Tillie Doyle
Cheese fondue is a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or dessert. It is traditionally made with a combination of melted cheeses, wine, and spices, and can be paired with a variety of dips or dippers. While bread is the most popular dipper, other options include fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood. Here are some specific examples of what to eat with cheese fondue:
- Bread: crusty bread, French bread, sourdough, bagels, pretzels, crackers, and chips
- Fruits: apples, pears, pineapple, grapes, apricots, and peaches
- Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, potatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, carrots, and green beans
- Meats: chicken, beef, sausage, salami, and cured meats
- Seafood: shrimp, crab, and lobster
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread | French bread, breadsticks, croutons, multigrain bread, rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, bagels, baguette, pretzels, crackers, tortilla chips, rustic cranberry walnut loaf, focaccia bread, ciabatta bread, challah, bread cubes |
| Fruit | Apples, Pears, Pineapple, Grapes, Apricot, Nectarine, Peaches, Oranges, dried apricots, dried figs |
| Vegetables | Broccoli, Cauliflower, Bell peppers, Asparagus, Zucchini, Roasted baby potatoes, brussels sprouts, Pickles, Artichoke hearts, Mushrooms, Carrots, Green beans, Pearl onions, Radishes, Baby potatoes, french fries, tater tots, Cherry tomatoes, Cucumber |
| Meats | Chicken, Steak, Meatballs, Shrimp, Ham, Turkey, Salami, Sausage, Crab, Lobster, Beef jerky, Kielbasa, Pepperoni, Prosciutto, Chorizo |
What You'll Learn
Bread
Another option is to go for a unique type of bread, such as a rustic cranberry walnut loaf, which can add a nice contrast of flavours and textures when dipped in cheese. If you want to get creative, you could even try making your own homemade pretzels or opt for store-bought ones. Just make sure to get the thicker, long wands for easy dipping since they won't fit on a fondue fork.
When it comes to bread, the possibilities are endless, and you can choose whatever suits your taste. Some other options include breadsticks, bagel bites, pasta, tortilla chips, crackers, potato chips, and even sourdough bread. However, it's important to note that while chunks of potato are great for dipping, potato chips might fall apart in the fondue. So, if you're looking for a crispy option, pretzels or crackers might be a better choice.
Fondue Pot Tips: Water Layer for Temperature Control
You may want to see also
Fruit
- Apples, especially tart varieties like Granny Smith, are a popular choice. Their crispness and tartness complement the creaminess of the fondue nicely.
- Pears, particularly Bosc pears, with their nutmeg and cinnamon undertones, can bring out the spices in many fondues.
- Pineapple, grapes, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and oranges are also good options.
- Dried fruits like apricots and figs can also be offered to guests to spear and dip.
When serving fruit with fondue, it is best to offer them raw or in slices, as they provide a nice contrast to the melted cheese.
Cheesy Bacon Fondue: A Decadent Comfort Food
You may want to see also
Vegetables
Raw Vegetables
Raw vegetables that can be served as-is include celery, fennel spears, carrots, and cherry tomatoes. Pickled vegetables like pearl onions, pickles, and sweet gherkins can also be served raw, but be sure to pat them dry first.
Steamed or Blanched Vegetables
Steaming or blanching vegetables before serving them with fondue can help to soften them slightly while still maintaining their firmness. Vegetables that can be prepared this way include asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, green beans, pearl onions, radishes, and baby potatoes.
Roasted Vegetables
Roasting vegetables is another great way to prepare them for dipping in fondue. Try roasted baby potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper slices, roasted sweet potatoes, parsnips, or roasted mushrooms.
Other Vegetable Ideas
Other vegetables that can be served with fondue include artichoke hearts, mushrooms (crimini, shiitake, oyster, or sliced portobellos), and sauteed or fried pickles.
Cheese Fondue: Adding Milk, Good or Bad?
You may want to see also
Meat
Sausage
Sausage is an excellent choice as it is versatile and can be easily cut into smaller pieces for dipping. Authentic sweet Italian sausage goes well with the savoury cheese. If you want to add a bit of extra flavour, you can choose from a variety of sausages such as chorizo or spicy chicken sausage.
Steak
If you love cheesesteaks, then steak strips or bites dipped in gooey cheese will surely be a treat. Add a piece of bread, and you can create mini cheesesteak sliders.
Poached Chicken
Poached chicken is a great option as it is a blank canvas that can be dressed up in the cheeses and spices of your choice. You can also add herbs and spices to the chicken for extra flavour before dipping it into the fondue.
Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
If you're looking for something a little more indulgent, try wrapping Brussels sprouts in bacon and roasting them. The meaty bacon flavour will overpower the earthy taste of the sprouts, and the exterior will become crunchy, making them perfect for dipping into the fondue.
Salami and Ham
Cured meats like salami and ham are also a good choice to serve with cheese fondue. They can be scrunched up on a fondue skewer and taken for a quick trip to "cheese town"!
Creating Cadbury Fondue: A Decadent Chocolate Experience
You may want to see also
Crackers or chips
If you're looking for something a little more indulgent, potato chips are a great choice. Just be aware that they may fall apart in the fondue. To avoid this, consider using thicker, sturdier chips or even potato skins.
And if you're feeling creative, why not try making your own crackers or chips? You can shape them into long, narrow forms, perfect for dipping.
So go ahead and indulge in some crackers or chips with your cheese fondue, but be careful not to overload your plate as these can be quite filling!
The Best Cooking Methods for a Delicious Fondue
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The most popular dippers for cheese fondue are bread, crackers, and chips. Bread is the most common option, with French bread, breadsticks, and croutons being the most popular. Other options include multigrain bread, rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, and even bagels. For crackers and chips, wheat crackers, pita chips, and tortilla chips are all good choices.
Almost any vegetable will work as a dipper for cheese fondue. Some popular options include broccoli, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, and zucchini. These vegetables can be served raw or lightly steamed.
Meat dippers for cheese fondue can be either cooked or cured. Good options for cooked meats include grilled steak, poached chicken, and cooked ham. Popular cured meat options include beef jerky, salami, and sausage.
