The name of the delicacy comes from the French word "fondre," which means melting. Cheese fondue is the national dish of the porters who invented it many years ago. Fondue is a delicacy that will allow you to have a pleasant evening with your soulmate or friends in a relaxed atmosphere. Although this is a hearty snack, it is easy and quick to prepare.
If you want to simplify this procedure as much as possible, you can buy a ready-made fondue set, including sauces, side dishes, and cheeses. But for an unforgettable experience, you can try to cook a delicacy on your own and surprise loved ones.
For cheese lovers, we also recommend purchasing a large charcuterie board from Royal Craft Wood.
Basic types of fondue
Three types of fondue can be distinguished, each of which is prepared in different pots:
• cheese fondue;
• meat fondue;
• chocolate fondue.
A classic and traditional recipe is cheese fondue, invented by Swiss mountain farmers. The ancient recipe included different types of cheese, wine, and spices. All ingredients were melted and mixed in a single container. And after that, slices of bread were dipped into the delicacy. Such fondue pots were made of ceramic or cast iron because these materials retain heat for a long time inside the container, which allows the cheese to melt slowly.
To prepare meat, fondue, fat, or broth is heated, to which chopped pieces of beef are subsequently added. Depending on the country and region, the type of meat may differ - someone prefers pork, someone prefers turkey. In East Asia, the use of seafood, which is finely chopped, is widespread.
There is an alternative - chocolate fondue for those with a sweet tooth. For such a recipe, you will need pieces of fruit or berries combined with the delicate taste of chocolate.
How to choose a fondue pot?
Depending on the type of delicacy you plan to cook, you should choose in the direction of a particular container. For example, if you like meat fondue, there is a specific requirement for the container - high heat conductivity. In this case, the ideal materials are cast iron, stainless steel, or steel ceramic. They quickly heat fat or broth and retain heat for a long time.
For traditional cheese fondue, pots are best suited for high-quality refractory ceramics or cast iron.
Ceramics absorb heat very slowly. As a result, fondue cheese takes a long time to melt. And thanks to the wide variety of fondue recipes and variations, everyone will be able to prepare a treat that will suit their taste.
Necessary: When buying a fondue pot, make sure it comes with a lid. Thanks to such detail, heating will occur faster, and energy will be saved. In addition, the cover prevents broth or fat from sloshing out during cooking.
The advantage of the fondue maker is that it can be placed on the stove. In this way, broth, cheese, or chocolate can be pre-melted and later only kept at a sufficient temperature. Pot handles should be made of a material that does not conduct heat well. This will allow you to take the container with your hands quickly.
Cooking temperature
Heating fondue is the basis for preparing a treat. Manufacturers offer several types of dishes - electric and conventional. The first type is considered more functional and straightforward. But many people prefer to buy a fondue pot that can be used on the hob.
Depending on what kind of fondue you are preparing, it is essential to adhere to the correct temperature regime. So, a snack on broth is cooked at a temperature of 100 ° C, on fat - 160-180 ° C, and cheese - 85 ° C.
Fondue cooking features
• To create meat fondue, you need to use oils and fats suitable for frying. Our recommendation: coconut oil. Plus, it can be reused.
• When preparing meat fondue, keep in mind that the broth must be hot. So the meat will be more juicy and tasty.
• To mix cheese and wine into a homogeneous mass, you need to stir the contents with a heat-resistant wooden spoon. Preferably not in a circle, but the shape of figure eight.
• So that there was no chaos with forks during the meal, give each guest one cutlery.
