Thanks to the development of technology, today the kitchen is replete with all sorts of improvised appliances, including microwave ovens, mixers, blenders, hot grills, slow cookers, double boiler, pressure cooker, electric meat grinders, food processors and much more. The cooking process for the modern housewife is very easy and turned from a daily routine into a hobby. But not everyone can find such an interesting device as a fondue bowl for chocolate. Many do not even have a clue what it is.
What is fondue?
Fondue cup is a pot or elementary bowl on small legs, in the center of which is a heating element (candle, burner or electric heating pad), necessary for cooking fondue. The kit always comes with small plugs for using the device.
What is fondue?
Fondue is a dish that came from Switzerland. Later it began to spread throughout Europe. The French, bordering the country, gave this dish a name, which in Russian means “melt,” which fully explains the essence of the dish.
Cooking is simple and straightforward: in a heat-resistant dish, cheese or chocolate is melted and a variety of toppings are mixed into it: wine, spices, herbs. Diced bread or a sweet biscuit is dipped in a warm mixture and eaten.
Fondue is considered a companion dish that is made during friendly conversations and warm gatherings with loved ones. It is also a great alternative to a smartly set table in case of unexpected arrival of guests.
Appearance story
Fondue, like a dish, appeared almost seven hundred years ago. Legend has it that the shepherds, leaving home for the shepherd, which took them all day, took with them bread, cheese and wine. By evening, when the products began to deteriorate, they decided to cook something warm. Having mixed cheese and wine in a pot on a fire, they began to dunk the hardened bread into a satisfying and palatable mixture. After work, the shepherds shared their experiences with their wives. So in every peasant house people began to cook fondue.
Later, the upper strata of society also learned about the dish from their servants. Replacing the ingredients with better ones, they transformed the dish and, taking overseas guests in their living rooms, put it on the table each time. Fondue soon became popular all over the world. In each country, the ingredients were replaced with more familiar ones, which led to the emergence of new variations in cooking.
Types of dishes
The Italians began to add egg yolks to the fondue, the Dutch began to dip pork and lamb in the cheese mixture instead of bread. In Asian countries, fish, chicken, vegetables and Chinese dumplings were preferred to meat, and instead of cheese, soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil were mixed in a pot. In Burgundy (France), in a popular deposit of the world's best wine, cheese was replaced with olive oil so as not to obscure the taste of wine, giving the dish the name "Burgundy fondue".
In the twentieth century, chocolate fondue, which was called "Tobleron fondue", gained popularity because it was the first to use sauce based on chocolate from this company. Chocolate was absolutely suitable for these purposes: dark, milk, bitter or white. Instead of bread, fruit, cookies, biscuit and marshmallows were strung on forks. In some cases, diced semi-hard cheese was served in cubes. It was customary to drink chocolate fondue with semisweet wine or champagne.
Types of Fonduits
The choice of device depends on many factors. First you need to decide how much you are willing to pay for the fondue. On the shelves of shops you can find a huge variety of options for this interesting kitchen appliance for any wallet.
The principle of these devices is the same: the bowl and under it a heating element. Depending on the material from which the bowl is made, and the type of heating element, the cost of fondue can also vary.
In addition, the price may depend on the degree of versatility of the device. Exist:
- chocolate fondue;
- for cheese or broth;
Cheese Fonduits
Cheese called such kitchen appliances in which you can melt everything except chocolate. Since the melting temperature of cheese is much higher than chocolate and, in addition, the cheese burns much easier, then the bowl of fondue should be stainless steel with non-stick coating. The steel bowl can also be used for gas or induction cookers to more quickly melt the contents.
In addition, cheese fondue can have a cast-iron bowl, being indispensable in the preparation of meat or fish fondue. However, its significant disadvantages are weight and an inherent ability to absorb odors, which, of course, makes it less suitable for preparing a variety of sauces.
Cheese fonduits can have different volumes, but usually manufacturers create bowls with a volume of one and a half to two and a half liters. Either a burner or an electronic heater is required to heat them. Fondue burners work on a special gel or on capsules with fuel, which must be purchased separately. Electric is a very convenient thing, since it heats up much faster and allows you to control the temperature.
Chocolate Fonduits
Such devices are much easier to use and cheaper. Chocolate bowls are usually made from clay or ceramic. Of course, you won’t put them on the stove, but due to the thin walls, chocolate melts much faster than cheese. The volume of chocolate fondue is usually quite less than cheese: from 0.7 to 1.5 liters. And in the form of a heating element, a candle is used, which creates a pleasant, cozy and even romantic atmosphere.
How to use chocolate fondue can be found in the instructions that accompany it. But the principle of operation is understandable without it.
For special gourmets and sweets, they created a rather unusual and interesting type of chocolate fondue cups - a fountain. Everyone probably knows the little bedside fountains, from which, gently gurgling, water flows. The principle of operation of the fondue fountain is the same, only at the base of it is not water, but chocolate, which melts due to electricity. It flows in tiers (usually 2 to 4). It not only makes the food process exciting, but also gives aesthetic pleasure. Such a fondue is usually much more expensive, and not everyone can afford it, but it would certainly be nice to accept such a charm as a gift.
Equipment
When choosing a fondue can also pay attention to its configuration. Any set should include special forks with protective, non-heating handles. The longer these forks are, the more convenient it is to place ingredients on them and dip them into deep bowls.
If we are talking about chocolate fondue dishes, then the pill candles should be included. If you purchase a device with a burner, you need to make sure that you will find oil or gel for burning in the box.
Large fondue sets sometimes include individual plates or bowls, a board or tray for ingredients, and also forks. A recipe book can rarely be found. Such sets can be a wonderful gift.
Cooking
In order to make chocolate fondue, you must carefully choose chocolate. It must be a well-known company, with a cocoa content of more than 75%. In addition, for a delicate consistency, add butter and cream or condensed milk. This dessert can have completely different shades of taste. By adding just a few drops of brandy, brandy or rum, you can achieve piquancy.
For spice, you can send some ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and / or even black pepper there. In general, it all depends on your own preferences.
You can choose white chocolate, then it will be appropriate to serve such fruits as banana, kiwi, melon, grapes, etc. Pear, strawberries, white grapes, banana, raisins, dried apricots and a variety of cookies, biscuit and will be well combined with dark chocolate. marshmallows or marshmallows.
Black Coffee Recipe
To prepare such an interesting dish you will need:
- dark chocolate - 2 tiles;
- ground coffee - 1 tablespoon;
- starch or flour - 1 tbsp. l without a hill;
- cream - 1 cup;
- milk - 1 cup;
- ground cinnamon - 5 g;
- vanilla - 1 pod (or vanillin - 1 sachet);
- butter - 80 g;
- berries, fruits, pastries to taste.
The cooking process is as follows:
- In a pan, pour coffee and pour milk. On low heat, stirring slowly, bring the mixture to a boil and remove from heat. Filter the resulting drink.
- Separately mix sugar, starch (flour), crumbled chocolate and cream, heat the fondue in the fondue bowl to a thick consistency. Add spices, pour in a coffee drink and warm the mixture, stirring for several minutes.
- After that, prepare a side dish, arrange in plates and, dipping in chocolate and coffee fondue, enjoy the taste.
Enjoy your meal!