Fondue Recipes | Romantic Dinner Ideas

A romantic dinner does not have to entail reserving a table at a high priced restaurant nor acquiring a master chef's degree in order to prepare a lovely dinner at home. Fondue is not only a fun way to eat a variety of food, it is also an easy method of preparing both sweet and savory dishes. There are even some restaurants created primarily for fondue based meals although it can cost a pretty penny to dine out at one of these types of establishments.

Learning some basic fondue recipe concepts will not only spark the mood for a romantic dinner, but it will also score some creative kudos for thinking out side of the box for cheap dates that are trying to impress their sweetheart.

Fondue dinners are unique in the way of eating food, it is an interactive sport that requires guest to dip various foods in either cheese, oil, broth, or chocolate based. There are usually sauces to accompany foods that are cooked in oil or broth, which are intended for proteins and vegetables. Even if you or your guests are watching their diet, fondue recipes are adaptable to fit any diet needs if you know the basics of fondue recipes.

Different Kinds Of Fondue Sets

While it is not necessary to purchase a fondue set to prepare fondue, there are a wide variety of fondue sets available that can match your budget and needs. If a fondue set will be only used once every six months and money is tight, you can buy one for as little as 15.00 although expect the term "you get what you pay for". These fondue sets usually come with a ceramic pot, skewers, a stand, and a place to set a teat candle for the heat source. This type of set is great for cheese and chocolate fondues for a small group of people.

For those fondue fanatics who require a heavy duty pot and heat source, electric fondue sets are available. Some sets will come with a second pot as well as little ramekins for sauces, some sets even have a lazy susan attached for easy entertaining. Electric fondue sets are great for cooking raw meats in oil or broth because of the adjustable heat control, which will ensure a safe cooking environment for these types of foods.

Cheese fondue is normally a first course for fondue dinners and can be accompanied with fruit, toasted bread, and even unique options such as dried fruits. When thinking of foods to dip, refer to a generic cheese platter, what is normally paired with cheese? If you are planning to also have other courses with the cheese fondue, be sure to choose light options to ensure an ongoing appetite through the evening.

Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe:

This recipe is designed for serving two as a first course but can easily be doubled for a larger crowd. When purchasing the cheese for this recipe, visit the deli to only buy the amount you need instead of having to purchase a large quantity. This will save you a very pretty penny, unless you intend to use the bulk buy for other uses.

• 2 oz. aged white cheddar, cut into chunks
• 2 oz. Muenster cheese, cut into chunks
• 2 oz. Gruyere cheese, cut into chunks
• 1 Tbs. flour
• 1 large clove garlic, cut in half
• 1/2 Cup dry white wine, ( Use what you would drink )
• 1/3 Cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced
• 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
• Dash of Worcestershire sauce

In a ceramic based fondue dish rub the garlic halves inside the bowl and set aside.
Toss the flour and cheeses together and add to a sauce pot over medium heat.
Add wine and heavy cream and slowly stir with wooden spoon until it begins to melt.
Add remaining ingredients and allow the cheese to melt and thicken, remove when smooth.
Pour the cheese fondue into prepared fondue dish and place over flame or if you are using an electric fondue set, then set the heating element to medium low.

Crusty bread, mushrooms, and seasonal fruits like pears and apples are classics when it comes to food ideas for cheese fondue. If you are feeling creative, then why not try making some crab cakes and dipping them in the rich cheese mixture for an incredible first course for your romantic dinner. Keep in mind not to choose foods that will fill you up if you are planning to eat more than the cheese fondue.

Oil and broth based fondue recipes are usually served as a second course and pair wonderfully with all kinds of protein and vegetables. If you are a fan of tempura style meats and veggies, oil based fondue is ideal to cooking foods like this. Choose a good quality oil such as peanut or grape seed oil to allow the purity of the food's flavor to come through.

For a low fat and healthier version, then a homemade rich broth is also ideal for a second course of a fondue dinner. Choose a broth that will marry well with the type of proteins you intend to eat. A rich savory chicken broth compliments seafood while beef broths are ideal for dark meats like lamb. I tend to stay away from any type of broth that contains cream because it can curdle and boil over if the heat is too high.

The cooking temperature of either types of these fondue bases should be set at a higher temperature, preferably around 350 degrees F. This will ensure a safe cooking environment for meats and allow a couple of pieces to cook at a time.

The grand finale of all desserts, especially romantic dinners is chocolate. Chocolate fondue is quite simple to make and wonderful to dip an array of foods with. Common foods that are paired with chocolate are strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, and angel cake.

Romantic Dinner Idea:

You can create your own message inside a fortune cookie and after dipping in the chocolate fondue your loved one will read a love note personally created from you! Hey guys, if tonight is the night for popping the question, this would be ideal.

Recipe For Chocolate Fondue:

I prefer using a bittersweet chocolate of at least 65% for my fondue. This serves two generously although it can be doubled for larger groups.

• 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, very good quality, chopped in small pieces
• 3 oz heavy whipping cream
• 2 oz kirsch liquor, cherry
• 3 oz unsalted butter

In a sauce pot, add chopped chocolate, cream and liquor. Over low heat slowly stir chocolate mixture until it begins to melt. Once the chocolate is about 90% melted slowly add the butter ounce by ounce until the chocolate is smooth.

Pour into fondue pot and set over low heat. For a cool additions add a few candied caramels to the mixture and allow the candies to slowly melt creating a swirl of caramel and chocolate.

Get Creative With Your Romantic Fondue Dinner:

For the ladies who are surprised by a romantic fondue dinner this upcoming special day, or any day for that matter, will be swept off their feet. As you can see, fondue recipes are not all that complicated to prepare and the food menu is quite versatile to anyone's palette. Don't just stop your ideas with this article, instead let this create a personalized approach for your fondue dinner. Stroll around the supermarket and think of all the foods you like to eat with cheese and chocolate. As for the proteins, try to select higher end type of cuts of beef, these do not require much cooking time and stay nice and tender. Of course if you are savvy with your cooking skills, why not whip up some tempura batter and deep fry some shrimp and veggies. The possibilities are really endless when planning a fondue dinner, as well as the budget.