Warm Chipotle, Chorizo, and Cheddar Dip

The Big Book of Appetizers

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 3 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 12  ounces  fully cooked chorizo sausage, cut into chunks
• 1  lb cheddar cheese, grated
• 1  tablespoon cornstarch
• 1  cup  lager-type beer
• 1  tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1  tablespoon  finely chopped canned chipotle chile in adobo
•  tortilla chips, for serving

Directions

1. Add sausage to the bowl of a food processor; process until it is finely chopped.
2. In a bowl, mix the cheese, cornstarch, and sausage together; set aside.
3. In a saucepan, combine the beer, lemon juice, and chipotle; bring to a simmer over medium heat.
4. Add in the cheese-sausage mixture, a handful at a time, stirring until melted and incorporated with the beer before adding the next handful (may take a few minutes).
5. If necessary, use a whisk to make sure the cheese is well blended.
6. Transfer to a fondue pot and keep warm over a low flame.
7. Serve with tortilla chips on the side.
8. **the chorizo sausage used here is the precooked type that is sold in links; if you would like to use fresh chorizo, skip the food processor step and just saute it, breaking it up with the back of a spoon, until completely cooked; let it cool before adding it to the cheese.
9. *if the cheese binds up and won’t incorporate with the liquid, add another tablespoon lemon juice; the extra acid will help the cheese blend with the other ingredients.