The Best Dippers For A Cheesy Fondue Experience

Cheese fondue is a dish made with melted cheese, often mixed with cornstarch, flour, garlic, and white wine or brandy. It is traditionally served with chunks of bread, but there are many other foods that make great dippers. These include broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms, potatoes, apples, grapes, meatballs, steak, seafood, chicken, ravioli, cured meats, and more. When choosing dippers, consider whether you want your fondue to be an appetizer, main course, or dessert, and select sweet or savoury foods accordingly.

Bread

Some popular options include sourdough, French bread, rye bread, pumpernickel, brioche, whole wheat, olive bread, focaccia, ciabatta, naan, and challah. Other bread-type options include breadsticks, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas. Sweet bread with nuts and dried fruits can also pair well with cheese fondue.

For a special occasion, you can try making your own homemade pretzels. Store-bought pretzels are also an option, but make sure to get the thicker, long wands for easy dipping.

Meat

When it comes to meat dippers for cheese fondue, the options are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Steak

Cook up some perfectly seasoned steak bites and dunk them into the melted cheese. The meaty steak and rich cheeses are a perfect combination for a special date night dinner at home. Grab a glass of wine, and enjoy this irresistible meal.

Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Sausage

This is another meat option that tastes great with cheese. You won't believe how good this salty, cheesy, and savory combination is. It's hearty and filling, too, making it an instant crowd-pleaser. Serve it at summer parties or on a cozy Sunday night.

Salami, Chorizo, Pepperoni, and Soppressata

Cured meats, such as salami, chorizo, pepperoni, and soppressata, are fun and flavorful dippers that will bring a bit of spice to your fondue pot.

Poached or Herb-Roasted Chicken

Poached chicken might not seem like an obvious choice for fondue, but it is a blank canvas waiting to be dressed up in the cheeses and spices of your choosing. Alternatively, go for herb-roasted chicken for a more flavorful option.

Filet Mignon

Strips of juicy, perfectly cooked filet mignon can be elevated to the next level with the addition of cheese fondue. Skewer a bit of bread and filet, dip it in the fondue, and you've got yourself a fancy, bite-sized burger.

Lobster Tails, Crab Legs, Shrimp, Salmon, Tuna

Seafood might not be the first option that comes to mind for cheese dipping, but it is a fantastic choice. Get your hands on some lobster tails, crab legs, shrimp, salmon, tuna, and dunk them into the warm, melted cheese for an unforgettable meal.

Mini Smoked Sausages

Slice up some smoked sausages and throw them on a platter with all your favorite dippers. Since sausages tend to be saltier than meatballs or other meats, they are fantastic with cheese!

Vegetables

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Raw, steamed, or grilled broccoli and cauliflower are excellent choices for dipping into cheese fondue. They add a bit of freshness to the rich and creamy cheese. You can dip them raw, but lightly steaming or grilling them beforehand can help smooth out their raw, bitter flavours. Broccoli and cauliflower are also easy to skewer, making them a fun and interactive option for your fondue party.

Bell Peppers

Bright bell peppers, especially the sweet varieties, make a colourful and tasty addition to your fondue spread. Cutting them into long strips makes for easy dipping without the need for skewers. Their natural sweetness pairs surprisingly well with the savoury cheesiness of the fondue.

Roasted Potatoes

Instead of the usual fries or mashed potatoes, try roasted potatoes as dippers for your cheese fondue. Baby potatoes, in particular, make excellent dippers. They have a neutral taste and a mellow, subtly creamy texture that pairs well with cheese. Potatoes are also a safe bet for picky eaters and can make your fondue experience a little more romantic.

Asparagus

Asparagus spears, either raw or blanched, can be a great option for dipping into cheese fondue. They provide a crunchy texture and a fresh flavour that balances the richness of the cheese.

Mushrooms

Grilled or roasted mushrooms are another vegetable that pairs well with cheese. Their earthy and meaty flavours are often complemented by cheese, as seen in dishes like mushroom sauce, creamy pasta, and stuffed mushrooms. Grilling or roasting whole mushrooms is a quick and easy process, leaving you more time to enjoy your fondue.

Brussels Sprouts

While some people may not be fans of Brussels sprouts, wrapping them in bacon before roasting can transform them into a tasty fondue dipper. The meaty bacon flavour overpowers the earthy taste of the sprouts, and the exterior becomes crunchy, preventing overcooking. Dipping these crunchy Brussels sprouts into the cheese fondue creates a delicious combination.

Other Vegetable Ideas

Other vegetables that can be dipped into cheese fondue include zucchini, artichoke hearts, carrots, green beans, tomatoes, pearl onions, squash, and French beans. You can enjoy these vegetables raw, roasted, pickled, or steamed, depending on your preference.

Fruit

Apples are a popular choice, with tart varieties such as Granny Smith apples being a favourite. Pears are also a good option, particularly Bosc pears, as their nutmeg and cinnamon undertones bring out the spices found in many fondues. Crisp apples and pears can also add a nice textural contrast to the creamy cheese.

Citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines, cut into thick wedges, can add a zesty, sweet flavour to the cheese. For those who prefer sweeter fruit, apricots, nectarines, and peaches are excellent dippers, especially if they are firm and not too ripe. Grapes are another option for a fruit that pairs well with cheese.

Seafood

If you're looking for a quick and easy option, a bag of frozen, cooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp can be a great choice. Just thaw the shrimp in some water and you're good to go.

When preparing seafood for cheese fondue, it's important to make sure that the seafood is fully cooked before adding it to the fondue pot. This will ensure that the seafood is safe to eat and will also help to prevent any moisture from being added to the fondue, which can cause it to become thin and watery.

In addition to the seafood itself, here are some other dipper ideas that pair well with a seafood fondue:

• Cubed baguette, lightly toasted
• Grilled or roasted shrimp
• Salty, cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, chorizo, or soppressata
• Steamed broccoli or cauliflower florets
• Raw or steamed asparagus
• Roasted baby potatoes
• Pickles, such as cornichons or sliced dill pickles

Frequently asked questions