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Choosing what to dip in cheese fondue is a great way to turn a simple dish into a fan favorite at an upcoming function.
Naturally, certain ingredients are very well known when it comes to cheese fondues, such as bread and vegetables, but you can also opt for sweet alternatives rather than savory.
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What to Dip in Cheese Fondue
Whether you’re planning a cheese fondue for yourself or a group of friends and family, here are some of the best things that you can pair with your cheese fondue.
1. Bread and Crackers
If it’s your first time making cheese fondue, we recommend that you first try dipping bread, as it’s an affordable yet delicious option that beginners and experienced fondue enthusiasts enjoy.
As a bonus, all types of bread seemingly work well with cheese fondue, although there are individual variations that some prefer over others.
Our top picks for bread to use with fondue include:
- Sourdough
- Pumpernickel
- Rye
- French bread
- Multigrain loafs
The primary thing to remember is that since the cheese transforms into a velvety liquid, you’ll want to choose a type of bread that is hard and thick enough not to dissolve when you put it into the cheese.
Crackers are another fantastic alternative to bread, especially if you want a lower calorie option with fewer carbs, and there are plenty of different types of crackers to choose from.
You can opt for traditional options such as saltines, but it’s also a fantastic idea to consider multigrain crackers or even crackers with dried fruit in them, such as cranberries.
2. Pretzels and Chips
When most people think of fondue, the first thing that comes to mind is a luxurious event paired with wine, but you can also take a high-class fondue and turn it into a more family-friendly appetizer.
For example, if you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or a sports viewing party, fondue can be a great way to give your guests a wholesome and filling appetizer to enjoy.
Instead of using bread as an ingredient to dip into the fondue, you can opt for more finger-friendly snacks such as chips and pretzels.
Considering you would typically put cheese on tortilla chips anyway, whether it be in the form of queso or traditional nachos, fondue is a fun twist on a conventional dish.
Also, pretzels paired with melted cheese is undoubtedly an appetizer that you won’t be able to get enough of.
3. Fruit
As mentioned, fondue is usually synonymous with savory ingredients, although you can also substitute vegetables and meat with fruits, which can transform it into a more cheesy dessert.
Several phenomenal fruits pair well with different varieties of cheese, as this is a practice that you would typically find to be widespread across Europe.
If you’ve ever made a cheese platter before, you’ve likely contemplated using some of these sweet ingredients before, but dipping them in melted cheese is a far more luxurious experience.
A few of the most notable fruits to use for an upcoming fondue party include:
- Green and red apples
- Pineapples
- Pears
- Grapes
You might also want to consider using dried fruits since they are easier to manage if you’re serving a large group of people, and they won’t turn brown or spoil if left out in the air for too long.
Figs and dried apricots are two delicious options for dried fruits that work fantastically with cheese fondue.
4. Vegetables
Similar to bread, veggies are a common choice for fondue because they add a delectable crispy and crunchy texture to the melted cheese that you’ll be missing with bread.
Not to mention, there is a wide assortment of vegetables that taste better with cheese, such as broccoli.
We especially love adding veggies to a cheese fondue platter if there are children invited to an event, as it will surely encourage them to eat more vegetables than to indulge in other unhealthy snacks.
Quite similar to when you’re choosing pieces of bread, you’ll want to opt for raw vegetables with hard textures for your fondue, as the crunchiness adds to the experience.
Several of the best veggies that you can pair with a cheese fondue include:
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
- Celery
- Cherry tomatoes
There are also a few exciting vegetables you can cook before serving with fondue, which can make it heartier and transform the fondue into comfort food.
Baby potatoes, for example, offer the perfect flavors that combine well with different types of cheese, as well as roasted zucchini, asparagus, and cauliflower.
All-in-all, relatively any vegetable works perfectly with melted cheese, and it’s a healthier alternative to some of the other ingredients you might consider for dipping.
5. Meat and Seafood
One of the best ways to transform a fondue from an appetizer to a full-blown meal is to provide meat for dipping, although it will require a little extra preparation, mainly if you’re serving it at a party.
Ideally, if you don’t want your guests to have to cook their meat before dipping, you’ll want to consider grilling or baking the meat well beforehand.
You can also opt to use pre-cooked deli meats that are readily available from your local grocer and could be a more cost-effective solution than steak, for example.
If you want to serve meat with your cheese fondue, you should consider serving:
- Chicken
- Ham
- Steak
- Kielbasa
- Pepperoni
- Beef jerky
- Salami
If your family isn’t particularly interested in meat but are huge fans of seafood, crustaceans are mainly known for being delicious when paired with cheese, especially since they have a meaty texture with sweet undertones.
Seafood like crab, lobster, or shrimp is some of the best ingredients that you can pair with cheese if you want an alternative to regular meats.
With that said, you will also want to ensure you prepare the ingredients and cook them thoroughly before serving.
6. Pasta
We are all aware of different types of cheese sauces that pair wonderfully with pasta, but have you ever considered serving cooked pasta on a fondue platter for your guests to enjoy?
You’ll undoubtedly want to consider thicker varieties of pasta compared to spaghetti or fettuccine since your guests should be able to pick up a single noodle and quickly dip it into the fondue.
If you want to get even more creative, you can make the pasta by hand and stuff it with different ingredients, such as cooked vegetables or meat for a more elegant option.
Our choices for the best pasta to put on a cheese fondue platter include tortellini, ravioli, and rigatoni.
7. Pickles
If you’ve never had the benefit of dipping pickles in cheese, you’re missing out on a fabulous combination of savory flavors that you aren’t soon to forget.
One of the most popular types of pickles that people typically dip in cheese fondue is gherkins because they are small, easy to manage, and have the perfect amount of crunchiness that adds to the dip.
Cornichons are by far the most popular since they are the crunchiest, and they’re easy to stick with toothpicks to keep the fondue sanitary for parties.
The most important tip to remember when preparing pickles for a cheese fondue is that you will want to give them enough time to dry out a little bit, rather than serving them straight out of the jar.
Otherwise, their brine will pool on the cheese and spoil the dip’s taste for those who aren’t using pickles for dipping.
8. Tofu
Easily one of the most versatile ingredients for many recipes, tofu is a fan favorite if you want a vegetarian-friendly version of fondue.
One of the things we love the most about tofu is that it is incredibly simple to prepare and is paired perfectly with cheese if fried to achieve the perfect crispy texture.
Ideally, you’ll want to opt for hard tofu rather than soft, as it’s easier to cook in easy-to-eat cubes that your guests will love.
Not only is it easy for beginners to cook, but it’s also an inexpensive food that allows you to add more vegetarian options along with traditional meats and seafood on your fondue platters.
Final Thoughts
There are several ingredients that you should try using when determining what to dip in cheese fondue.
All you have to do is think of all of the things that would go best with cheese, ranging from pretzels to shrimp, and you’ll have plenty for you and your family to enjoy.
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