Cheese Fondue: Perfect Pairings For A Melty Feast

Cheese fondue is a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or even dessert. It is made by melting cheese—usually a combination of light, meltable cheeses like gouda, gruyere, swiss, and fontina—with wine and spices. To elevate your fondue night, it is recommended to serve it with a variety of dippers, including bread, crackers, chips, vegetables, fruits, and meats.

Bread is the most popular dipper for cheese fondue as it soaks up the warm, creamy cheese. Popular choices include French bread, sourdough, bagels, and pretzels. To prevent the bread from falling apart in the cheese, it is important to lightly toast it beforehand and cut it into large cubes.

When it comes to vegetables, almost any option will do. Roasted vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots are excellent choices. For a quick raw option, celery, fennel spears, carrots, and cherry tomatoes can be served.

Meat lovers can enjoy cured meats like salami, sausage, and ham, or cooked meats such as grilled steak, poached chicken, or meatballs.

While fruit may seem like an unusual pairing, certain fruits complement the cheese well. Sliced apples, pears, and grapes are refreshing options that your guests can spear and dip.

Breads, crackers and chips

Breads, crackers, and chips are a classic choice for cheese fondue. Bread is the most popular dipper, with French bread, breadsticks, and croutons always being crowd favourites. However, there are many other options to choose from, such as multigrain bread, rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, and even bagels. If you want to try something unique, go for a rustic cranberry walnut loaf, which is fantastic when dipped in cheese. No matter which type of bread you choose, make sure to lightly toast it, especially if it's a type of bread that may fall apart in the cheese, and then cut it into large cubes.

Other types of snack-style dippers include soft or hard pretzels (a natural pairing with cheese), as well as wheat crackers or tortilla chips for those who want to make homemade cheesy nachos. If you're feeling creative, you can also try making your own pretzel bites or homemade tortilla chips.

When choosing bread or crackers to dip into your cheese fondue, it's important to select options that will hold up well in the thick, warm cheese. You don't want your dippers to fall apart and create a mess! So, be sure to lightly toast bread and choose sturdy crackers or chips.

Vegetables

If you're after something quick and easy, raw celery, fennel spears, carrots and cherry tomatoes are a great option. You could also serve them with a dip—try gherkins or pickles, or even celery sticks, for something raw or acidic to balance out the richness of the fondue.

If you're happy to do a little more preparation, you could steam some vegetables before serving. Green beans, radishes, pearl onions, baby potatoes (try Yukon Gold, fingerling, red or purple varieties), broccoli, or cauliflower are all delicious served this way.

Roasting vegetables is another great way to prepare them for cheese fondue. Try asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, or zucchini. You could also roast some baby potatoes, or try boiled or roasted whole baby potatoes.

If you're looking for something a little more unusual, try sautéed artichoke hearts, or mushrooms—crimini, shiitake, oyster, or sliced portobellos.

Don't forget to cut your vegetables into fondue-friendly sizes and shapes. Long, thin slices of pepper are perfect for dunking, while bulkier vegetables might benefit from being cut into smaller pieces. If you're serving something small or an odd shape, like radishes, you could provide toothpicks or skewers to make dipping easier for your guests.

Fruits

While it may seem like an unusual pairing, fruit is a great option to serve with cheese fondue. The sweetness of the fruit goes surprisingly well with the creamy, salty cheese.

Apples are a popular choice, especially tart varieties like Granny Smith, which complement the creaminess of the fondue. Bosc pears are another good option, as their nutmeg and cinnamon undertones bring out the spices often found in fondues.

Other fruits that go well with cheese fondue include pineapple, grapes, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and oranges. You could also offer dried fruit, like dried apricots or dried figs.

Meats

Sausages

Sausages are a classic choice for fondue, offering a delicious combination of savoury cheese and meat. Authentic sweet Italian sausage goes amazingly well with cheese fondue, as does chorizo. You can also opt for chicken sausage with cheese and garlic for a unique flavour profile. To make dipping easier, cut the sausages into smaller pieces.

Poached Chicken

Poached chicken is a versatile option for fondue as it serves as a blank canvas for the cheeses and spices of your choosing. It is also a great way to add protein to your meal.

Steak

If you're a fan of cheesesteaks, then dipping steak strips or bites into gooey cheese fondue is a must-try. Adding a piece of bread can create mini cheesesteak sliders that are perfect for dipping.

Meatballs

Meatballs are a surprisingly versatile side dish that pairs well with cheese fondue. You can use a skewer to dip them into the fondue or pour the cheese on top for a cheesy meatball delicacy.

Bacon

Bacon may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of fondue, but it is a tasty addition. Use baked bacon for a crisp texture that won't break off in the pot. Direct your guests to dip their bacon slices right into the pot for the best experience.

Shrimp

For seafood lovers, shrimp is an excellent choice to elevate your cheese fondue. Lightly sweet and buttery grilled, roasted, sautéed, or fried shrimp play nicely with a bold cheese fondue made with brandy or white wine.

Ham

Ham is another meat option that can be served alongside your cheese fondue. It provides a savoury contrast to the creamy cheese and can be enjoyed as part of a charcuterie board-style spread.

Salads

You can also incorporate raw or acidic elements into your salad to cut through the fattiness of the fondue. Try adding celery, fennel spears, or carrots for a crisp texture and a refreshing taste. For an extra tangy twist, include pickles, gherkins, or even celery sticks. These ingredients will provide a delightful contrast to the melted cheese.

If you're looking for a heartier option, consider a salad with roasted vegetables. Try roasting vegetables like asparagus, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or zucchini before adding them to your salad. These roasted veggies will add a depth of flavor and a satisfying texture to your salad.

For a more unique salad, you could incorporate fruits that pair well with cheese. Sliced apples, pears, pineapple, or grapes can add a touch of sweetness and a refreshing crunch to your salad. Dried fruits like apricots or figs can also be a tasty addition.

Frequently asked questions