Looking for the perfect dish for entertaining friends or family during the holidays? Fondue offers cooks, hosts, and guests fun, flavor, and flexibility. Pronounced [fahn-DOO], the word comes from the French word “fondre” which means “melt.” Traditional recipes call for a variety of melted cheeses, but broths as well as chocolate can also be in the melting pot. This delicious concept dates back to the 18th century when the simple-to-prepare meal used ingredients found in the average home. Because cheese is the main ingredient in most fondue recipes, indulgers will get about half of an adult’s daily value for calcium. Not familiar with the melting pot meal? Here is a “fondue overview” to get you started.

Multi-Courses

Fondue makes for a popular “dip” at holiday get-togethers because it can be served in a variety of ways.  A combination of melted cheeses such as Swiss, Gruyere, Mozzarella, Parmesan and/or Gouda make a delicious appetizer or main course. For quicker melting and smooth cheese fondue, grate the cheese rather than chopping it. If you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, melted chocolate combined with fresh cream makes a tasty dessert. Caramel, coconut, and marshmallow are additional dessert fondues to consider.

Fondue Tools

Basic tools for making and enjoying fondue include a ceramic fondue pot or bowl that holds heat, fondue forks, and a heating element. For chocolate fondue, a warmer with a tea light is usually enough to keep the chocolate in a creamy form. The idea is to keep the cheese or chocolate warm enough to ensure a smooth consistency. Fondue forks are used to dip your items and place them on a plate. The long forks have two serrated tines for spearing food along with a heat-resistant handle made of wood or plastic.  Keep in mind that fondue is a “community” dish, so avoid eating off the fondue fork. No fondue pot? No problem! A small crockpot on the warm setting is an easy substitute. Be sure not to overheat the mixture.

Endless Dippers

Dipping options are endless, so get creative! For cheese fondue, try pieces of bread such as baguettes or French or Italian style bread that is crusty. Veggies such as carrot chips, celery, cauliflower, or pea pods can be fresh or steamed before dipping. Shrimp, scallops, sausage, and cooked chicken or cubes of beef are also great platter options. For chocolate or dessert fondue, consider marshmallows, graham crackers, strawberries, bananas, tangerines, apples, angel food cake, and pretzels as dippers.

Fondue can be a fun addition to a social event or a gathering of family and friends. Tradition states that the first person to drop their bread in the pot has dishwashing duty, so be careful with your dipping!