16 Sweet & Savory Fondue Recipes For Every Mood (2024)

FAQs

Can fondue be sweet or savoury? ›

It doesn't get more classic than fondue. Whether you're serving it up as an easy appetizer or as the cherry on top dessert to your dinner party spread, it's a simple but effective dip perfect for sweet and savory pairings.

There are four commonly prepared types of fondue. They are cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, oil fondue (also known as meat fondue), and broth fondue.

2 to 3 fondue forks per guest. Favour forks in various colours so that guests can easily identify their individual forks. 1 place setting for each guest (including table fork, knife and spoon) to avoid eating directly from the fondue forks.

The best all-around cheeses for fondue are fontina, Gruyère, and gouda. If you aren't sure what to pick, use even amounts of these three. Together are lush and complex. For classic Swiss cheese fondue (meaning one like what you would find in Switzerland), a mix of traditional, firm mountain-style cheeses is best.

DON'T: Double dip.

Since fondue is a communal meal, dining etiquette says to avoid double-dipping. Also, don't put the fondue fork in your mouth.

Moitié-moitié (or half and half), also called Fondue Suisse: Gruyère and Vacherin Fribourgeois. Neuchâteloise: Gruyère and Emmental (sometimes referred to as the original or traditional fondue). Innerschweiz: Gruyère, Emmental, and Sbrinz.

When making fondue, the first thing to consider is what type of ingredients you want to use; if you are a vegetarian, you may prefer the oil. The oil is also a healthier option because it contains no fat or calories. However, if you like meat and cheese, the broth is better because it has more flavors.

Like any other food fad, the fondue was not meant to last as a trend. By 1999, amid allegations of corruption and concerns over the high costs of cheese subsidies and fondue's decline in popularity, the Schweizer Kaseunion collapsed.

The best cut of beef for fondue

Now isn't the time to go for budget steak, so indulging in higher-price, higher-quality meat cuts such as sirloin, tenderloin, and even filet mignon is the way to go. These cuts are all tender, rich in flavor, and all but guaranteed to stay juicy after cooking.

Blanched vegetables: broccoli, asparagus, green beans, snow peas, or snap peas. Blanch in a pot of lightly salted boiling water for a minute or two to soften them up just a bit. Drain them well before putting them out on a serving tray.

What is the etiquette for eating fondue? ›

Fondue rules

You must not double dip, and never put your fork directly into your mouth. You can grab it off with just your teeth, but the best way is to slide it onto your plate and use a regular fork to eat it.

The cornstarch is yet more insurance to keep the fondue from breaking, coating the proteins and fat and preventing them from coalescing. Some recipes call for a flour-based roux, but I found cornstarch to work very well, producing a fondue without any starchiness.

If the fondue has been over-cooked and the cheese is turning into hard lumps then adding a teaspoon or two of lemon juice should help to restore the texture. If the cheese has split and looks greasy but not lumpy then adding extra cornflour (cornstarch) will help to re-emulsify the mixture.

Emmental. For another smooth, semi-hard Swiss cheese, Emmental is a great choice. In fact, it's often used with Gruyère when making fondue, so you know it will have a similar melting power.

Never lick the fondue pot, no matter how tempting. Never eat directly off the fondue fork. Never forget your food in the pot. Never pour the contents of the pot onto your plate.

We know more about the delicate act of balancing sweet flavours with savoury than we think. It's why you find fruit, jam, and honey on your cheese plate, and sugar is probably hiding in some of your favourite savoury foods and dishes: curries, Asian dishes and cured meats are rarely made without sugars of some sort.

The most basic difference between the two is that sweet food has a dominant taste of sugar or honey, while savoury food is full-flavoured and predominantly salty.