Cheese Fondue: The Ultimate Guide To Dunking

Cheese fondue is a versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of foods, both savoury and sweet. While crusty bread is the most popular option for dipping in cheese fondue, there are many other foods that can be dunked in this indulgent dish. From vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and potatoes, to meats such as meatballs, steak, and bacon, the possibilities are endless. For those with a sweet tooth, fruits like apples, pears, and grapes can also be dipped in cheese fondue for a delicious treat. So, go ahead and get creative with your cheese fondue dippers and enjoy this scrumptious dish with your favourite dunking treats!

Bread

When it comes to choosing a type of bread, the options are endless. A baguette is a popular choice and can be cut into small pieces to make the perfect dipper. Sourdough is another favourite, but you could also try rye, focaccia, brioche, or even bagels. If you're feeling ambitious, you can even make your own bread specifically for dipping.

Before dunking your bread into the fondue, you might want to cut it into bite-sized pieces to make it easier to eat. You can also experiment with toasting the bread beforehand, which will give it a nice texture, but keep in mind that toasted bread can be tricky to stab with fondue forks.

So, whether you go for a classic baguette or get creative with your bread choice, dipping bread into cheese fondue is a delicious and indulgent experience.

Meat

Steak

For a luxurious and indulgent experience, try dunking steak bites into your cheese fondue. Cut a steak into 1-inch cubes, and you've got yourself a fancy date night dinner. Just be mindful of the cooking temperature, as you don't want to overcook the steak.

Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Sausage

This option is a savory delight. The salty, cheesy, and savory combination will be a crowd-pleaser. It's also a hearty and filling choice, perfect for cozy gatherings.

Salami

Salami, with its savory and briny flavors, pairs wonderfully with cheese fondue. Try wrapping salami around apple bites, drizzling them with honey, and sprinkling rosemary and black pepper for an extra punch of flavor.

Chicken

Poached or rotisserie chicken is a mild and versatile option for cheese fondue dunking. It serves as a blank canvas, allowing the flavors of the cheese and spices to shine.

Seafood

While it may not be the first option that comes to mind, seafood can be an excellent choice for cheese fondue. Try dunking lobster tails, crab legs, shrimp, or scallops into the warm, melted cheese for an unforgettable culinary experience.

Vegetables

When choosing vegetables to dunk in fondue, it's important to consider how you will prepare them. Almost any vegetable will work, but some are better suited to being served raw, while others benefit from being roasted, steamed, or blanched. Raw vegetables that work well include bell peppers, celery, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and fennel spears. If you want to serve raw vegetables, but are looking for something a little more unusual, you could try quick-pickling vegetables like pearl onions, cucumbers, or sweet gherkins.

If you want to serve roasted vegetables, good options include Brussels sprouts, red bell pepper slices, roasted potato wedges, roasted sweet potatoes, parsnips, and roasted mushrooms. You could also try blanched vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, green beans, snow peas, or snap peas. These are softened by briefly boiling in salted water before being drained and served.

Steamed vegetables are another option. Try steaming carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, or artichoke hearts. You could also steam baby potatoes, like Yukon Gold, fingerling, red, or purple potatoes.

Other vegetables that work well as dippers include sautéed artichoke hearts, sliced Portobello mushrooms, and various types of mushrooms, such as crimini, shiitake, oyster, or sliced portobellos.

Fruit

When selecting fruits for cheese fondue, it is advisable to choose fruits with a crisp and firm texture that can withstand dipping into hot cheese. Apples and pears are classic choices that pair well with Gruyere cheese, a common type of cheese used in fondue. The tartness of Granny Smith apples creates a delightful contrast with the creamy cheese, while Bosc pears enhance the spices in the fondue with their nutmeg and cinnamon undertones.

Citrus fruits, such as oranges and tangerines, can add a zesty and sweet flavour to the fondue experience. For those who prefer a sweeter fruit pairing, apricots, nectarines, and peaches are excellent options, though it is recommended to choose firmer fruits over riper, mushier ones for better dipping consistency.

In addition to the fruits mentioned, feel free to experiment with other fruits that complement the cheese fondue's flavour profile. The versatility of fruit as a dipping option allows for a wide range of creative combinations.

Seafood

Lobster tails, crab legs, and shrimp are all popular choices. For a quick and easy option, a bag of frozen, pre-cooked shrimp can be quickly thawed and dunked. For a more luxurious experience, crab legs can be cracked and dipped into the warm, melted cheese.

For a truly special occasion, scallops are a delicate seafood option that can be carefully dunked or spooned with cheese. Another decadent choice is salmon, which can be cut into bite-sized pieces and dunked into the fondue.

For a more well-rounded meal, seafood can be paired with steak bites, meatballs, or roasted vegetables. This creates a hearty and indulgent dish, perfect for a cozy night in or a dinner party with friends.

So, while seafood may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of cheese fondue dunking, it is definitely worth considering for a unique and delicious experience.

Frequently asked questions