Delicious Chinese Fondue: Best Food Combinations To Try

Chinese fondue, also known as a Mongolian Firepot, is a fun, social meal that is perfect for any occasion. The concept is simple: cook thin slices of meat and vegetables in a pot of slowly simmering broth, then dip them in a flavourful sauce. While there are no hard and fast rules for this meal, the broth is typically bland, and the sauce is heavily seasoned. The traditional Shabu-Shabu sauce for Chinese fondue is made with lemon juice, soy sauce, and sesame seeds.

For the meat, popular choices include beef, pork, and chicken, but you can also get creative and try moose, deer, rabbit, or even seafood. As for vegetables, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, and cauliflower are all great options. Don't forget the sauces! Fondue lovers typically serve at least three flavours to satisfy everyone's tastes. Some popular options include ginger and mustard sauce, seafood cocktail, and Bearnaise sauce.

So gather your ingredients, set up your fondue station, and get ready to dip, cook, turn, and enjoy!

Meat: beef, chicken, pork, seafood, tofu

When it comes to Chinese fondue, meat is a key component. The beauty of this social dining experience is that you can choose what you eat with every bite, selecting from a variety of meats, vegetables, and sauces. Here are some tips for selecting and preparing meats for your Chinese fondue.

Beef is a classic choice for Chinese fondue and can be cut into thin slices or small chunks. If you opt for slices, you can spear them with a fondue fork and briefly immerse them in the broth to cook them to your desired level of doneness. For a more substantial option, beef chunks can be threaded onto skewers and cooked in the broth for a minute or less.

Chicken is another popular option for Chinese fondue. Like beef, it can be cut into thin slices or chunks. Chicken cooks relatively quickly in the broth, so keep a close eye on it to avoid overcooking.

Pork is also commonly used in Chinese fondue. Thin slices of pork tenderloin can be cooked in the broth, providing a tasty and tender option.

Seafood is an excellent choice for those who want to add variety to their Chinese fondue. Shrimp is a popular option, but you can also explore other choices such as scallops, squid, or even crab.

For a vegetarian option, tofu is a versatile choice for Chinese fondue. Some people like to brown the tofu in a frying pan before serving to add a crispy texture. You can also marinate the tofu beforehand to infuse it with extra flavour.

When preparing meats for Chinese fondue, it's essential to cut them into bite-sized pieces that will cook quickly in the broth. It's also important to provide a variety of options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. With a selection of meats, vegetables, and sauces, your Chinese fondue is sure to be a delicious and enjoyable experience for all.

Vegetables: broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, bok choy, carrots

Chinese fondue, also known as Chinese hot pot, is a fun and social meal that can be customised to your tastes. Here are some ideas for vegetables to include:

Broccoli

Broccoli is a great option to add to your Chinese fondue. It is healthy and filling, and can be cut into bite-sized florets. Broccoli is best stir-fried for a short time so that it remains tender-crisp and retains its nutrients. You can also peel the stalks into strips and include these in your fondue.

Peppers

Peppers, particularly sweet peppers, are a tasty addition to your Chinese fondue. They can be cut into strips and stir-fried with other vegetables.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a popular choice for Chinese fondue, and are often served as a side dish. You can use shiitake mushrooms, brown mushrooms, or button mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are popular in Chinese cooking, but their stems are too tough to eat and should be discarded or saved for stocks or soups. When stir-frying, cook the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes before adding other vegetables.

Bok Choy

Bok Choy is a classic Cantonese vegetable that is often used in Chinese fondue. You can use baby bok choy, which is more tender and requires less cooking time, or regular bok choy. To prepare bok choy for stir-frying, slice off the tough end, tear off the outer leaves, and halve the core lengthwise. You can also cut the white part of larger leaves into bite-sized pieces.

Carrots

Carrots are a great option to add some colour and crunch to your Chinese fondue. You can peel them into thin strips or cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Sauces: ginger and mustard, seafood cocktail, honey and herbs, peanut sauce

Chinese fondue is a fun, social dish that can be customised with a variety of sauces and dips. A typical Chinese fondue meal consists of two steps: the fondue, followed by a soup made from the leftover broth.

A popular sauce to accompany Chinese fondue is a combination of ginger and mustard. This sauce pairs well with various meats, such as beef, chicken, and seafood. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, a ginger and mustard sauce will add a nice kick to your meal.

For those who prefer a more mild and creamy sauce, a seafood cocktail sauce is a great option. This sauce typically includes a mix of ketchup and other ingredients, creating a tangy and slightly spicy flavour that complements the fondue.

Honey and herbs is another delicious sauce option for Chinese fondue. The sweetness of honey combined with the freshness of herbs creates a unique and tasty flavour profile. This sauce is especially good with meats like chicken or pork, adding a nice glossy coating to your fondue pieces.

Finally, for those who enjoy an Asian twist, peanut sauce is a perfect choice. Peanut sauce is a classic Thai and Chinese condiment that goes well with various dishes, including Chinese fondue. It has a creamy texture and a nutty, slightly sweet flavour that can be adjusted to your preference.

These sauces will undoubtedly enhance your Chinese fondue experience, providing a range of flavours to suit different tastes and preferences.

Broth: bland, light, coconut Thai, Indian, Italian

Broth Options for Chinese Fondue

Bland Broth

A bland broth is recommended for Chinese fondue, also known as Mongolian Firepot, as it will concentrate and get richer over time. To make a bland broth, simply combine water and beef broth in a saucepan, bring the liquid to a boil, and then transfer the broth to the fondue pot.

Light Broth

A light broth for Chinese fondue can be made by using a strong bouillon with light types of meat. Bring water to a boil with herb broth cubes, add onion cut into rings and crushed garlic cloves, and simmer. Meat and vegetables are then cooked in the broth.

Coconut Thai Broth

A coconut Thai broth can be used for a seafood or fish fondue. Combine chicken broth, light coconut milk, green onions, lemongrass, fish sauce, and hot pepper sauce in a saucepan, bring to a boil, and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Indian Broth

While I could not find specific information on an Indian-style broth for Chinese fondue, you could try adding Indian spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, or garam masala to the standard broth recipe to give it an Indian twist.

Italian Broth

Similarly, for an Italian-inspired broth, you could add Italian herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme to the standard broth recipe, or even incorporate ingredients like tomatoes and garlic to give it a more distinct flavor.

Sides: potatoes, halloumi, rice, ramen noodles, vegetable/coconut rice

Potatoes

Fondant potatoes, or melting potatoes, are a delicious side dish to serve with Chinese fondue. These potatoes are baked in a buttery herb-infused broth, resulting in crispy edges, golden surfaces, and a creamy, flavourful interior. The natural starches in the potatoes thicken the sauce, creating a glossy finish that clings to the potatoes.

Halloumi

Grilled halloumi cheese is an excellent choice for Chinese fondue as it does not melt when heated. Halloumi provides a delicious savoury contrast to the other flavours in the fondue.

Rice

Rice is a versatile side dish that can be served with Chinese fondue in a variety of ways. For a simple option, serve steamed jasmine rice with the fondue. Alternatively, you can cook the rice in a flavourful broth or coconut milk to create dishes like coconut rice. Coconut rice is a popular side dish across Asia, especially in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. It is typically made with coconut milk, water, sugar, salt, jasmine rice, and coconut oil.

Ramen Noodles

Ramen noodles are another great option to include in your Chinese fondue. You can cook the noodles directly in the fondue broth, allowing them to absorb all the delicious flavours.

Vegetable/Coconut Rice

In addition to traditional rice dishes, you can also prepare vegetable or coconut rice as a side. For vegetable rice, you can cook the rice with vegetables such as broccoli rabe, bok choy, or shiitake mushrooms. For a more tropical flavour, coconut rice is a great choice, especially when paired with a spicy main dish.

Frequently asked questions