Cheese Fondue And Dipping Combinations To Try

Fondue is a Swiss dish that originated in the 1700s when farmers mixed leftover cheese, stale bread, and wine to create a hearty meal during the harsh winter months. Today, fondue is a popular dish that can be served as an indulgent appetizer or a fun meal to share with friends. While bread is a classic dipper for fondue, there are endless possibilities when it comes to what you can pair with this cheesy dish. From vegetables to meat, and even fruit, here are some of the best things to dip in fondue:

Bread

There are many types of bread that can be used for dipping. You can cut a baguette into bite-sized pieces and dip them in the fondue. You can also toast the bread before dipping to help it stay in one piece. Sourdough is another popular option. For a more indulgent option, brioche also works well. If you want to be more creative, you could try rye, focaccia, bagels, or even pretzels, which are a type of bread.

If you want to make your own bread, a simple, no-knead peasant loaf can be a good option to dip into fondue. Alternatively, you could try making your own homemade pretzels. They are easier to make than you might think and are warm, chewy, and salty, which is a great combination with cheese.

Meat

Beef

Beef is a popular choice for fondue, especially when cut into bite-sized cubes. You can use beef sirloin, top round beef, or tenderloin, or go for rump steaks. Cooking the beef in hot oil is a common method, and you can adjust the cooking time according to your desired doneness. If you're looking for a different flavour profile, cured meats like salami, soppressata, or chorizo can be great options to dip into the fondue.

Steak

Steak bites or cubes are a delicious option to dip into fondue. Look for juicy, perfectly cooked steak bites that will pair well with the rich, cheesy fondue. You can also try wrapping your steak bites in bread and dipping them into the fondue for a fancier bite-sized burger experience.

Bacon

Bacon-wrapped foods, such as Brussels sprouts or smoked sausage, can be a tasty addition to your fondue spread. The salty, smoky flavour of bacon pairs well with the cheese, adding a unique twist to your dipping options.

Seafood

While it may not be the first option that comes to mind, seafood can be an excellent choice to dip into cheese fondue. Go for the good stuff, like lobster tails, crab legs, or salmon. Shrimp is another popular choice, especially when grilled or fried with a bit of garlic and parsley for extra flavour.

Poultry

Chicken poppers, with their crispy exterior and tender meat, are a tasty option to dip into fondue. You can also opt for poached chicken, which provides a blank canvas for the cheeses and spices in the fondue to shine. Leftover turkey or chicken can also be cut into dippable sizes and paired with the fondue to elevate your leftovers.

Seafood

Lobster tails, crab legs, salmon, shrimp, and scallops are all luxurious seafood options to pair with your cheese fondue. Seafood is generally quicker to cook than meat, so it's an excellent choice if you're looking for something a little faster to prepare. When cooking seafood like shrimp or scallops in a pan, it only takes a few minutes per side to cook them through. However, it's easy to overcook them, so be careful! You can also try grilled or fried seafood options like shrimp, scallops, octopus, or squid. These pair well with the mellow types of cheese used in the fondue base.

If you're looking for a more unusual combination, try dipping gherkins, thinly chopped onions, or hard-boiled eggs into your fondue. These unexpected pairings can add a unique twist to your fondue experience.

For a more classic approach, steamed or grilled broccoli is always a good option. It's a mild and well-balanced flavor that pairs well with most types of Swiss cheese commonly used for fondue, such as Gruyere and Emmental. You can also try other vegetables like bell peppers, which add a natural sweetness to the savory cheesiness of the fondue.

So, whether you're looking for indulgent seafood options or unique vegetable pairings, there are plenty of ways to enjoy seafood fondue!

Vegetables

If you're looking for a quick, raw option, try celery, fennel spears, carrots, and cherry tomatoes. You could also serve crudités-style raw vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, and carrots. If you want to add a little more flavour, try lightly steaming vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and celery, or branch out with cooked mushrooms, artichoke hearts, green beans, or asparagus tips.

If you're looking for something in between raw and cooked, try lightly roasting vegetables such as asparagus, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, and zucchini. You could also try roasting baby potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, fingerling, red, or purple potatoes, or even potato skins.

If you want to add a bit of crunch to your fondue spread, bring some freshness to the dairy-fest with broccoli or cauliflower florets. You can dip them raw, but some prefer them lightly steamed or roasted to smooth out the raw, bitter flavours.

For an easy dipper, try some sliced bell peppers. Their natural sweetness works surprisingly well with the savoury cheesiness of the fondue. Slice them into long strips, and you won't even need a skewer—just dunk them straight in!

Fruits

Fruit and fondue is a classic combination, and for good reason. The sweetness of the fruit pairs surprisingly well with the creaminess of the fondue, especially when you take into account the fact that fruit and cheese are a common combination on cheese boards.

When choosing fruit to dip in fondue, it is best to opt for fruits with a crispy and firm texture that can hold their form when dipped into the hot cheese. Fruits that are typically used for chocolate fondue, such as strawberries, pineapple, bananas, apples, and dried fruits, would also work well with cheese fondue. Zesty but sweet citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines, cut into thick wedges, would also be a good choice. For those who prefer sweeter fruits, apricots, nectarines, and peaches are excellent options, but it is important to choose firmer fruits and avoid ripe and mushy ones.

If you are preparing apples or bananas, it is recommended to add a little lemon juice to prevent them from browning. Similarly, a tip to keep apples from turning brown is to slice them and soak them in a lemon-lime soft drink like 7-Up or Sprite.

Frequently asked questions