The seventies are back, baby! Here are some tips for how to enjoy the fondue revival.
Types of Fondue
Cheese fondue
It is traditionally made with Gruyère cheese and white wine, but go ahead and try incorporating your favorite cheeses!
Popular accompaniments are:
Crusty bread
Lightly blanched vegetables, such as broccoli or cauliflower
Raw vegetables, such as mushrooms, carrots, celery or peppers
Chunks of salami, ham or cooked chicken, such as PERDUE® Chicken Nuggets or PERDUE® SHORT CUTS®—try our Chicken and Cheese Fun Do for a casual, family-friendly meal
Meat fondue
Traditionally, use a pot of searing oil or simmering broth for cooking raw meats and dip small cubes of quick-cooking meats into the hot liquid and leave to cook to desired doneness
Popular meats for oil or broth fondue are:
Chicken – if you use fresh chicken, be sure to cook to 170°F, but you could also use the oil to heat a fully cooked product
Beef tenderloin
Shrimp
Serve with a variety of dips, sauces and condiments, such as:
Herb or garlic mayonnaise
Steak sauce
Horseradish sauce
Dijon mustard
Cornichon pickles
Cocktail sauce
Chocolate fondue
It is traditionally made with dark chocolate melted with heavy cream, but white and milk chocolate are terrific as well!
For the adult version, add a touch of cherry or orange liqueur
Add your own favorite accompaniments—a few classics are:
Fresh fruits, such as oranges, apples, grapes, strawberries and bananas
Marshmallows
Pound cake cubes
Cookies
Dried fruits, such as apricots or banana chips
Equipment
Choose the right pot for your fondue
Ceramic pots are great for cheese or chocolate fondue—the low heat keeps your fondue warm without burning
Pots that use tea lights, gel packs or Sterno keep a low temperature that works better for cheese or chocolate fondue
Metal pots are best for meat fondues, because they hold heat better than ceramic pots
Use an electric pot for oil or broth fondue—it will keep your oil or broth at the higher, constant temperature that you need to cook meat evenly
Setting the Table
One fondue pot will comfortably serve 3–5 people—more than that will cause an overcrowding of forks in one pot
Try to give everyone two forks, one for eating and one for dipping—if you have fondue forks, one fondue fork and one dinner fork work well
Each person should have a small plate to eat from and rest his or her fork on
Drinks and Sides
A crisp salad or fresh vegetables are a nice accompaniment as a light, fresh side dish
Drinking water causes bread to swell, so try drinking wine or tea instead
Mint tea is a great ending to a cheese or chocolate fondue
Fondue Etiquette
Make sure everyone knows the proper fondue etiquette
Dip your bread into the melted cheese or chocolate and swirl in a figure-eight pattern to stir
Lift and hold for a moment to let the excess drip away
Use the dinner fork to slide your bread, fruit or meat from the fondue fork to your plate
Avoid double-dipping or eating directly from the fondue fork—that’s where two forks per person come in handy
Just for fun: anyone who loses a piece in the pot gives his or her next piece to the person sitting to the right!
