Cheese Fondue: Perfect Entrée Pairings For A Delicious Experience

Cheese fondue is a simple, indulgent dish that is perfect for sharing with guests or enjoying as a meal with family. It is traditionally made with a combination of creamy, buttery cheeses such as Gruyère, Swiss cheese, Gouda, fontina, and Emmental, melted with wine and spices. To elevate your cheese fondue experience, it is important to choose the right entrées or dippers. Bread is the most popular option, with French bread, sourdough, bagels, and pretzels being excellent choices. For a more unique option, try a rustic cranberry walnut loaf. If you're looking for something beyond carbohydrates, roasted vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and potatoes are delicious options. Meat lovers can enjoy dipping grilled steak, meatballs, or cured meats like salami and chorizo. For a lighter option, try dipping apples or other fruits. Get creative and experiment with different entrées to find your perfect pairing!

Bread, Crackers, and Chips

If you're looking for something crunchy to dip into your fondue, crackers and chips are a great option. Wheat crackers or tortilla chips can be used to make homemade nachos, while soft or hard pretzels are a natural pairing with cheese. For a unique twist, try using rustic cranberry walnut loaf as your dipper, which is fantastic when dipped in cheese.

When preparing your bread, crackers, or chips for dipping, it's important to cut them into large enough pieces that won't fall apart in the cheese. You can also offer fondue forks or skewers to your guests to make dipping easier and avoid any messy fingers.

Vegetables

If you're looking for something quick and easy, raw celery, fennel spears, carrots, and cherry tomatoes can be served as they are. Pickled vegetables, such as pearl onions, pickles, and sweet gherkins, are also a great option, but be sure to pat them dry before serving. If the vegetable is small or an odd shape, consider providing toothpicks or skewers to make dipping easier.

For a more elegant presentation, try lightly steaming some green beans, pearl onions, radishes, or baby potatoes such as Yukon Gold, fingerling, red, or purple. You can also steam or sauté artichoke hearts and mushrooms, including crimini, shiitake, oyster, or sliced portobellos.

If you want to add a bit of colour and extra flavour to your fondue, bell peppers are a great option. Green, red, and yellow peppers can be sliced into thin, long strips, making them easy to dip without skewers. Broccoli and cauliflower are also excellent choices, and they can be served raw or lightly steamed for a smoother taste.

Meat

When it comes to meat, there are several options that pair well with cheese fondue. Firstly, grilled steak strips or bites can be dipped into the fondue, creating a delicious combination reminiscent of cheesesteaks. For an extra indulgent treat, add a piece of bread to the steak and cheese for mini cheesesteak sliders.

Another option is meatballs, which can be made from beef, chicken, veal, or vegetarian alternatives. These can be skewered and dipped into the fondue, or you can pour the fondue over the meatballs for an extra cheesy delight.

If you're looking for something more classic, cured meats such as beef jerky, kielbasa, pepperoni, salami, and chorizo are all excellent choices. These meats add a spicy kick to the fondue and can be easily skewered for dipping.

For a heartier option, poached chicken is a great choice. The mild flavour of poached chicken serves as a blank canvas, allowing the cheese fondue to shine. Add some herbs and spices to the chicken for extra flavour, and don't forget to dip those veggies too!

Lastly, seafood lovers can rejoice as shrimp is an excellent addition to cheese fondue. Whether roasted, sauteed, fried, or grilled, shrimp adds a unique and fancy touch to this classic dish. Just be sure to cook the shrimp with some garlic and parsley for an extra flavour boost.

Fruits

While fruits may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of cheese fondue, they can be a great pairing. Fruits that go well with cheese fondue include apples, pears, grapes, avocados, and cherry tomatoes.

Apples are a particularly popular choice, with their crisp and tart flavour complementing the creaminess of the fondue nicely. Granny Smith apples are often recommended, but you can also leave the skin on other types of apples to make them easier to handle. Bosc pears are another good option, as their nutmeg and cinnamon undertones bring out the spices found in many fondues.

Seafood

Shrimp is an excellent choice to accompany cheese fondue, adding a unique and fancy element to the classic dish. Whether roasted, sauteed, fried, or grilled, shrimp complements the bold flavours of the fondue. For an extra flavour kick, cook the shrimp with some minced garlic and chopped parsley.

If you're looking for a lighter option, steamed seafood is the way to go. Lightly steamed shrimp, crab, or lobster will add a touch of elegance to your cheese fondue experience. These delicate flavours and textures will complement the richness of the fondue without overwhelming it.

For a truly indulgent and luxurious experience, consider serving grilled or roasted lobster with your cheese fondue. The sweet and tender meat of the lobster will create a beautiful contrast with the creamy and savoury cheese. This combination is sure to impress your guests and elevate your fondue to the next level.

Remember, when serving seafood with cheese fondue, it's essential to ensure the seafood is cooked just right to avoid overpowering the delicate flavours of the fondue. So, whether you choose steamed, grilled, or roasted seafood, always aim for perfection in your cooking technique.

Frequently asked questions