Who doesn’t love cheese? And more importantly, who doesn’t love melted cheese over your favorite foods? It’s time we talked about the beauty that is the cheese fondue dippers. Get you dipping sticks ready, you’re about to experience cheese like never before.
“Life is great. Cheese makes it better.” - Avery Aames
The Basics
Before you dive right in to the fun, it’s important to bounce some fondue ideas off you first. Certainly you can just melt cheese and call it a day, but why not add some more flavors to the pot? Try out some of these flavors to spice up the batch a bit:
- Different types of cheese (cheddar seems to work best)
- Nutmeg
- Dijon mustard
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- White wine
- Flour
What to Dip
You may have some delicious questions about cheese fondue. Like, what kind of vegetables are good for fondue? What meat should I dip in cheese fondue? Or what to serve with fondue dinner? And the answers might surprise you.
- Avocado
- Beef jerky
- Veggies
- Pasta
- Cured meats
- Potatoes
- Pickles
- Iceberg lettuce
- Gherkins
- Pearl onions
- Bacon
- Mini hot dogs
- Mini bagels
- Fries
- Fried onions
Queso Dip
Another great party favor is having queso dip for your guests. There’s nothing quite like having warm, constantly melted dip for a whole party, and the guests will certainly appreciate the delicious treat. There’s certainly more than one way to fondue, meaning you can come up with a variety of dips for any party. Just melt some cheese and add some chili and tomatoes for a southwestern flair. Or simply add salsa.
What to Serve with Fondue
So your guests are happily pouring cheese on everything. What’s next? Here’s the skinny on what to serve with fondue dinner. The answer? Steak, veggies, potatoes, and anything you can dip while eating. The ability to melt cheese over everything makes even the blandest meal amazing. Try out the following:
- Sherry brandy Swiss and Gruyère
- Smoked mozzarella
- Emmentaler and lemon
- Three cheese fondue
- Creamy nutmeg
Kid-Friendly Recipe
Sometimes you’re hosting a party for children. In these cases, it’s important to have a sturdy alcohol-free recipe for fondue. And seeing as kids can tend to be messy, it helps to have a lot of paper towels ready to go. And for dessert, check out fondue chocolate ideas.
Swiss Fondue
Conversely, some fondue recipes require a good alcohol. The key ingredient to Swiss fondue is adding the right wine. The secret to swiss fondue is in making sure that the cheese does not clump together. This is done by adding a natural tartaric acid that is found in wine which keeps the fondue creamy and cheesy. We recommend a quality pinot grigio. This will stop the fondue from forming chunks. Afterwards you can freely enjoy your Swiss fondue with any of the food items recommended above.
Making Fondue Without the Pot!
Not everyone wants to have another cooking device crowding up the kitchen, so here are some ways that you can make the fondue without a fondue kit. Caution (and deliciousness) is advised.
Double Boiler
This is probably the simplest way to fondue without the fondue fountain. Just put a pyrex bowl (or anything that can survive high temperature) in a pot full of water and set it to boil. Add some white wine and garlic, and then slowly add the cheese bit by bit.
Crockpot
One of the more straightforward methods, a crockpot fondue is a simple way to keep the cheese hot and flowing. Throw all your cheeses and ingredients into the pot, let it simmer for about an hour, and then remove the lid for the last 15 minutes. This will allow moisture to escape.
Broiling in the Oven
This one is slightly trickier because you’ll be heating up multiple oven-safe containers and the cheese has to be eaten fairly quickly before it hardens again. Drizzle a little olive oil on top and serve with artisan bread.
Broiling in the Oven
Thick Pot and Open Flame
This is perhaps the oldest method by which to enjoy melted cheese. Keep the flame very low, make sure the pot is able to withstand the difference in heat, and you shouldn’t have any issue. It helps to have extra long dipping forks just in case.
Any advice for fondue recipes? Or tips on how to melt cheese perfectly? Let us know in the comments below!
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