Cheese Fondue: A Tasty Alcohol-Free Treat At Home

Cheese fondue is a fun, communal dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a family meal. It is also surprisingly simple to prepare. Fondue is a Swiss dish that gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1960s and remains popular today. The earliest known recipe for fondue, or to cook cheese with wine, was printed in a 1699 Zurich cookbook.

To make a classic cheese fondue, you will need a combination of shredded or grated Swiss cheese, such as Gruyère, and another cheese such as fontina, Gouda, or Emmentaler. You will also need cornstarch or flour, garlic, lemon juice, and either wine or chicken/vegetable stock.

The key to making a smooth and creamy fondue is to add the cheese slowly and stir constantly. You should also use low heat to melt the cheese and be sure to serve the fondue over heat to maintain its texture.

Fondue is typically served with cubed French bread, meat, potatoes, sliced fruit (such as apples), vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, and bell peppers), or crackers for dipping.

Choosing the right cheese

• Go for quality: Opt for good-quality, high-quality cheese as it will make a significant difference in the final product.
• Mix different types of cheese: Instead of using just one type of cheese, try blending 1-3 different varieties. This will create a more complex and interesting flavour profile.
• Firm, mountain-style cheeses are best: Traditional Swiss fondue uses firm, mountain-style cheeses such as Gruyere, Swiss cheese, and Appenzeller. These cheeses melt smoothly and have a great flavour.
• Choose creamy and buttery cheeses: Look for cheeses that are buttery and creamy as they will melt smoothly and give your fondue a rich and indulgent texture. Fontina, Gruyère, and gouda are excellent choices.
• Grate your own cheese: Pre-shredded cheese has a different consistency than freshly grated cheese. Grating your own cheese will ensure a smoother and more even melt.
• Prepare the cheese with cornstarch: Before adding the cheese to the fondue, toss it with cornstarch to thicken the mixture and prevent the cheese from clumping. This step will give your fondue a smoother texture.

With these tips in mind, you can create a delicious and indulgent cheese fondue at home. Remember to experiment with different cheese combinations to find your favourite blend!

Preparing the cheese

Fondue is all about the cheese, so it's important to use good-quality, easy-melting cheese. The best all-around cheeses for fondue are fontina, Gruyère, and gouda. If you're going for a classic Swiss fondue, a mix of traditional, firm mountain-style cheeses is best: think Gruyère, Swiss cheese, and gouda. Other options include Comté, Emmentaler, raclette, vacherin, cheddar, and Appenzeller.

It's also important to grate the cheese yourself, as pre-shredded cheese has a different consistency and may not melt as well. You can use a box grater, microplane grater, or the grater blade of a food processor.

Next, toss the shredded cheese with cornstarch or flour. This will help thicken the fondue and prevent the cheese from clumping.

Now you're ready to start melting the cheese. Add the cheese to your pot a little at a time, stirring constantly and waiting for each addition to melt before adding more. Adding the cheese slowly and stirring constantly is key to achieving a smooth, creamy fondue.

Once the cheese is melted, you can add some extra flavourings like ground nutmeg, ground black or white pepper, Dijon mustard, or a splash of brandy or kirsch.

Fondue pot alternatives

While a fondue pot is a great way to conveniently make and enjoy fondue, it is not the only way. Here are some alternatives to a traditional fondue pot:

Double Boiler

The double boiler provides heat in a way that is most similar to an actual fondue pot. The simmering water in the pot indirectly heats the rounded bowl, allowing for a very gradual melting process. Start by adding the wine and garlic, then constantly stir and add the cheese in small batches. This method requires constant stirring to eliminate lumps.

Crockpot

A crockpot cooks slowly at low temperatures. Add all the ingredients into the pot at the same time before turning on the heat. Cover the pot and cook on high heat for about an hour and a half, stirring every fifteen minutes. Remove the garlic clove after the first stir and uncover the pot for the last few minutes to let the excess moisture escape.

Thick-Based Pot

Using a thick-based pot will produce the best and most perfect results compared to other options. The flame must be very low. Add the garlic and wine first, then slowly add the cheese while stirring out any lumps.

Oven Broiling

For a more immediate melted cheese fix, you can use direct and quick heat to melt the cheese within a few seconds. However, this method does not emulsify the cheese and wine, resulting in a baked cheese dip instead of a fondue. You can use ramekins to melt grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese with salt and pepper, drizzling olive oil on top. Pop them under the broiler for 4-5 minutes and serve immediately with crusty bread.

What to serve with fondue

There are tons of options when it comes to cheese fondue side dishes. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Bread

Bread is the most popular dipper for cheese fondue. It soaks up the warm cheese and creamy flavours, creating a delicious combination. You can use French baguettes, sourdough, breadsticks, bagels, croutons, pretzels, or even rustic cranberry walnut loaf. Just make sure to lightly toast the bread first so it doesn't fall apart in the fondue.

Crispy Potatoes

Pairing your fondue with crispy potatoes provides the same gooey, savory, rich combination as cheese fries. You can make homemade french fries, roasted or baked potatoes, or even potato chips. If you opt for chips, you could also try tortilla chips for homemade cheesy nachos.

Fruits

Fruits like apples and pears go surprisingly well with cheese fondue. Cut them into slices or chunks and let your guests dip them into the warm, melted cheese. The crunchy, crisp tartness of an apple is a perfect match for melted cheese.

Vegetables

If you're looking for some veggie options, you can't go wrong with broccoli, bell peppers, asparagus, carrots, or zucchini. You could serve them raw or lightly steamed. Other options include steamed green beans, pearl onions, radishes, or baby potatoes like Yukon Gold, fingerling, red, or purple.

Meat

Meat is a great way to add some protein to your fondue. You can use grilled steak, poached chicken, cooked ham, cured meats like beef jerky, kielbasa, pepperoni, salami, or sausage. Meatballs are also a surprisingly versatile side dish that goes well with cheese fondue.

Seafood

For a fancy touch, try adding some seafood to your fondue. Shrimp, crab, or lobster would all be delicious options. You could even do a seafood-themed fondue night with a variety of seafood options for your guests to dip into the warm, cheesy goodness.

How to serve fondue

Fondue is a fun, communal dish that's great for sharing with friends and family. Here are some tips on how to serve fondue and make the most of this delicious, social meal.

The Fondue Pot

If you have a fondue pot, great! If not, don't worry, you can make fondue in a regular saucepan and then transfer it to a regular pot or pan to keep it warm. A fondue pot does add a little extra flair to the experience, though, and it's also helpful for keeping the fondue warm and melty.

Dippers/Dippers

Fondue is all about what you dip into that warm, cheesy goodness. Here are some ideas:

• Bread is the classic dipper, cut into cubes so it's easily skewered. Go for a French baguette or a crusty, rustic loaf.
• Apples: tart apples like Granny Smith cut into cubes work well.
• Raw or lightly steamed vegetables: try broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, bell peppers/capsicum, asparagus, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes.
• Meat: cooked sausages, meatballs, ham, turkey, beef, or chicken.
• Other: pickles, bacon, roasted potatoes, or chips/crisps.

For a Party

If you're hosting a fondue party, here are some extra tips:

• Have more than one fondue pot, or one large one, so your guests can easily dip into the cheesy goodness.
• Make sure you have enough skewers/fondue forks for everyone.
• Prep as much food as you can the night before and store it in the fridge.
• Arrange all the food on a large platter or wooden boards, with the fondue in the centre.
• Keep it fresh and colourful!

Frequently asked questions