Beef Fondue: A Hearty Swiss Meal To Try

Beef fondue is a fun and tasty dish that involves cooking bite-sized pieces of meat in hot oil. It is a great option for a romantic dinner or a special occasion. The prep work is quite easy, but it does require some planning as the meat needs to be marinated for four hours before cooking. The meat is typically beef tenderloin or ribeye cut into 1-inch cubes, and the oil used for cooking can be vegetable, canola, or peanut oil. The cooked beef is then dipped into various sauces such as horseradish sauce, mustard-mayonnaise sauce, or a soy sauce-based dipping sauce. Beef fondue is often served with vegetables like cubed potatoes, broccoli florets, and chopped onions, which can also be dipped in tempura batter before being placed in the hot oil. It is a fun and interactive way to cook and enjoy a meal with family or friends.

Beef fondue ingredients

Beef fondue is a fun and tasty dish that is great for a date night or special occasion. It is also a good choice for a dinner party as most of the prep can be done in advance. The cooking itself is also part of the fun, as guests can cook their own meat and veggies to their liking.

The main ingredient in beef fondue is, of course, beef. It is best to use a good quality, tender cut of meat such as sirloin, ribeye, or beef tenderloin. The beef should be cut into bite-sized cubes, around 1-inch in size. This helps the meat to cook quickly and makes it easy to eat.

In addition to the beef, you can also add other meats such as pork tenderloin, or vegetables such as cubed potatoes, broccoli florets, onion cubes, baby carrots, bell peppers, and cauliflower florets. These vegetables should be chopped into similar sizes as the beef cubes.

For cooking the fondue, you will need a fondue pot and skewers or fondue forks. Canola oil or peanut oil are good choices for the fondue, as they have a neutral flavour and a high smoke point. Fill the fondue pot about halfway with oil and heat it to 375°F or 190°C. You can test if the oil is hot enough by dropping in a cube of bread; if it takes about 30 seconds to brown, the oil is ready.

Beef fondue is often served with a variety of dipping sauces. Some popular options include:

• Sour cream and horseradish sauce
• Mustard-mayonnaise sauce
• Barbecue sauce
• Bernaise sauce
• Soy sauce-based dipping sauce
• Garlic butter

How to prepare beef fondue

Ingredients

Beef fondue is a fun and tasty dish that is great for sharing with friends and family. It is a good idea to prepare the ingredients in advance, so everything is ready when your guests arrive.

For the beef, you will need 800g of beef tenderloin or 2 lbs of beef sirloin or top round beef, cut into bite-sized 1-inch cubes. You can also add pork tenderloin to the fondue, with the same quantity as the beef.

For the sauces, you will need:

• 3/4 cup of sour cream
• 3 tablespoons of prepared horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon of mustard
• 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup of melted butter
• 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon of chives, chopped
• 1/2 cup of softened butter

You can also add some salsa, mango chutney, cornichons, boiled new potatoes, and raw king prawns on the side.

For the oil, you will need 1 litre of good vegetable oil, or between 6 to 9 cups of canola oil or peanut oil.

Marinating the Meat

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine 3/4 cup of reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce, and 2 cloves of minced garlic. Divide this mixture evenly between two large resealable plastic bags. Add the cubed beef to one bag and the cubed pork to the second bag. Seal the bags and turn them to coat the meat. Refrigerate for four hours, turning the bags occasionally.

Preparing the Sauces

While the meat is marinating, you can prepare the sauces. For the horseradish sauce, combine the sour cream, horseradish, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and chives in a small bowl. For the garlic butter sauce, simply mix all the remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate the sauces until serving.

Heating the Oil

When your guests are ready to eat, it's time to heat the oil. Fill your fondue pan halfway with vegetable oil and heat it on the stove until it's hot but not smoking. You're aiming for around 190°C. Put the fondue burner on the table carefully, following the manufacturer's instructions to light the flame, and place the pan on top.

Cooking the Meat

Give each guest a fondue fork for cooking the meat. The meat should take 25-30 seconds for rare, 30-35 seconds for medium, and 45-60 seconds for well-done. When the meat is cooked to your liking, dip it into the sauces and pile it onto bread or potatoes. You can also cook raw king prawns in the fondue. Enjoy!

Dipping sauces for beef fondue

Beef fondue is a fun dipping dish to enjoy with your family. There are many sauces to choose from, and below are some dipping sauces that go well with beef fondue.

Horseradish Sauce

For a spicy kick, horseradish sauce is a great option. To make this sauce, simply mix together prepared horseradish, sour cream, lemon juice, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. You can adjust the amount of horseradish to your liking if you prefer a stronger flavour. This sauce is best served chilled.

Garlic Butter

For garlic lovers, this sauce is a delicious option. To make it, combine butter, garlic, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, and chives. You can also add in some softened butter to adjust the consistency to your liking. This sauce can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Bernaise Sauce

This classic French sauce is a perfect complement to beef fondue. To make it, start by combining vinegar, water, and pepper in a double boiler. Then, add egg yolks and stir constantly while slowly adding in butter. Finally, add lemon juice, tarragon, salt, and pepper to taste. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a few drops of water.

Cracked Pepper Sauce

This sauce has a bold flavour that pairs well with beef. To make it, beat together softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Then, mix in minced garlic, cracked peppercorn, finely chopped shallots or green onions, and a pinch of salt and pepper. This sauce can be served at room temperature.

Curry Dip

This sauce adds a nice kick of spice to your beef fondue. Simply combine mayonnaise, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, curry powder, and ground ginger. You can adjust the amount of curry powder and ginger to your preferred spice level. This sauce is best served chilled.

Beef fondue cooking time

Beef fondue is a fun and tasty meal that can be served for special occasions or date nights. It is a great way to bring flavour and fun to the table. The cooking time for beef fondue is relatively quick, but there is some preparation and assembly required beforehand.

Firstly, the beef needs to be cut into bite-sized cubes, around 1-inch in size. This ensures the meat cooks quickly and is easy to eat. The beef should be placed in a resealable plastic bag with a marinade made from soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. This is then refrigerated for four hours, being turned occasionally to ensure all the meat is coated.

While the meat is marinating, you can prepare the sauces. A popular choice is a horseradish sauce made from sour cream, horseradish, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. This sauce should be chilled until serving. Another option is a simple combination of soy sauce and chilli garlic sauce. These sauces can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.

Once the meat has finished marinating, it should be drained and patted dry with paper towels. The cooking time will depend on how well-done you like your meat. For rare meat, it should be cooked for 25-30 seconds, 30-35 seconds for medium, and 45-60 seconds for well-done. The meat is cooked by placing it on skewers or fondue forks and dipping it into hot oil heated to around 375°F.

In addition to the meat, you can also cook vegetables in the hot oil. Potatoes, broccoli, onions, carrots, and bell peppers are all great options. You can also prepare a tempura batter to dip the vegetables in before placing them in the oil. This adds a delicious crispy coating. The cooking time for vegetables will vary depending on the type and size, but they should be cooked until tender.

Beef fondue is a fun and interactive meal that allows guests to cook their own meat and vegetables to their desired level of doneness. The cooking time is quick, but the preparation and assembly of the various components should be considered when planning this meal.

Beef fondue serving suggestions

Beef fondue is a fun and interactive meal, perfect for a special occasion or date night. It is a great way to enjoy a variety of flavours and textures, and it is easy to prepare and customise. Here are some serving suggestions to elevate your beef fondue experience:

Choose the Right Cut of Meat

Select a tender and flavourful cut of beef, such as sirloin or ribeye. Ensure the beef is cut into bite-sized cubes, approximately 1-inch in size. This ensures the meat cooks quickly and evenly in the hot oil.

Variety of Dipping Sauces

The key to a delicious beef fondue is offering a variety of dipping sauces. Here are some options:

• Horseradish Sauce: Combine sour cream, horseradish, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Mustard-Mayonnaise Sauce: Mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and grated garlic.
• Soy Sauce Dipping Sauce: Combine liquid aminos or gluten-free soy sauce, rice vinegar, chilli garlic sauce, and sesame seeds.
• Garlic Butter: Blend softened butter with chopped garlic and chives.
• Bernaise Sauce: Whisk together vinegar, water, pepper, egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, tarragon, salt, and pepper.

Vegetables and Starch

In addition to beef, offer a variety of vegetables and starches for dipping. Here are some suggestions:

• Cubed potatoes
• Broccoli florets
• Chopped onions (red or white)
• Baby carrots
• Chopped bell peppers
• Cauliflower florets
• Bread

Tempura Batter

For an extra crispy and delicious treat, prepare a tempura batter to dip your vegetables in before placing them in the hot oil. A basic tempura batter consists of gluten-free flour, seltzer water, egg, salt, and paprika.

Drinks and Dessert

Beef fondue is a rich and savoury meal, so consider pairing it with light and refreshing drinks, such as a fine beverage, and end the meal with a light and fruity dessert, such as lemon sorbet or fresh berries.

Frequently asked questions