A popular way to spend New Year's and Christmas in Germany, making fondue with friends is a fun and classic party food suitable for any holiday. A very easy meal to put together, meat fondue (called fleischfondue in Germany) can include any variety of meat, and cater to a multitude of tastes.
Where the traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue (usually involving bread being dipped into a hot cheese base) is usually served as an appetizer or an hors d'oeuvre at dinner parties and other gatherings, meat fondue is meant to be more of an entree type meal.
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Meat Fondue - The Basics
While preparing fondue with friends and family is great fun, a good fondue party is only successful with proper planning. You'll need to select meats, vegetables, sauces, and side dishes (which can all be prepared ahead of time) to serve your guests.
Preparing these items ahead of time makes serving meat fondue virtually effortless as the guests end up doing all the 'cooking' themselves!
Oil or Broth-Based Fondue?
Meat fondue can be either broth or oil-based depending on how you prefer to cook your meats and other sides. Oil fondus are heated to a temperature of 375F and cook food fairly quickly. Broth-based meat fondue is only brought to a simmer (195F-200F) and as such takes longer to cook food. Keep this in mind when planning your party!
Regardless of which base you choose, you'll need at least 1 - 1.5 litres of broth or oil when serving 8 guests.
Broth-based meat fondues are just as delicious as the oil-based variety, and can even be flavored to help infuse more flavor into your food items. Herbs, spices, and even wine can be added to the broth to infuse the fondue with flavor. Homemade chicken, beef, or vegetable stock/broth is best, but a store-bought broth can easily be used in a pinch.
Since a broth-based fondue isn't heated quite as high as an oil fondue, note that the meat will take longer to cook, especially if larger pieces of meat are used. As such ensure there is plenty of time for guests to keep their skewers submerged in the broth.
Oil-based meat fondues essentially deep-fry the food and can cook various meats and vegetables quite quickly, (anywhere from 25-60 seconds in the oil depending on how well done you like your items). This makes oil-based fondus great when there is a large group of people looking to cook a lot of food.
When preparing oil for meat fondue (regardless of the type of meat you are serving), you should choose an oil with a high smoke point such as canola, or sunflower oil. Palm oil or coconut oil can also be used.
Selecting The Meats
You'll need to make a selection of meats you wish to serve with your fondue. Beef, chicken, lamb, and seafood are all fair game, just make sure the meat is firm enough to stay on a skewer.
When selecting cuts of meat, choose ones that are fairly tender to begin with. Tenderloin and sirloin are ideal when using beef. Pork or lamb loin also works well. Tough cuts such as shoulder or leg cuts with a lot of connective tissues should be avoided.
Prepared items such as mini meatballs and sausages can also be served! Just make sure the meats are all small enough to cook fairly quickly. Cuts of meat should be sliced or cubed into bite-sized pieces of 1 cm thickness or smaller.
Have your meats cut and prepared ahead of time, and then serve them in small bowls or dishes for guests to easily choose between the various kinds of options. Plan for about 7-8 oz (200-300 grams) of uncooked meat per guest.
Selecting Vegetables
Besides the meat, it is also traditional to serve various prepared vegetables that can be cooked in oil or broth. Literally, any kind of vegetable is suitable for a fondue, though firm vegetables that will cook quickly (such as bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, and asparagus) are preferred. Remember it needs to stay on a skewer!
Tougher vegetables such as carrots, and cauliflower, can be served though they should be cut and blanched(par-cooked) ahead of time to reduce their cooking time.
Just as you did with the meat, prepare 2-3 types of vegetables ahead of time by cutting them into bite-sized pieces and serving them in individual bowls.
Condiments & Sauces
Once you've made a decision on the types of meats and vegetables you would like to serve, you'll also want to prepare or provide a selection of condiments, and sauces that can be eaten alongside the cooked food items, while you wait for the food to cook.
The easiest option here is to make a few simple sauces and purchase a couple of gourmet condiments such as Dijon mustard, chutneys, or salsas. Pickled cucumbers, pickled onions, and olives all make a great addition as well!
A few of my favorite homemade condiments to serve include:
Chimichurri - Mix 1 cup chopped fresh parsley, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 small chili, 1 lemon juice with 1 cup olive oil. Find the full recipe here.
Garlic Aioli - Mix 1 cup of mayonnaise with 3 cloves of minced garlic a squeeze of lemon, freshly cracked pepper, and 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard.
Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce - Mix 1 cup of sour cream with a half cup of chopped roasted red pepper, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 teaspoon Siracha (or other hot sauce), and 1 teaspoon chopped chive. Blend it all together in a food processor for a sweet and spicy dip.
Basil Pesto - Blend together 1 cup fresh basil, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, 1 lemon juiced and 2 garlic cloves with ⅓ cup olive oil.
Don't Forget The Sides!
While you did all the hard work planning what your guests can dip into the fondue to cook, what do you do while you wait for the food to cook!? This is where a few simple side dishes come in handy. Make this easy by asking each guest to bring a simple side dish to the party!
A few favorites include:
- A simple Green or Garden Salad
- A Greek Salad
- A Kale Slaw
- A Shawed Brussel Sprouts Salad
- A Charcuterie or cheese platter
- A freshly baked baguette or other loaf of crusty bread
- A pasta salad
Watch the web story: Easy Dinner Party Ideas - German Meat Fondue
Cast Iron vs. Electric Fondue Pot
Here's a quick comparison of cast iron and electric fondue pots to help you decide which is right for you:
Cast Iron Fondue Pot
- Heat source: Requires a separate heat source like a sterno flame or stovetop
- Pros:
- Excellent heat retention for even cooking and keeping fondue warm
- Durable and can last a lifetime with proper care
- Traditional aesthetic
- Can be seasoned for easier cleaning, some may be dishwasher safe depending on the model
- Cons:
- Requires more attention to maintain heat
- Can take longer to preheat
Electric Fondue Pot
- Heat source: Built-in electric heating element
- Pros:
- Convenient and easy to use with adjustable temperature control
- Faster preheating
- Safer as there's no open flame
- Cons:
- Not as good at heat retention as cast iron, so may require adjustments to temperature control
- Less traditional look
- May not be as durable as cast iron
- Often have a non-stick interior for easier cleaning, some dishwasher-safe models available
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities. Cast iron offers a more traditional experience, but electric fondue pots are easier to use and maintain.
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Recipe
German Meat Fondue (Fleischfondue)
Equipment
Ingredients
Fondue Base (Oil or Broth)
- 1 Liter canola oil or other oil with a high smoke point
- 1.5 Liters Beef or Chicken Broth
Meats
- 4 lb Various Cuts of Meat can include beef, chicken, pork, lamb, or seafood
Vegetables
- 1 cup mushrooms cut in half
- 1 cup broccoli cut into florets
- 1 cup bell pepper cut into large squares
- ½ cup red onion cut into cubes
Sauces
- ½ cup dijon mustard
- 1 cup chimichurri see post above for details
- 1 cup garlic aioli see post above for details
- 1 cup spicy red bell pepper sauce see post above for details
- 1 cup basil pesto see post above for details
Instructions
Prepare the Broth or Oil
- If using oil as your fondue base, select one with a high smoke point, and measure out about 1 litre of oil. Heat it to 375F in a large pot on your stove. Pour the hot oil into the fondue dish right before serving and light the flame to keep the oil hot.
- If preparing a broth-based fondue, you can choose to make a stock/broth from scratch or purchase broth from the store. Fortify the broth in a larrge pot with fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary, peppercornss, garlic, and a splash of dry wine. Heat the broth on the stove and pour 1.5 litres of it into the fondue dish right before serving.
Prepare the Meat
- Purchase a tender cut of your favourite type of meat. Beef, chicken, pork, lamb or seafood are all great. Plan on preparing about half a pound (8 oz) of raw meat per guest. Cut the meat into bite-sized slices or cubes no thicker than 1 cm. Reserve the cut meat in small bowls for easy serving and refrigerate until you begin the fondue.
Prepare the Vegetables
- Wash and trim the chosen vegetables as required. Chop the vegetables into small bite-sized pieces. Place into individual little bowls, or display on a serving tray. Refrigerate the raw veggies until serving.
Prepare the Sauces
- Prepare any of the suggested sauces in the guide, and refrigerate until required. Serve in individual little dishes.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Jen Pen
This recipe was delicious and the whole family enjoyed it. It's easy to put together and the side sauces were particularly good. I had the whole family asking for the recipes.
Thank you