The traditional cheese fondue originated in Switzerland but is often associated with French cuisine, which is where it has gained its greatest popularity. It can be served with meat, e.g. Burgundy style, or sweet with chocolate and fruit. A fondue is a dish made for eating in a larger group. So let's consider how to prepare a fondue at home, what to serve it with and how to exploit its social potential.
Get together with friends over a fondue
Fondue is an interesting idea for a party snack
The history of the origin of fondue is directly linked to the frugal and economical approach to cooking. Legend has it that the dish was invented by Swiss highlanders as a way of putting dried pieces of cheese to practical use. Today, however, serving fondue at a meeting or party is also met with great enthusiasm among the elite. Dipping pieces of baguette, meat, fruit or vegetables into a shared dish of delicious hot cheese makes for great entertainment and, with the addition of a bottle of wine, can also be a sensual element of an evening for two. However, in order to make and serve a fondue look impressive, you need properly prepared kitchen facilities. How do you choose the right fondue pot? What else do you need to prepare a fondue at home?
Home fondue set - which one to choose?
A ceramic chocolate fondue set or a durable steel pot? When choosing a fondue pot, the type of material it is made of is of great importance. A cast iron pot presents the highest quality and resistance, but due to its high tendency to absorb odours, we will not be able to use it for different types of fondue. Otherwise, you will get, for example, a meat fondue with a delicate hint of cheese, a problem that becomes even greater if, after having served a dry fondue several times, you want to serve it in a sweet version.
Here is a small overview to help you decide which fondue pot to choose and our recommendations on the material of the fondue pot for each type of fondue.
| Type of cooker | Advantages | Disadvantages | For which fondue? |
|---|---|---|---|
| steel | - heats up quickly - keeps hot for a long time so that the food can continue to boil | - requires manual cleaning - not very elegant design | meat fondue cheese fondue |
| cast iron | - does not burn - high quality - Very durable and resistant to damage - Conducts heat well | - Absorbs odours - difficult to clean - can only be used for one type of fondue- high price | universal |
| ceramic | - easy to clean - does not absorb odours - low price - original design - many colour versions | - easy to burn when heated too high - prone to cracking - no resistance to high temperatures | chocolate fondue (small ceramic sets with a heater instead of a burner), cheese fondue, |
An interesting material from which a fondue pot can be made is also Silargan - a combination of stainless steel and ceramic. Such a pot will be ideal for allergy sufferers, as it has no nickel in its composition. It is very durable and easy to keep clean.
Already at the purchase stage, it is worth considering how many people you will prepare the fondue for. This depends on both the capacity of the pot and the size of the whole set, enriched with forks and sometimes bowls. The more capacious the pot, the more fondue you will be able to prepare, but the longer the heating time will be.
In addition to the pot and cutlery, the fondue set must also include a burner (usually for special fondue paste or fuel) and a stand to hold the cauldron over the fire. Chocolate fondue does not require such a strong flame, which is why smaller ceramic sets equipped with heaters that slowly melt chocolate are usually used for its preparation. You can also find fondue containers and accessories for microwave cooking.
Savoury and sweet. Recipe for cheese, meat and chocolate fondue
It is said that cooking together creates a lot of fun and positive emotions, but in the case of fondue, the food is the highlight of the evening.
Swiss cheese fondue - an inventive dish for a house party
How do you prepare a cheese fondue? Preferably in a special cheese fondue set!
Ingredients:
- 300 g Gruyere cheese
- 300 g Emmentaler cheese
- 1 glass of dry white wine
- 1 tbsp potato flour
- 1 clove of garlic
- nutmeg
- black pepper.
Remember, you can use different kinds of cheese for the fondue, but you should combine two different kinds - a mature one with a sharper taste and a young and delicate one.
Preparing a cheese fondue is very simple. First, grate the two kinds of cheese on a coarse grater. Rub the fondue pot with one clove of garlic. Pour in the wine and stir. Add the cheese and start heating, stirring. In a separate bowl, dissolve the potato flour in a little wine and add it to the melted cheese. Season with pepper and nutmeg and heat until completely smooth.
Important!
And what should you serve Swiss cheese fondue with? We recommend serving it the French way with fresh baguette or toasted white bread. You can also prepare a vitamin-rich fondue in a springtime version with crunchy vegetables: carrots, peppers, pieces of celery or cucumbers, including tinned.
Meat fondue - an original snack for an evening gathering
A traditional fondue is a cheese dish, but for evening gatherings many people want a dish or snacks with meat on the table. For meat fondue, beef is mainly used, but poultry lovers can also use chicken meat for this purpose. In both cases, however, they must be prepared properly.
Burgundy-style fondue - recipe
Ingredients:
- 600 g beef tenderloin
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- frying oil
- favourite spices: thyme, garlic, oregano, basil
Start preparing the meat at least 4 hours beforehand, and if you can, it's best to do it even the day before, leaving the meat in the marinade overnight. Wash the beef thoroughly, then pat dry and cut into 2 to 3-cm strips. Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the meat, season with salt and pepper and place covered in foil in the fridge for at least 4 hours. You can also add a little wine to the oil or prepare the meat with your favourite marinade.
The meat fondue is made directly during the meeting. A fondue pot filled about halfway with oil is placed in the middle of the table. You can also add aromatic spices such as thyme, garlic, oregano or basil to it. It is very easy to get severely burnt by the heated oil, so care should be taken to avoid an unfortunate accident when feasting together. Each guest puts a piece of meat on a fork and fries it as they like.
Dips for meat fondue
The secret of a Burgundian fondue is the sauces which give the meat its original and distinctive flavour. Popular sauces such as barbecue, tartar sauce, horseradish sauce or tomato sauce are perfect for a gathering with friends. Most of them are mayonnaise-based, which makes them a real calorie bomb. For those who care for their figure, it is also worth preparing a light version of the sauce. This can be done in a very simple manner.
Recipe for diet garlic sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 packet of natural yoghurt (approx. 180 g)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- salt
- pepper
- basil or oregano
Pour a small packet of natural yoghurt (180 g) into a bowl. Add 2 cloves of garlic squeezed through a press. Season with salt, pepper and fresh basil or oregano. And done!
A romantic evening for two - with chocolate fondue
Chocolate is not only a well-known aphrodisiac, but for many people, it is also a taste of childhood that brings a relaxed and carefree mood. If you are looking for an idea for spending a romantic evening with your sweetheart or loved one, chocolate fondue will be the perfect solution. Especially as its preparation is trivial and the pleasure of sharing a meal together incomparably greater.
Chocolate fondue - recipe
Ingredients:
- 150 g dark chocolate
- 100 g milk chocolate
- 200 g cream cheese
- favourite fruit: strawberries, grapes, raspberries, bananas, pears
How do you melt the chocolate for the fondue?
You can prepare the chocolate fondue in the same special fondue pot you use for the cheese and meat versions of the treat. You can also melt it in a water bath. To do this, boil water in a larger pot and place the smaller pot in it. Pour in the cream and then slowly add the chocolate. To avoid lumps, it is best to grate or break it into small pieces beforehand. Like the cheese, if deprived of heat, the chocolate will thicken quickly. So as soon as you have made a smooth paste, pour it into a special chocolate fondue set. They are available in a wide variety of colours and designs, making them not only a practical appliance but also a fantastic table decoration. The most elegant is the porcelain chocolate fondue set, ideal for an atmospheric evening with your other half.
For a truly sweet and charming moment spent together, chocolate is not enough, you need the right mood. Be sure to turn down the lights and light candles, which will blend in perfectly with the glow of the tealight. The type of fruit you choose for your chocolate fondue can only be decided by your imagination. Strawberries, grapes, raspberries as well as sliced pears or bananas are perfect for this role. It will be delicious!
