What Is Cheese Fondue?
Cheese fondue is a melted cheese dish that belongs to Swiss cuisine. It is served hot in a special fondue pot. It is mostly served as a main course, but in some regions served as an appetizer with assorted bite size dippers. Since there are many different types of cheese today, there are also kinds of cheese for fondue. But it is authentic and the best cheese fondue is made with Swiss cheese. Depending on the situation, fondue can also be made with chocolate, broth and wine. If the temperature of served cheese fondue is kept warm then a crisp layer of cheese is formed at the bottom of the fondue pot, this layer is called ‘la religieuse’ (French for the nun) and it is eaten as a cracker. The popularity of cheese fondue goes back to the 1930s when it was declared as a Swiss national dish by the Swiss Cheese Union.
What Are The Best Cheeses For Fondue?
The first and foremost thing to keep in mind while making a cheese fondue is to pick the best and quality cheese.The most important type of cheese used in the recipe for authentic cheese fondue is Swiss cheese, also known as Alpine cheese because it comes from Switzerland. Swiss cheese is a yellow, medium, hard cheese and is found almost everywhere. You can add more than one type of Swiss cheese to add more flavor to the fondue, which not only enhances the flavor but also enriches your recipe. There are about 7 types of Swiss cheese in the world. You can use Gouda, Gruyere, Cheddar, Emmental, Fontina and Comte cheeses. Whatever type of cheese you choose, just make sure it's sticky, buttery, smooth, and full of flavor.
What To Serve With Cheese Fondue?
Cheese fondue comes under the group of the fanciest meals. Whether it is a feast or a small party a cheese fondue will always steal the show. It is a shareable meal which makes it more superior over other party dishes. The beauty of cheese fondue is that it can be served with an extensive range of foods. Any bite size dipper can be eaten with a cheese fondue but the most traditional and famous partner of cheese fondue is a sourdough bread or plain bread also known as French bread. Small chunks of bread are dipped in the cheese fondue with the help of a fondue fork or skewer, swirled and then cheese fondue with bread creates an explosion of flavor in your mouth. Other than bread, apples and pears are also served with cheese fondue in several places. Many people also like to eat meaty dippers with their fondue such as crispy bacon and meatballs. You can also serve bite size blanched and/or roasted vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper, potato and brussels sprouts.
Here are some our delicious recipes that you can serve with Cheese Fondue:
