A cold day, a good place to… make fondue! Good right? The fondue night at home is perfect for several reasons: it pleases everyone, it is easy and quick to make, and it is an economical option.
So, let’s make a memorable fondue night? But first come see the tips that we have separated.
Where to make fondue
Traditionally, fondue is prepared in a conventional pan directly on the stove so that all the ingredients are mixed and form a homogeneous mass.
Then, this mixture is placed inside the réchaud, or, changing in small pieces, the fondue pot.
To keep the fondue warm, these pans usually come with a burner.
Nowadays, however, it is also possible to count on electrical devices that keep the temperature constant.
For the preparation of cheese and chocolate fondue, the use of enameled or ceramic fondue devices is recommended, for the preparation of meat fondue, the most suitable are stainless steel, aluminum or iron pans, capable of maintaining the temperature for longer.
A fondue device serves an average of six people. And so as not to be missing, nor fondue left over, bet on an average of 300 grams of accompaniment per person.
How to make fondue at home: types and side dishes
Cheese fondue
Cheese fondue is a favorite of the crowd. The basis of this type of fondue is the ementhal cheese, with a smooth flavor and firm texture, the gruyére cheese, responsible for offering a stronger and more striking flavor to the fondue and, finally, the gouda cheese, soft and that melts easily, helping to incorporation of all ingredients.
You can even incorporate other types of cheese into the fondue, such as mozzarella, provolone, gorgonzola and parmesan.
In addition to cheeses, it is also common to add spices to the fondue mass, such as nutmeg and black pepper. It is also worth giving an extra touch of flavor by adding a clove of garlic.
To make the dough more creamy, mix a cup of white wine.
Side dishes for cheese fondue
The traditional accompaniment to cheese fondue is Italian bread cut into small pieces.
Meat strips also usually go well with cheese fondue.
But if you want to innovate a little in tasting, try serving steamed baked potatoes, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower until you get an al dente texture.
Another tip is to make available to the guests jars with nuts, almonds and crushed chestnuts to dip the fondue.
Check out a video with step by step on how to make cheese fondue at home:
Meat fondue and side dishes
While cheese fondue is usually served as a starter, meat fondue is the “main dish” of fondue night.
But, contrary to what many people think, the classic meat fondue has nothing to do with dipping strips of meat in the cheese fondue.
The classic way to make meat fondue is with raw meat. That’s right!
The idea is that each guest will prepare their own meat, leaving it at the point they want. For that it is necessary to provide a hot oil réchaud, where the strips of meat will be dipped and fried individually by each guest.
When it reaches the desired point, it must be removed and dipped in some sauce.
Offer at least four different types of sauce. The suggestion here is to use a sweet and sour sauce, a herb sauce, a spicy sauce and a sauce with a remarkable flavor, such as dried tomatoes or gorgonzola, for example.
See below how the traditional preparation of a meat fondue is made:
Sweet fondue
Sweet fondue is considered the fondue night dessert. Usually made of chocolate, the sweet fondue must be prepared in a specific réchaud to avoid catching the taste of salty preparations.
Chocolate fondue can be made with white, milk or dark chocolate. Just melt the bar beforehand and then mix it with sour cream, forming a ganache.
This is important to add texture and creaminess to the chocolate fondue.
If you want to offer other sweet fondue options, it is worth investing in flavors like dulce de leche, nutella and even guava.
Side dishes for sweet fondue
Sweet fondue, be it chocolate or another option, is almost always served with fruit (fresh or dried).
The most requested are strawberries, grapes, bananas, apples and pears. Wash the fruits well, dry them and then cut them into small pieces. The fruits that oxidize, that is, turn brown after some time, should be watered with lemon juice.
You can also serve as an accompaniment to the sweet oilseed fondue, such as chestnuts, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, among others. Cookies and waffles are another good side dish.
Here’s how to prepare chocolate fondue:
How to light fondue
There’s no mystery, no secret to light the fondue. The trick is to choose the right alcohol for the burner. The most suitable is alcohol 80 (or above). When in doubt, look for those suitable for lighting barbecue.
Add the alcohol to the burner and when the flame « catches » place the lighter under the chaff. If you notice that the flame is too high, put the fire out.
But do this using the damper that comes with the appliance burner, don’t try to put out the fire by blowing or pouring water, ok?
After extinguishing the flame, adjust the amount of alcohol and light it again.
Harmonization
What goes with fondue? The answer is certainly wine. For cheese fondue, dry white wine from Chardonnay grapes or Sauvignon Blanc are great options.
Meat fondue harmonizes very well with red wines, such as Carbenet or Sauvignon. At dessert time, offer a smooth and sweet red wine.
Table set for fondue
When making the table set for the fondue it is important to consider that the guests have the autonomy to serve themselves and, therefore, the table must be functional and accessible for everyone.
Therefore, the fondue pans should be in the center. The side dishes must be placed close to the corresponding fondue.
For each guest, provide a shallow plate, a fondue holder and graph and knife. Don’t forget the wine glasses and napkins.
The decoration of the fondue table must be simple, but elegant. Exaggeration can hinder guests when serving. Instead of arrangements and decorations, prefer to use a beautiful towel, fabric napkins and your best dishes.
Remembering that the sauces and accompaniments of the fondue alone are already capable of making all the decoration.
Label for fondue night
There are some small etiquette rules for eating fondue and believe me: it is not freshness!
These rules are important for maintaining the hygiene and safety of the guests. See what they are:
- Each person must have their own fondue holder. The devices usually include these handles, differentiating them by color.
- Never put the fondue holder in your mouth. In addition to being unhygienic, the handle can burn the lips and tongue.
- When removing the accompaniment from the fondue pot, make a few turns (as if you were rolling pasta) around the holder itself. This prevents the fondue from dripping onto the table.
- Put the accompaniment with the fondue on the plate and eat it with the common fork. Use the tongs only to dip the side dishes in the pan.
- Watch out for children around the réchaud. They can burn in the flame and in the hot pot.
Here are 20 more ideas on how to make a fondue night at home:
Image 1A – Super festive decoration for the chocolate fondue night.
Image 1B – Accompanying strawberry waffle.
Image 2A – Table set and rustic for the night of the cheese fondue.
Image 2B – Cherry tomatoes …
Image 2C – And varied drinks to please everyone.
Picture 3 – How about a popcorn to dip in the chocolate fondue?
Image 4A – Table set for a fondue night for two.
Image 4B – The small réchaud is able to meet the romantic couple.
Picture 5 – Fondue with beer is also going well!
Image 6A – Intimate celebrations are the face of fondue night.
Image 6B – Assorted fruits and cookies for sweet fondue.
Image 6C – And the catchers couldn’t be more charming!
Picture 7 – A fondue board that makes vegetarians happy.
Image 8 – Cascade of chocolate!
Image 9A – Party with fondue.
Image 9B – The grace here is in the individual réchaud.
Image 10A – Want a different fondue? So get inspired by the Thai version.
Image 10B – With typically oriental accompaniments.
Image 11A – Colorful and cheerful, this fondue night is perfect to celebrate a birthday.
Image 11B – Cheese on one side, chocolate on the other.
Image 12 – Rice cakes to accompany the cheese fondue.
Image 13A – Fondue for a romantic evening.
Image 13B – With heart-shaped toast.
Image 13C – And glasses of champagne!
Image 14 – Fondue in the box to give as a gift.
Picture 15 – Vegetarian fondue exists!
Image 16A – The fondue night can be very simple, but also super sophisticated.
Image 16B – Meat strips ready for fondue.
Image 16C – Use flowers in the decoration.
Picture 17 – Chocolate fondue with fruits: the classic of the classics
Image 18 – Simple cheese fondue to warm the body and soul.
Image 19 – In the decoration it is worth to use comics.
Image 20A – Here, fondue is the main dish of the party.
Image 20B – And the fondue table is a standout apart.
