled cast-iron skillet will ever remain. Serve with crispy kale chips and radishes with sea salt. // alexandracooks.com
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Baked fontina with rosemary and thyme in a cast iron skillet.

Baked Fontina

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5 from 4 reviews

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Description

Source: Barefoot Contessa: How Easy Is That?

Note: You can make a half recipe and bake it in mini cast-iron skillets. It works beautifully.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds fontina*, rind removed and 1-inch-diced
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 crusty French baguette

Instructions

  1. Preheat the broiler and position the oven rack 5 inches from the heat. (If you can’t get it exactly 5 inches, don’t worry.)
  2. Distribute the cubes of Fontina evenly in a 12-inch cast-iron pan. Drizzle on the olive oil. Combine the garlic, thyme, and rosemary and sprinkle it over the cheese and olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and place the pan under the broiler for 6 minutes (or longer if your pan is farther from the heat source), until the cheese is melted and bubbling and starts to brown.
  3. Serve the baked Fontina family-style-right out of the oven in the cast-iron pan with crusty chunks of bread for everyone to dip.

Notes

*Suggested brand: Italian Fontina Val d’Aosta

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Broiler
  • Cuisine: American