Making Fondue Without Wine: A Tasty Alternative Guide

Fondue is a fun, communal dish that's great for sharing with friends and family. While classic fondue recipes often include wine, it's easy to make a delicious fondue without it. This guide will show you how.

Fondue typically consists of cheese melted with an acidic liquid (such as wine) to create a smooth, creamy texture. To make fondue without wine, you can simply substitute the wine with a non-alcoholic liquid. Some good options include chicken or vegetable broth, apple juice, or alcohol-free dry white wine. You can also add a splash of vinegar to give it a tangy flavour similar to wine.

When making fondue, it's important to use good-quality cheese and grate it yourself rather than using pre-shredded cheese, as this can affect the texture. The best cheeses for fondue are those that melt smoothly, such as fontina, Gruyère, and gouda. You can also experiment with other cheeses like Swiss cheese, cheddar, or Monterey Jack.

To make the fondue, combine the cheese with cornstarch or flour to prevent clumping, then slowly add the liquid and stir constantly until the cheese is fully melted. You can serve fondue with a variety of dippers, such as bread, apples, vegetables, or meat.

Use a combination of Swiss and cheddar cheese

How to Make Fondue with Swiss and Cheddar Cheese

Fondue is a fun and delicious dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's perfect for holiday dinners, parties, and family gatherings. Here's a simple recipe for fondue that combines Swiss and Cheddar cheese to create a creamy and tasty treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• Butter
• Milk
• Corn starch
• Salt
• Various dippers such as French bread, broccoli, green beans, potatoes, apples, ham, and veggies

Instructions:

• Melt butter over low heat. Add cornstarch and stir until well combined. You can use a fondue pot or a regular saucepan for this step. If using an electric fondue pot, adjust the temperature slightly above warm to avoid scorching the cheese.
• Mix in salt, then add milk and stir continuously over medium heat until the mixture boils. Continue stirring and boiling for one minute.
• Reduce the heat slightly and add the cheese. Mix just until the cheese is melted.
• Serve immediately with your favorite dippers!

Tips:

• This fondue recipe is very versatile when it comes to cheese. You can use equal amounts of Swiss and Cheddar, or experiment with different combinations like Emmentaler, Gruyere, Monterey Jack, or even a Mexican blend for a spicy kick.
• If you're using a fondue pot, keep the heat low to avoid scorching the cheese.
• For a well-balanced meal, offer a variety of dippers such as meat, vegetables, and bread.
• To make the fondue more interactive and fun, create a rule: if someone drops their food into the fondue pot, they have to give their neighbor a kiss!
• While fondue is best served fresh, you can store leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat gently on low heat. However, the consistency may change, and the cheese may become grainy.

Grate the cheese

Grating the cheese is an important step in making fondue without wine. For quicker melting and a smooth fondue, grate—do not chop—the cheese. Grated cheese melts faster and more evenly than chopped cheese, leading to smoother results.

When grating a large amount of cheese, using the grater blade of a food processor is super fast and worth the extra few minutes to wash the blade afterwards. If you don't have a grater blade on your food processor, the coarse side of a box grater or a coarse microplane grater work nicely too.

Cornstarch helps thicken the fondue and prevents the cheese from clumping. Lumpy bumpy cheese is not ideal. Flour can be used in a pinch, but cornstarch is the best option and leaves less of an aftertaste. Plus, it makes the fondue gluten-free for those with dietary concerns.

Toss the cheese with cornstarch thoroughly. In a bowl or sealed Ziploc bag, toss the shredded cheese with the cornstarch and shake until evenly coated.

Toss the cheese with cornstarch

To make fondue without wine, you'll need to use an alternative liquid base. Chicken broth is a popular choice for non-alcoholic fondue, but you can also use milk or an acidic liquid like lemon juice. You'll also need cornstarch, which is crucial for creating a smooth and stable emulsion with the cheese.

Start by grating your chosen cheese. You can use a variety of cheeses, such as Gruyere, Swiss, sharp cheddar, or a combination of these. It's important to grate the cheese finely or cube it into small pieces to ensure even melting. Once you have your grated cheese, place it in a large bowl or a gallon-size resealable bag.

Next, measure out the cornstarch. You'll need about 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch for every 2 cups of shredded cheese. Add the cornstarch to the cheese and toss or shake until the cheese is evenly coated. Make sure the cornstarch is distributed throughout the cheese to prevent clumping.

By coating the cheese with cornstarch, you are helping to stabilize the cheese sauce and prevent separation. Cornstarch is a pure starch that absorbs liquid and expands, thickening the fondue while also physically preventing the cheese proteins from forming long, tangled strands and the fats from separating. This results in a smoother and more stable fondue.

Once your cheese is evenly coated with cornstarch, you can proceed with the rest of the fondue recipe, adding the liquid base and any seasonings, and melting the cheese slowly while stirring continuously.

Use an electric fondue pot

An electric fondue pot is a great option if you don't want the hassle of purchasing fuel for a flame-powered fondue pot. It is easy to control the temperature of an electric pot, making it a convenient choice for preparing and serving fondue. However, you will need to place it near an electrical outlet and be cautious of the power cord while using it.

To use an electric fondue pot, start by gathering your ingredients. For a cheese fondue, grate your cheese and toss it with cornstarch to prevent clumping. You can also add garlic to enhance the flavour. For a chocolate fondue, melt your chocolate in a double boiler or microwave beforehand. As for an oil fondue, prepare your favourite dipping ingredients such as vegetables and meats.

Once you have prepared your ingredients, place the electric fondue pot on a heat source and set it to medium-high. Allow it to heat up for a few minutes before adding your fondue ingredients.

Now it's time to add your fondue ingredients to the pot. For a cheese fondue, slowly add the grated cheese, constantly stirring until it is fully melted. This process ensures a smooth and creamy consistency. For a chocolate fondue, slowly add the melted chocolate, stirring constantly until it is completely melted. If you're making an oil fondue, slowly add the oil and heat it to 375°F.

Finally, transfer the fondue to a serving dish and place it on a platter. Set out the fondue forks and invite your guests to dip their favourite foods into the hot fondue. Enjoy the delicious and interactive experience of fondue with your loved ones!

Serve with bread, apples, broccoli, and more

When it comes to serving fondue, there are endless possibilities. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Bread

Bread is a classic choice for fondue and for good reason – it soaks up all that cheesy goodness! Go for a rustic crusty loaf like a baguette or sourdough, or mix things up with pretzels, bagels, or breadsticks. If you want to get really fancy, you could even make your own bread specifically for dipping. Just be sure to lightly toast your bread before serving to avoid it falling apart in the fondue.

Apples

While it may seem like an unusual pairing, apples and fondue are a match made in heaven. The crisp, tartness of an apple is the perfect contrast to rich, creamy cheese. Go for a variety that's on the tarter side, like Granny Smith, to really make the flavours pop.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a great way to add a bit of freshness and nutrition to your fondue feast. You can serve it raw, but a light steaming will help take the edge off the raw, bitter flavour. Other vegetables that work well with fondue include peppers, potatoes, carrots, and cauliflower.

Meat

Fondue isn't just for vegetarians! Meatballs, sausage, steak, and chicken are all excellent choices for adding a bit of protein to your meal. Simply cook your meat of choice and provide skewers for easy dipping.

Other Ideas

If you're feeling adventurous, try some cured meats like salami or chorizo, or even seafood like shrimp or crab. For something a little sweeter, provide some dried fruit like apricots or figs. And of course, don't forget the classic chocolate fondue for dessert!

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