Tillie Doyle
Cheese fondue is an indulgent dish that can be served as an appetizer or a complete meal. It is a simple dish, with a pot of melted cheese and wine, but choosing the right dippers can make it interesting and impressive. The most popular dippers are bread, crackers, and chips, but there are plenty of other options to choose from. Vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots can be served raw or roasted, while potatoes, asparagus, and cauliflower are delicious when steamed. Fruits like apples and pears also pair well with cheese fondue, and almost any fruit that goes well on a cheese platter will work. For vegetarians, there are plenty of options to choose from, including roasted baby potatoes, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, pretzels, crackers, and chips.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread | French bread, breadsticks, croutons, multigrain bread, rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, bagels, baguette, focaccia, brioche, rustic cranberry walnut loaf |
| Crackers | Wheat crackers, tortilla chips, pita chips |
| Vegetables | Broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, asparagus, carrots, green beans, pearl onions, radishes, baby potatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, celery, fennel spears, cherry tomatoes, gherkins, pickles, cucumber |
| Fruit | Apples (Granny Smith), pears (Bosc), pineapple, grapes, apricots, figs |
| Meat | Meatballs, steak bites, bacon, ham, sausages, chicken poppers |
| Seafood | Shrimp, crab, lobster |
What You'll Learn
Bread
If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own bread, such as a fresh baguette or a simple, no-knead peasant bread. However, store-bought bread will also do the trick. If you go this route, a sourdough loaf is a great option.
To prepare the bread for dipping, cut it into bite-sized pieces or large cubes. You can also toast the bread before dipping, especially if it's a type of bread that might fall apart in the cheese.
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Vegetables
If you're looking for something quick and raw, celery, fennel spears, carrots, and cherry tomatoes are all good options. You could also serve raw broccoli and cauliflower with your fondue, and many people enjoy dipping these vegetables without cooking them first. However, if you want to reduce the bitterness of these vegetables, you could lightly steam or roast them before serving.
If you want to serve cooked vegetables, roasted asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, and zucchini are all delicious options. You could also steam green beans, pearl onions, radishes, or a variety of baby potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, fingerling, red, or purple potatoes.
Artichoke hearts and mushrooms are also delicious additions to the fondue platter. Crimini, shiitake, oyster, or sliced portobello mushrooms are all good choices. You could also serve sautéed artichoke hearts, or, if you're short on time, serve them raw.
If you're serving any oddly shaped or small vegetables, it's a good idea to offer toothpicks or skewers to make dipping easier for your guests.
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Meat
While meat may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of cheese fondue dippers, there are several options that pair well with the melted cheese. Here are some meat options to dip in your vegetarian cheese fondue:
Steak
Steak cubes or strips of juicy, perfectly cooked filet mignon can be elevated to the next level with a dip in the cheese fondue. Skewer a piece of bread and steak, dip it into the fondue, and you've got a bite-sized, cheesy burger.
Bacon
Bacon, especially when baked to a crisp, can be a delicious addition to your fondue spread. Its savoury flavour and crispy texture make it a unique dipper that complements the creamy cheese.
Chicken
Poached or leftover chicken is a versatile option for cheese fondue. It serves as a blank canvas, allowing the flavours of the cheese and spices in the fondue to shine through.
Salami, Sausage, and Pepperoni
Cured meats like salami, pepperoni, and sausage are fun and flavourful additions to your fondue. They bring a bit of spice and a contrasting texture to the melted cheese.
Seafood
Grilled or fried seafood options like shrimp, crab, lobster, scallops, octopus, or squid are excellent choices for a fondue. They cook quickly and pair well with the mellow cheeses typically used in fondue.
Prosciutto
Prosciutto is a delicate, sweet, and salty cured ham that pairs beautifully with the cheese. It is a sophisticated option for those looking for a more elegant fondue experience.
When choosing meat as a dipper for your vegetarian cheese fondue, remember to fully cook the meat beforehand. Also, ensure that the meat pieces are large enough to be easily skewered and dipped without falling apart in the cheese.
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Fruit
While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind, fruit is a great option for dipping in cheese fondue. Certain fruits are commonly found on cheese platters, so why not try them in fondue too?
Apples
Apples are a popular choice for cheese fondue, especially tart Granny Smith apples. Their crispness and tartness complement the creaminess of the fondue nicely. Instead of slices, which can be harder to spear, cut the apples into cubes for easier dipping.
Pears
Bosc pears are another excellent fruit option for cheese fondue. Their nutmeg and cinnamon undertones bring out the spices found in many fondue recipes.
Pineapple
Pineapple is also suggested as a fruit to dip in cheese fondue.
Grapes
Seedless grapes are another fruit option for cheese fondue.
Dried Fruit
Dried apricots and dried figs are also recommended for dipping in cheese fondue.
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Crackers
If you're looking for a more elegant or special occasion option, try pairing your cheese fondue with crackers topped with cured meats like prosciutto, salami, or chorizo. The saltiness of the meat will complement the creamy cheese perfectly.
For a crunchy texture and a fun scoop shape, fried wontons are also a great choice for dipping into cheese fondue. They don't have a strong flavour on their own, but they add a nice crispness and can be used as a scoop for the fondue.
When choosing crackers for cheese fondue, look for options that are sturdy and won't fall apart easily when dipped. Thicker crackers or those with a harder texture are ideal. You can also toast or bake the crackers beforehand to give them a bit more structure.
So go ahead and indulge in some crackers and cheese fondue—it's a match made in heaven!
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Frequently asked questions
Good vegetarian options for cheese fondue include bread, crackers, chips, vegetables (such as broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, asparagus, and cauliflower), and fruits (such as apples and pears).
Crusty bread, such as French bread, baguettes, sourdough, rye, or focaccia, is ideal for soaking up the cheese. You can also try unique types of bread, such as cranberry walnut loaf.
It is recommended to lightly cook or steam some vegetables before dipping them in cheese fondue. For example, broccoli and cauliflower can be dipped raw, but they may taste better if they are lightly steamed first to reduce bitterness.
Apples and pears are excellent choices for cheese fondue. Granny Smith apples provide a nice contrast with their tartness, while Bosc pears have nutmeg and cinnamon undertones that complement the spices in the fondue.
Yes, crackers and chips are great options for dipping! Wheat crackers, pita chips, and tortilla chips can all work well. Just be aware that some thin chips, like potato chips, may break apart in the cheese.
