What Is Swiss Fondue?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Fondue (UK: /ˈfɒnd(j)uː/, US: /fɒnˈd(j)uː/, French: [fɔ̃dy]) is a Swiss melted cheese dish served in a communal pot (caquelon or fondue pot) over a portable stove (réchaud) heated with a candle or spirit lamp, and eaten by dipping bread into the cheese using long-stemmed forks.

What is the main ingredient in a traditional Swiss fondue?

Swiss Cheese Fondue is traditionally a blend of Gruyere, Emmental and Appenzeller cheese .

What do the Swiss dip in fondue?

  • Bread. The most classic and always delicious. ...
  • Apples. Tart apples like Granny Smith are dreamy dipped with cheese fondue. ...
  • Cherry Tomatoes. One of my absolute favorites!
  • Bacon. Even better than you think it’s going to taste. ...
  • Roasted Baby Potatoes. ...
  • Steamed Broccoli. ...
  • Pickles.

Why is cheese fondue famous in Switzerland?

Others say peasants in the Swiss mountains created the dish as a way to make use of leftover bread and cheese during colder months when fresh produce was scarce . ... Here, fondue is almost invariably moitié – half-and-half – made with gruyère and Fribourg-style vacherin (cow’s milk) cheeses.

What was the original fondue?

The first written recipes for fondue appear in 18th century cookbooks published in France and Belgium, however they call for Gruyère, a decidedly Swiss cheese , so the Swiss rightfully deserved credit as the originators of fondue.

What is the most common food eaten in Switzerland?

  • Cheese fondue. Melted cheese with bread cubes. ...
  • Raclette. Melted cheese served with “Gschwellti” (jacket potatoes), cocktail gherkins and onions as well as pickled fruit.
  • Älplermagronen. A kind of gratin with potatoes, macaroni, cheese, cream and onions. ...
  • Rösti. ...
  • Birchermüesli. ...
  • Swiss chocolate. ...
  • Swiss cheese.

What is traditional Swiss food?

  1. Fondue. Surely, the most epic cheese there is. ...
  2. Tarts and Quiches. The quiche and Swiss cheese tarts are only superficially related. ...
  3. Landjager. ...
  4. Älplermagronen (Alpine Macaroni) ...
  5. Raclette. ...
  6. Rosti. ...
  7. Saffron risotto. ...
  8. Malakoff.

What meat goes well with cheese fondue?

Meat and Seafood

Feature a bit of grilled steak, poached chicken , or cooked ham, all which taste even better with a bit of melted cheese. Cured meats, like beef jerky, kielbasa, pepperoni, salami, and sausage are all fun and flavorful dippers that will bring a bit of spice to your fondue pot.

How do you serve Swiss fondue?

Leave out the bubbles and chill. The Swiss are adamant that fondue should only be eaten with a white, preferably, dry wine (it supposedly helps digestion). Anyone, including complete strangers, are happy to impart this deeply ingrained piece of wisdom.

What do you serve with meat fondue?

Accompaniments. A meal consisting of just beef is rather plain, and a casual meal like fondue is no exception. Serve each guest a few pieces of par-cooked potato or baby potatoes, blanched pearl onions, sweet pepper spears, mushrooms or other appropriate vegetables.

Do Swiss Really eat fondue?

You may have noticed that the Swiss eat a lot of fondue. Elsewhere, it may be something of a retro cliché harking back to the 1970s fondue craze, but in Switzerland it’s a common, convivial dish that the Swiss indulge in throughout the winter months and even on occasional cool summer evenings.

Is fondue a meal?

And remember, fondue is a fun party meal for special occasions , but it’s also a great weeknight appetizer or meal for the family. Not to mention it might get your kids to eat their vegetables! I love making pigs in a blanket. The kids can dip these guys into the Emmi Fondu and have so much fun devouring their food.

How many types of fondue are there?

There are four commonly prepared types of fondue. They are cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, oil fondue (also known as meat fondue), and broth fondue.

Why was fondue popular in the 70’s?

fondue made a comeback in the early 2000’s and has been growing in popularity ever since.” Perhaps one reason for its seemingly sudden popularity back in the seventies was that fondue is about as sociable as a meal can get.

What kind of cheese is normally fondue made of?

Fondue originated in Switzerland, as a way to use hardened cheese and stale bread during the winter months, so the traditional cheeses for making it are Swiss cheeses, mainly Emmental and Gruyère .

What’s the difference between raclette and fondue?

First the basics. Cheese fondue is cheese (or several different cheeses) melted in a pot with white wine and eaten with bread. With raclette, the usual custom is to take a block of cheese, grill it and then scrape off the melted, or slightly crispy, part. Raclette offers slightly more freedom to your meal .

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.