Seafood Fondue: The Perfect Accompaniments For A Delicious Dish

Seafood fondue is a delicious way to enjoy fish and seafood. It typically consists of bite-sized pieces of seafood such as shrimp, scallops, salmon, swordfish, halibut, or other firm fish cooked in hot oil or broth. To elevate your seafood fondue experience, it's all about choosing the right accompaniments or dippers. While seafood fondue is often enjoyed on its own, here are some ideas for what to serve on the side:

Dipping seafood in cheese fondue

Choosing the Right Seafood

When it comes to selecting seafood for your fondue, opt for varieties that complement the creamy and savoury nature of the cheese fondue. Shrimp is an excellent choice and is versatile, as it can be roasted, sautéed, fried, or grilled. Other options include scallops, salmon, halibut, or crab. Cut your seafood into bite-sized pieces to make dipping easier and ensure even cooking.

Preparing the Seafood

Before dipping your seafood in the cheese fondue, it is essential to cook it properly. You can boil, steam, or sauté your seafood, depending on your preference. For example, the Pacific Seafood recipe recommends combining chicken stock, dry sherry, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in a fondue pot, bringing it to a boil, and then cooking the seafood just before serving.

Dipping and Presentation

When it comes to dipping seafood in cheese fondue, you can get creative. Consider providing skewers or long-handled fondue forks for your guests to use. This makes it easier to dip the seafood without making a mess or burning fingers. You can also offer a variety of sauces on the side for guests to dip their seafood in before coating it in the cheese fondue.

Side Dishes and Accompaniments

While the seafood and cheese fondue take centre stage, you can enhance the experience with carefully chosen side dishes. Bread is a classic accompaniment to cheese fondue, with French bread, sourdough, bagels, and pretzels being popular choices. You can also offer vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, or carrots, either steamed or raw, for a refreshing contrast to the rich fondue.

Customisation and Variations

Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese and wines for your fondue to find your perfect combination. For a non-alcoholic version, you can substitute chicken broth and lemon juice. You can also add various herbs and spices to enhance the flavour profile. Get creative and let your taste buds be your guide!

Hot oil fondue with seafood

Prepare the Ingredients:

For the fondue broth, you'll need:

• Chicken stock
• Dry sherry
• Garlic cloves, chopped
• Fresh ginger, grated
• Soy sauce
• Worcestershire sauce

For seafood, choose from:

• Shrimp
• Scallops
• Salmon
• Halibut
• Any other firm fish

Cut your chosen seafood into bite-sized pieces. You can also include vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or potatoes.

Prepare the Dipping Sauces:

Fondue is commonly served with a variety of sauces to enhance the flavors of the seafood and any other ingredients you're using. Here are some sauce ideas:

• Sweet and spicy Thai ginger sauce (great with shrimp and broccoli)
• Creamy horseradish sauce (perfect for steak)
• Spicy brown mustard (versatile, goes well with broccoli, mushrooms, potatoes, and more)
• Yum yum sauce (a versatile favorite)
• Honey butter (ideal for bread)

Feel free to experiment with your own sauce combinations to suit your taste preferences!

Heat the Oil:

Use a suitable fondue pot and fill it with peanut or canola oil. It's important to not fill the pot more than halfway to prevent hot oil splatters. Heat the oil to a temperature of 180-190°C (350-375°F).

Cook the Seafood:

Once the oil has reached the desired temperature, you're ready to start cooking! Place a piece of seafood on a fondue fork and hold it in the hot oil until cooked to your desired level. Remember to keep the meat dry to avoid oil splatters.

Enjoy with Dipping Sauces:

After removing the cooked seafood from the oil, let it cool for a few seconds. Then, dip it into your chosen sauces and enjoy the delicious flavors!

Safety and Presentation Tips:

Always exercise caution when working with hot oil. Keep raw and cooked foods on separate plates, and use different utensils for eating and cooking to avoid cross-contamination. Fondue nights are about enjoying good food and company, so don't stress too much about variety; sometimes, simplicity is best!

For a unique twist, try a Japanese-inspired tempura batter for your seafood and veggies. Simply coat them in the batter before frying, and enjoy the light and crispy texture.

So, gather your ingredients, choose your sauces, and get ready to dip into a world of flavor with your hot oil seafood fondue!

Seafood fondue in broth

Seafood fondue is a delicious way to enjoy fish and seafood. Here are some tips and suggestions for preparing and serving a seafood fondue in broth:

Preparing the Seafood

When preparing the seafood, it is important to cut the fish and seafood into bite-sized pieces. This ensures that the pieces can be easily cooked in the broth and enjoyed as appetisers or a main course. You can use a variety of seafood, such as shrimp, scallops, salmon, halibut, swordfish, or any other firm fish. Rinse the seafood and cut it into the desired size, then arrange it on separate serving plates and keep it refrigerated until it's fondue time.

Preparing the Broth

The broth for seafood fondue can be made by combining chicken stock, dry sherry, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring this mixture to a boil in your fondue pot, stirring gently, and monitor the temperature to ensure it doesn't get too hot or too cold. You can also use hot oil for your seafood fondue, but be cautious when handling the pot to avoid accidents.

Dipping Sauces

After cooking the seafood in the broth, provide a variety of dipping sauces for your guests to enjoy. Some popular options include creamy spinach and dill spread, cilantro lime, Dijon dressing, West Texas cocktail sauce, honey ginger BBQ sauce, and more.

Side Dishes

While the seafood is the star of the show, you can also offer some side dishes to complement the fondue. A side salad and rice are classic choices that go well with seafood. You could also offer some crusty bread or baguette to soak up any remaining broth.

Fondue Etiquette

Remind your guests to use the long fondue forks to dip the seafood into the broth and then place it on their small plates. They should then use regular dinner forks to eat the seafood. To avoid contamination and maintain good hygiene, no one should eat directly from the fondue fork, and there should be no double-dipping.

Sides to serve with seafood fondue

Seafood fondue is a delicious dish, perfect for a cosy gathering or a fun party. There are several sides and dippers that can be served with seafood fondue. Here are some ideas:

Breads and Crackers

Bread is an excellent choice for dipping into the fondue, as it soaks up the flavours. French baguettes, sourdough, breadsticks, bagels, croutons, pretzels, and pumpernickel are all great options. Toasting the bread slightly before dipping will help it hold together in the fondue.

Potatoes

Pairing your seafood fondue with crispy potatoes creates a similar experience to cheese fries. You can serve homemade french fries, roasted or baked potatoes, or potato chips. If you opt for potato chips, you can also try tortilla chips for homemade cheesy nachos.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables can add a refreshing element to seafood fondue. Apples, in particular, pair well with cheese fondue, but other fruits such as pears, grapes, and strawberries can also be served. For vegetables, broccoli, bell peppers, asparagus, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and cauliflower are all great options. Roasting or steaming the vegetables first can enhance their flavour and texture.

Proteins

Adding a protein side to your seafood fondue can make it a more filling and satisfying meal. Steak, chicken, shrimp, sausage, and meatballs are all excellent choices that can be easily dipped into the fondue. Cured meats, such as prosciutto, salami, and pepperoni, can also add a savoury element to the dish.

Salads and Sides

A simple side salad, such as a cherry tomato salad or a fennel and celery salad, can be a refreshing accompaniment to seafood fondue. Rice is also a good option to serve with seafood fondue, especially if you are serving a hot oil fondue.

Sauces to serve with seafood fondue

Seafood fondue is a delicious and versatile dish. While it can be enjoyed on its own, serving it with sauces can elevate the flavours and make it even more enjoyable. Here are some sauce ideas to serve with your seafood fondue:

Spicy and Savoury Sauces

Add a kick of spice and flavour to your seafood fondue with some of these sauce options:

• Spinach and Dill Spread—This creamy and herbaceous sauce will complement the seafood nicely.
• Dijon Dressing—A Dijon dressing will add a tangy and savoury note to your fondue.
• West Texas Cocktail Sauce—A classic pairing with seafood, cocktail sauce will add a spicy and tangy twist to your dish.
• Honey Ginger BBQ Gulf Shrimp—For a sweet and tangy option, this sauce will give your seafood fondue a unique flavour profile.
• Hot Sauce—If you're a fan of spice, try dipping your seafood fondue into your favourite hot sauce.

Creamy and Cheesy Sauces

If you prefer a richer and more indulgent sauce to pair with your seafood fondue, consider these options:

• Cream Cheese—A classic choice for fondue, cream cheese offers a creamy and tangy dip.
• Romano Cheese—For a stronger, more pungent cheese sauce, Romano cheese will add a sharp and salty flavour.
• Swiss Cheese—When melted, Swiss cheese becomes a creamy and mild-flavoured sauce, perfect for dipping.
• Cider Sauce—The slightly sweet and tangy flavour of cider can complement the seafood fondue, and when reduced, it makes a great sauce.

Light and Fresh Sauces

For those who want a lighter sauce option to balance the richness of the seafood fondue:

• Lemon and Garlic Aioli—A classic seafood pairing, lemon and garlic aioli is bright and tangy.
• Tartar Sauce—A traditional choice for seafood, tartar sauce adds a creamy and tangy twist to your fondue.
• Yogurt and Dill Dip—For a healthier option, a yogurt-based dip with fresh dill can be a refreshing choice.
• Cocktail Sauce—A combination of ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, and spices, cocktail sauce is a classic pairing for seafood.

Remember, when choosing sauces to serve with your seafood fondue, consider the flavours and textures that will complement the seafood and enhance your overall dining experience.

Frequently asked questions