Creative Ways To Use Up Fondue Leftovers

Fondue is a fun and interactive way to enjoy a meal with friends and family, but it often leaves you with a lot of leftovers. The good news is that you don't have to throw away your leftover fondue! There are many creative ways to repurpose it and transform it into delicious new dishes. Whether it's cheese fondue or meat and broth, you can easily give your leftovers a second life.

What to do with fondue leftovers

Freeze leftovers

If you have leftover fondue, you can freeze it for later use. Here are some tips and ideas for freezing fondue leftovers:

Portioning and Containers

Defrosting and Reheating

When you're ready to use your frozen fondue, gently reheat it on the stove. Adding a small amount of wine or sherry while whisking can help smooth out the texture, as frozen cheese products can sometimes become grainy. You can also cut thick fondue with evaporated milk to achieve a smoother consistency.

Freezing Cheese Fondue

If you have leftover cheese fondue, freezing it is a great option. You can then use it as a sauce or topping for various dishes. For example, you can use it as a cheese sauce for broccoli or other steamed vegetables. You can also mix it with pasta for a delicious macaroni and cheese or use it as a topping for homemade chicken pot pie. Get creative and experiment with different combinations of cheese fondue with your favourite dishes.

Freezing Broth or Meat Fondue

Leftover broth or meat fondue can also be frozen and used later as a base for soups or stir-fries. For instance, you can create an Italian-style fondue leftover soup by adding diced tomatoes, herbs, leftover vegetables, and meat. Simply bring the broth to a boil, add the remaining ingredients, and simmer until everything is cooked through.

Remember to label and date your containers when freezing leftovers, and aim to consume them within a reasonable timeframe for the best quality and taste.

Make soup

If you have leftover fondue broth, you can make a soup by adding water to the broth until you have around 6 cups of liquid. Pour the liquid into a large pot and add a can of diced tomatoes and some dried Italian herbs or freshly chopped oregano. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. You can then add any leftover vegetables and fondue meat and continue to simmer until everything is cooked through. Finally, add some pasta and baby spinach 5 minutes before serving.

You can also make a soup by frying up some meat, onions, garlic, ginger, and sambal oelek in a large skillet or wok. Set the mixture aside on a plate, then brown some vegetables in the same skillet. Add the meat mixture back into the skillet with the vegetables, then pour in some broth and hoisin sauce or mustard and hoisin fondue sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until the sauce is syrupy and the vegetables are tender. Serve over jasmine rice or rice noodles.

Make macaroni and cheese

If you have leftover fondue and fancy making macaroni and cheese, there are a few ways to go about it. You can either use the fondue as a topping or a dip for your macaroni and cheese, or you can incorporate it into the sauce.

If you want to use the fondue as a topping or dip, simply reheat it gently and serve it alongside your macaroni and cheese. You can also add some herbs—basil, thyme, or chives—to the fondue to give it extra flavour.

If you want to incorporate the fondue into the sauce, you can follow this recipe:

Ingredients:

• Gruyere and Emmentaler cheese
• Salt and freshly cracked pepper
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• Elbow pasta (or any other cut pasta shape)
• 1 cup dry white wine
• Cornstarch

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 325°F.
• Cook the pasta until it is just shy of al dente, so it is still firm. Drain, toss with a tiny bit of olive oil, and set aside.
• In a bowl, toss the grated cheeses with cornstarch and set it aside by the stove. The cornstarch is important as it helps the wine and cheese blend into a smooth emulsion.
• In a saucepan, heat the wine to a simmer and then slowly add the cheese, a handful at a time, stirring or whisking continuously to incorporate it before adding more. The mixture should be hot but not boiling, and it will only take a short time, so don't walk away.
• When the cheese is fully incorporated, add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste, as well as the Kirsch (a delicious colorless cherry brandy).
• Add the macaroni to the fondue and turn everything into a baking dish.
• Bake for about 30 minutes until bubbling, and then finish under the broiler to brown. Serve immediately.

Make a meat and vegetable stir-fry

If you have leftover fondue, there are many ways to repurpose it. Here is a recipe for a meat and vegetable stir-fry using fondue leftovers.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb (225 g) of leftover fondue meat (chicken, beef, or any other meat)
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of canola oil
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) of sambal oelek
• 6 cups (1.5 litres) of mixed vegetables of your choice (mushrooms, peppers, sweet peas, broccoli, etc.)
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) of chicken or fondue broth
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of hoisin sauce or mustard and hoisin fondue sauce
• Jasmine rice or rice noodles, for serving

Instructions:

• Heat a large skillet or wok over high heat and add the oil.
• Brown the meat in the oil.
• Add the onions, garlic, ginger, and sambal oelek. Cook for 1 minute. Set aside on a plate.
• In the same skillet, brown the vegetables, adding more oil if needed.
• Pour in the broth and sauce, bring to a boil, and then simmer. Continue simmering until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are tender.
• Return the meat to the skillet and adjust the seasoning to taste.
• Serve the stir-fry over jasmine rice or rice noodles.

This recipe is a delicious way to use up leftover fondue meat and vegetables, creating a quick and easy meal.

Make bread pudding

Bread pudding is a great way to use up leftover fondue. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make this delicious dessert:

Ingredients:

• Leftover fondue
• Stale bread (French bread, brioche, sourdough, or any sturdy loaf)
• Butter (salted or unsalted)
• Milk (or half-and-half/heavy cream)
• Sugar (white granulated or brown)
• Eggs
• Cinnamon
• Vanilla extract
• Optional: raisins, cranberries, chocolate chips, or other mix-ins

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Butter an 8x8-inch (or 9x13-inch for a larger batch) baking dish.
• Tear or cut the bread into small cubes (about 1-inch pieces) and place them in the prepared baking dish.
• Drizzle melted butter over the bread cubes and sprinkle with raisins or other mix-ins, if desired.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
• Pour the egg mixture over the bread, making sure all the pieces are coated and soaked in the custard.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the pudding is golden brown and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Allow the bread pudding to cool before serving. It can be served warm or cold and is delicious on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tips:

• Bread pudding is best made with slightly stale bread, as it soaks up the custard better. If your bread is fresh, you can toast it or bake the cubes in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes to dry them out a bit.
• You can experiment with different types of bread, such as French bread, brioche, sourdough, or even leftover sandwich bread or hot dog buns.
• For a boozy twist, add a tablespoon of bourbon to the vanilla sauce.
• Bread pudding can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Frequently asked questions