A Warming Chinese Fondue: Expert Tips For Hosting A Feast

Chinese fondue, also known as a Mongolian Firepot, is a fun, social dish that is perfect for a festive dinner or a simple meal with friends. It involves cooking thin slices of meat and vegetables in a communal pot of slowly simmering broth. The key to this dish is the broth, which should be rather bland at the beginning as it will concentrate and get richer over time. The meat and vegetables are then served with a seasoned dipping sauce. While there are no hard and fast rules, it is recommended to use a fondue pot and burner, with each guest having their own dipping fork and a small plate or bowl for the cooked food. The beauty of a Chinese fondue is that you don't need to cook anything ahead of time – simply prepare the ingredients and let your guests cook their food in the hot pot to their liking.

Prepare a bland broth, to be enriched by the sauce

Chinese fondue, also known as a Mongolian Firepot, is a fun, social meal that is cooked and served in a large communal pot. The first step is to prepare a bland broth, which will get richer in flavour as the meal goes on.

To make the broth, you will need to combine water and beef broth in a saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil, and then transfer the broth to your fondue pot until it is approximately 2/3 to 3/4 full. You can also add some sliced onions and garlic cloves to the broth for extra flavour. Simmer the broth for about an hour, and then it will be ready to serve.

The beauty of a Chinese fondue meal is that you don't have to cook anything ahead of time, apart from preparing the broth and chopping up your chosen meats and vegetables. It is best to cut the meat into thin slices, no more than 1/4-inch thick, for speedier cooking. You can also partially freeze the meat to make it easier to cut.

Once the broth is ready, place the fondue pot on a burner in the centre of the table, and keep it simmering throughout the meal. Each guest should have a dipping fork and a small plate or bowl for their cooked food, as well as a soup bowl for the rich broth at the end of the meal.

Use a fondue pot and burner, with colour-coded forks

To serve Chinese fondue, also known as a Mongolian Firepot, you will need a fondue pot and burner, with colour-coded forks for your guests. This communal meal consists of two steps: first the fondue, then the soup.

Each guest should have a colour-coded dipping fork and a small plate or bowl for their cooked food. The fondue pot should be placed on the burner in the centre of the table and kept simmering throughout the meal. Keep any remaining broth warm on the stove.

The fondue pot should be approximately 2/3 to 3/4 full of broth. This will make it easier for guests to dip their chosen ingredients into the pot. Each guest will then spear a piece of meat or vegetable with their dipping fork and immerse it in the broth until cooked to their liking. They can then dip it into a sauce of their choice.

There are no strict rules for this meal, but it is recommended to prepare a rather bland broth, which will get richer with time, and serve the meat and vegetables with a well-seasoned sauce. You can prepare a large batch of broth on the stove and add it to the fondue pot as needed. Keep the broth at a low simmer throughout the meal.

Some suggestions for sauces include: ginger and mustard sauce, seafood cocktail, Bearnaise sauce, lemon juice and soy sauce with ground sesame seeds, and sweet and sour juice.

Thinly slice meats and vegetables for easy cooking

Chinese fondue, also known as a Mongolian Firepot, is a fun and social meal that is perfect for a festive dining experience. It is a simple concept: cook thin slices of meat and vegetables in a light, flavoured broth, and then coat the cooked food in a flavourful sauce.

To prepare your meat and vegetables, start by selecting your desired types of meat and vegetables. For meat, you can go with the classic beef, pork, or turkey, or branch out with bison, venison, wild boar, tofu, or duck. For vegetables, options include bok choy, broccoli, carrots, and cabbage.

Once you have selected your ingredients, partially freeze the meat to make it easier to cut into thin slices. You can also ask your butcher to cut it for you. Cut the meat into paper-thin slices, no more than 1/4-inch thick, for speedier cooking. For vegetables, detach the cabbage leaves, leaving them whole, and slice the other vegetables into thin strips. If you do not like crunchy vegetables, you may want to blanch them for a few minutes before serving.

Arrange the sliced meat and vegetables on separate platters and set them aside until you are ready to serve.

Prepare a variety of dipping sauces, both bland and spicy

Chinese fondue is a fun, social dish that is perfect for a dinner party. It involves cooking thin slices of meat and vegetables in a communal pot of slowly simmering broth. The cooked food is then dipped into a variety of sauces.

Ginger and Mustard Sauce

A zesty and pungent sauce that pairs well with meat and vegetables. This sauce can be made by mixing together grated ginger, mustard, and a neutral oil such as canola or grapeseed oil. You can adjust the consistency by adding a small amount of water.

Seafood Cocktail Sauce

A tangy and slightly spicy sauce that complements seafood and fish. This sauce typically includes ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, and a variety of spices. You can add a touch of heat with a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper.

Bearnaise Sauce

A classic French sauce that is rich, creamy, and perfect for those who want a more indulgent dip. It is made with a combination of butter, egg yolks, shallots, and tarragon vinegar, creating a smooth and savory sauce.

Sweet and Sour Sauce

This sauce offers a balance of sweet and tangy flavors, making it a versatile dip for a variety of foods. To make it, combine cooking wine, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, water, and coriander. Adjust the seasoning ratios to suit your taste preferences.

Peanut Sauce

A savory and nutty sauce that adds depth of flavor to your fondue. Combine peanut butter, seafood soy sauce, garlic, dried shrimp, coriander, fried peanuts, salt, monosodium glutamate, and sesame oil. You can adjust the consistency by adding small amounts of water.

Chili Oil Sauce

For those who enjoy a spicy kick, this sauce will add a bold flavor to your fondue. Mix chili oil, Sichuan pepper powder, millet pepper, salt, monosodium glutamate, sesame oil, parsley, and shallots. You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less chili oil.

Remember to prepare enough sauce for your guests, and consider offering a variety of options to cater to different taste preferences. Enjoy experimenting with different sauces and creating a unique and enjoyable Chinese fondue experience!

Serve with sides like salads, noodles, and bread

Salads, noodles, and bread are all great accompaniments to Chinese fondue. Salads, in particular, are a great way to add a fresh and crunchy element to the meal. You could consider a simple green salad, or something more substantial like an herbed vegetable hash.

Noodles are another great side dish, and you can offer a variety of options such as rice noodles, egg noodles, or thin leafy vegetables like bok choy that can be cooked in the broth. If you're looking for something a little different, try coconut rice or vegetable rice.

Bread is always a good option to mop up any leftover broth or dipping sauces. Try a sturdy loaf like kalamata olive bread, or country-style bread.

When serving Chinese fondue, it's a good idea to offer a variety of sides and salads to accommodate all tastes and dietary preferences. You could also provide a selection of dipping sauces, such as ginger and mustard, seafood cocktail, or sweet and sour.

Frequently asked questions