Cheese Fondue: The Perfect Melty Dip For These Foods

Cheese fondue is a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or dessert. It is traditionally made with a combination of shredded or grated cheese, wine, and spices, heated until melted. The best cheeses for fondue are those that melt smoothly and have a buttery and creamy texture, such as fontina, Gruyère, and gouda. While bread is the most common food to dip into cheese fondue, there are many other options to choose from. Here are some ideas to get you started:

- Bread: French bread, sourdough, rye, bagels, pretzels, crackers, and chips are all popular choices.

- Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, asparagus, zucchini, carrots, and green beans can be served raw, steamed, or roasted.

- Meat: Fully cooked meats such as chicken, beef, shrimp, and salmon can be dipped into the fondue. Cured meats like salami, chorizo, and pepperoni are also a tasty option.

- Fruit: Apples, pears, and grapes are classic choices, but you can also try something different like apricots or nectarines.

Bread

If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own bread from scratch. However, store-bought bread works just as well.

For a heartier option, try serving bread cubes with a side of fondue. If you want to get creative, you can even skewer a piece of bread with a piece of meat or another dipper for a bite-sized, fancy "burger."

Meat

Sausage

Sausage is an excellent meat option for fondue, especially authentic sweet Italian sausage. The savoury flavour of the sausage pairs amazingly well with the cheese. You can easily cut the sausage into smaller pieces, making it convenient for dipping. If you want to add a bit of extra flavour, you can choose from a variety of sausages like chorizo or spicy chicken sausage.

Poached Chicken

Poached chicken is a versatile option for cheese fondue. It serves as a blank canvas that can be dressed up with the cheeses and spices of your choice. You can add herbs and spices to the chicken for extra flavour and dip the pieces into the cheesy goodness.

Steak

Steak is another excellent protein option to dip into your cheese fondue. If you're a fan of cheesesteaks, you'll definitely enjoy dipping steak strips or bites into gooey cheese. Adding a piece of bread can create mini cheesesteak sliders.

Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

For something a little more indulgent, try wrapping Brussels sprouts in bacon and roasting them. The meaty bacon flavour overpowers the earthy taste of the sprouts, and the exterior becomes delightfully crunchy. These bacon-wrapped sprouts can be dipped into the cheese fondue, creating a unique and satisfying combination.

Seafood

If you're looking for a fun and filling option, consider grilled or fried seafood like shrimp, scallops, octopus, or squid. Seafood pairs well with the mellow types of cheese used in fondue, and it cooks quickly, making it a convenient choice. Just be careful not to overcook the seafood, as it can become rubbery and flavourless.

Potatoes

Roasted Baby Potatoes

Try roasting baby potatoes in the oven before serving them with cheese fondue. Cut the potatoes in half or into 1-inch pieces, drizzle with olive oil, and roast until tender. You can also boil them before roasting to speed up the cooking process.

Steamed or Boiled Potatoes

Another option is to steam or boil potatoes before serving them with fondue. Cut the potatoes into 1-inch pieces and cook them in boiling water until tender. You can also use unpeeled red-skinned potatoes for a pop of color.

New Potatoes with Three-Cheese Fondue

For a more indulgent option, try making a three-cheese fondue to serve with your potatoes. Combine cream cheese, Parmesan, and Gruyère with whipping cream, nutmeg, and onions. Cook the potatoes as mentioned above, and serve them on a platter with the warm fondue.

Potato Sides

If you want to offer a variety of dipping options, consider serving potatoes alongside other sides such as steamed broccoli, asparagus, cornichons, French bread, or cubed bread.

Fruit

If you're looking to create a colourful and nutritious spread, consider adding some bell peppers to your fruit selection. Their natural sweetness pairs surprisingly well with the savoury cheesiness of the fondue, and if you slice them into long strips, you won't even need skewers – your guests can just dunk them straight into the pot!

Vegetables

Some vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, and zucchini, are delicious when roasted. You could also steam some green beans, pearl onions, radishes, or baby potatoes like Yukon Gold, fingerling, red, or purple.

If you're looking for something quick that can be served raw, try celery, fennel spears, carrots, and cherry tomatoes. Pickled vegetables—such as pearl onions, pickles, and sweet gherkins—are also a welcome dipper, but be sure to pat them dry first. If the veggie is small or an odd shape, offer toothpicks or skewers to simplify the dipping.

You could also sauté some artichoke hearts or mushrooms (crimini, shiitake, oyster, or sliced portobellos). Mushrooms are among some people's absolute favorite cheese fondue dippers. They can be served raw or fried, perhaps with some garlic.

Blanching is another option for preparing vegetables for cheese fondue. You can blanch vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, snow peas, or snap peas in a pot of lightly salted boiling water for a minute or two to soften them up.

Frequently asked questions