I recently bought some French baguettes, and unfortunately, one ended up sitting on the counter for too long and got a bit dry. It’s worth mentioning that the French really cherish their bread, and I definitely wouldn’t waste perfectly good stale bread. In my family, we have a few go-to options for stale bread. You can whip up some delicious French toast, cut it into croutons, or even have a fondue feast. And if all else fails, you can always feed it to the birds. However, with the chilly weather and snowflakes falling outside, a warm melted cheese fondue sounds perfect for today!
Is the origin of fondue from France?
Did you know there is still a debate about where the fondue came from? France, Italy, and the Swiss are still fighting about it! The one recipe I know is the fondue savoyarde, which comes from the beautiful Savoie region of France, like in the picture above. Savoie is a touristic region where you can find France’s most fashionable ski resorts. The fondue savoyarde uses French cheeses, such as Comté cheese, Beaufort , or an emmental and a gruyere from Savoie. Because we live in the United States now, I adapted it to our personal preferences with a different local type of cheese. 1
Can we make a French fondue without alcohol?
Yes, you can make the fondue recipe without alcohol. Replace the wine with milk or a broth. Melt the butter and flour together and add a little bit of your liquid as if you were making a bechamel. Then, add the cheese.
Much Fun Kissing Tradition
In a French Canadian family, the tradition when you eat fondue is that if your piece of bread slips off your fork into the cheese fondue, you must kiss the person on your right! This whimsical rule not only brings laughter and connection among loved ones but also highlights the joy of sharing meals together.
To lost bread?
A staple food in France, French toast is named “Pain perdu” which translates literally to lost bread, reflecting the use of stale bread so it doesn’t get “lost”.
French cheese CLASSIC fondue recipe
French Cheese Fondue Recipe For Tonight
Whipping up the ultimate cheese fondue from scratch is easier than you might imagine! It’s the perfect meal for those chilly days. Enjoy it with some tasty bread cubes, crisp apple slices, tangy cornichon pickles, and zesty pickled onions. It's sure to be a hit!
Ingredients
- 1 garlic clove, halved
- 3/4 cup of milk
- 3/4 pound gruyere cheese, grated (Beaufort could be use)
- 1/4 pound of Emmental cheese
- optional 1/4 pound of Comte cheese (Old Gouda could work)
- 3 tablespoons of flour
- 3/4 cup of dry white wine warmed
- pinch of black pepper
- pinch of nutmeg
- pinch of paprika
- 1 loaf of French bread cut into 1-inch cubes
Instructions
- Rub the inside of the fondue pot with the garlic clove.
- Add milk to the fondue pot.
- Turn the temperature dial to simmer.
- Bring milk to a simmer.
- Combine cheese and flour; stir into the milk using a figure 8 motion.
- Stir constantly until the cheese is melted.
- Slowly stir in wine.
- Sprinkle with pepper, nutmeg and paprika.
- Place the fondue set in the center of the table. Select the WARM function.
- To serve, spear bread cubes and dip into the delicious cheese fondue.
Notes
Suggestions for dipping:
- Green apple, cut into pieces
- Grapes
- Ham, cubed
- Cooked sausage or dry sausage, sliced
- Broccoli or cauliflower, blanched
- Cherry tomatoes
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
“La religieuse” (The nun)
When the fondue has been eaten, there will be a golden crust at the bottom of the pot. It’s the “religieuse”. It was named so in honor of the nuns who wore several layers of clothing called “crusts.” Fondue connoisseurs fight to eat the “religieuse”. Remove it gently and wait one minute, time for it to become slightly crispy. A delight! 2
In summary
Using leftover crusty bread is a great way to cut down on waste while also making some delicious meals! Pairing it with a cozy pot of fondue really brings out the rich flavors of French cheeses. It’s perfect whether you’re having a family dinner or a fun get-together with friends. This recipe is all about enjoying food and celebrating the Savoie tradition, turning cubed French bread in what might have gone to waste into something really tasty and memorable. It’s sure to be a hit!
Disclaimer: This website may contain affiliate links. The products that I advertise are the ones I believe in. I will earn a commission if you purchase something through the links. There is no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure HERE.
Footnotes:
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/cheese-4162401 ↩︎
- https://www.ricardocuisine.com/en/recipes/2269-cheese-fondue ↩︎
Leave a Reply