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Nuts and Twigs » Recipes » Veganuary Recipes

Vegan Chinoise Fondue Recipe

Published: Jan 17, 2024 · Modified: Apr 9, 2025 by Regi Pearce · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

This vegan fondue chinoise, featuring a rich vegetable broth, offers a lighter and healthier alternative to the oil-based method. With a variety of plant-based goodies, it makes for a fun and interactive dish, perfect for gatherings.

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dipping vegan protein into Vegan Chinoise Fondue

I may not be Swiss, but my love for fondue runs deep. When we went vegan, I knew I had to keep this fun, interactive way of eating alive—so I did!

This vegan chinoise fondue skips the heavy oil and beef stock while keeping all the flavor. I keep the broth simple and subtly seasoned to let the natural flavors of the dippers shine while complementing the bold, rich flavors of the sauces for a perfect balance in every bite.

With plant-based dipping options and essential vegan sauces, it’s easy to prep ahead, so you can relax and let guests customize their plates.

If you’re a Fondue fan, check out my Delicious Vegan Fondue Recipes or dive into the Vegan Fondue Guide for more ideas. And for dessert, treat yourself to Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue or the rich and indulgent Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Fondue.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love Recipe
  • What is Fondue Chinoise?
  • Ingredients
  • Dipping Ingredient Suggestions
  • Dipping Sauce Suggestions
  • Variations
  • How To Make Vegan Chinoise Fondue
  • Top Tips
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Equipment
  • Recipe FAQS
  • More Great Recipes For Gatherings
  • Vegan Fondue Chinoise
  • Comments

Why You'll Love Recipe

  • By using plant-based ingredients and opting for a vegetable broth, you're treating yourself to a meal that's not just delicious but also better for you.
  • Like this Easy Vegan Cashew Queso, this vegan broth version is about the experience. It's a great way to bring friends and family together, cooking and chatting around the pot.
  • You can have various ingredients to choose from – from different vegetables to your favorite vegan proteins like Meati steaks, tofu, or one of these 15 Delicious Vegan Sausage Recipes.
  • A rich, flavorful veggie broth paired with delicious vegan dipping sauces makes this dish incredibly satisfying - you won’t miss the meat.
  • It's super adaptable to different tastes and preferences. Don't like tofu? Swap it out. Love mushrooms? Use more.

What is Fondue Chinoise?

Fondue chinoise is a Swiss take on Chinese hot pot, traditionally enjoyed during the holidays.

Inspired by ancient Mongolian and Chinese hot pots, it features a simmering broth at the center of the table where diners cook bite-sized pieces of meat, seafood, and vegetables using fondue forks. The real highlight? A variety of dipping sauces that add bold flavors to every bite.

Transforming this dish into a vegan version is easy—just swap out the meat for tofu, tempeh, or seitan, which soak up the broth’s rich flavors.

The vegan broth is made with vegetable stock, herbs, and spices, and pairs perfectly with vegan-friendly sauces like soy, chili, or creamy dips. Many traditional sauces are already vegan or can be easily adapted—see below for more suggestions!

sauces for Vegan Chinoise Fondu

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make the broth, plus some notes below. See the recipe card for quantities.

egan Chinoise Fondue Ingredients

I use this vegetable-based paste to make the broth extra strong and flavorful. You can also opt for vegan beef bouillon cubes.

Dipping Ingredient Suggestions

Note that some vegetables will need to be blanched or parboiled in order to reduce the cooking time when enjoying the fondue. I also like to brown the 'meat' for a nice visual appeal.

  • mushrooms - Use button, cremini, or shitake
  • firm tofu - I bake it slightly in my air fryer at 350°F for 12 minutes to dry it out.
  • vegan meatballs - brown in a skillet first.
  • pasta - vegan tortellini or ravioli are great choices because they don't require long cooking time, and the 'dipping dagger' can hold onto them well.
  • seitan - Make your own, like this High Protein Lupini Bean Seitan, or buy your favorite. My favorite store-bought seitan brand is Field Roast.
  • baby potatoes - parboiled
  • baby corn
  • cherry tomatoes
  • bell peppers
  • snap peas
  • zucchini - parboiled or blanched
  • artichoke hearts
  • Meati steak
  • Beyond Meat sausages
  • asparagus spears
  • broccoli florets - parboiled or blanched
  • carrots - parboiled
  • cauliflower - parboiled

Dipping Sauce Suggestions

Here are some suggestions for sauces. For more on how to make your own delicious vegan sauces, visit How to Make Homemade Vegan Sauces (Easy + Fast).

  • Vegan Chipotle Aioli
  • spicy mustard
  • Homemade Cherry BBQ Sauce
  • soy sauce
  • Easy Vegan Cashew Cheese Sauce
  • Cuban chimichurri
  • tartar sauce
  • cocktail sauce
  • mustard sauce
  • vegan Béarnaise Sauce
  • curry sauce
  • horseradish sauce
Pouring Vegan Chinoise sauces

Variations

You can add and subtract from the broth. Add dried mushrooms, ginger, leeks, or lemongrass - make it with the flavors you like. It often ends up as a drinkable broth you can have the next day! Here are some ideas:

  • Classic 'Beef' Broth: Vegan beef broth, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and water.
  • Asian-Inspired Broth: Vegan chicken or vegetable stock, ginger, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, and a dash of sesame oil.
  • Herb and Wine Broth: Vegetable broth, white wine, lemon zest, thyme, rosemary, and parsley.

How To Make Vegan Chinoise Fondue

Here is where you'll find pictures of the process. See the recipe card for details.

Have your sauces ready to go. If you are making homemade sauces, they can be made in advance and remember to parboil the necessary ingredients.

Vegan Chinoise in a pot

Step 1: Mix vegetable broth, minced garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and peppercorns in a large pot. Simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes.

bite-sized dippers for Vegan Chinoise Fondue in a pot

Step 2: While the broth simmers, prepare bite-sized pieces of your dipping ingredients.

Pouring Vegan Chinoise into fondue pot

Step 3: Transfer the broth to a fondue pot over a flame, maintaining a gentle simmer.

dipping vegan steak into fondue

Step 4: Skewer and cook the ingredients in the hot broth, typically taking just a few minutes per item. After cooking, dip the items in the various sauces you’ve prepared.

dipping broccoli into the sauces after cooking in fondue

Top Tips

  • Since the broth is the heart of the dish, make sure it's flavorful. A high-quality vegetable broth like Better Than Boullion, enhanced with herbs and garlic, can make a huge difference. You can even use vegan beef broth instead of vegetable broth for a more beefy taste.
  • Offer variety. Different textures and flavors keep it interesting. Double up on any options that you think will be popular.
  • Cut everything into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on platters. This will make it easy for your guests and look great on the table.
  • Keep the broth at a gentle simmer. If it's too hot, it might burn your ingredients or reduce too quickly. If it's too cool, it won’t cook them properly.
  • Offer a variety of dips that will add layers of flavor to your options. Buy ready-made sauces or make your own. They are easy to make in advance, which is convenient.
  • The remaining broth can be enjoyed as a soup or used as a base for making soup.
  • For More Information: If you're curious about fondue etiquette and other tips, visit this Vegan Guide To Fondue.
  • Chinoise fondue always features a selection of fresh vegetables. To ensure even cooking, some of these vegetables and meat substitutes, particularly those with longer cooking times, should be parboiled or precooked before adding to the fondue. Remember, it's really about the experience.

Serving Suggestions

  • End your fondue meal sweetly with this Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Fondue or Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue. Continue dipping with various fruits, vegan marshmallows, and baked goods.

Equipment

Fondue chinoise pots are different from cheese fondue pots.

Fondue chinoise involves cooking meat, fish, and vegetables in a hot broth, so the pot is typically larger and deeper, designed to handle a large amount of liquid, and suitable for simmering. These pots are often made of stainless steel to manage the high heat required for the broth.

In contrast, cheese fondue pots are generally smaller and shallower, designed for melting and keeping cheese warm at a lower temperature, and are often made of ceramic or cast iron.

Each type of pot is specialized for its specific fondue style to ensure the best cooking experience, but don't worry if you don't have a 'special' chinoise pot. I use my regular small fondue pot with no problems. My current pot is old, and I have no link, but here is Amazon's current recommended fondue pot for you to look at.

Note: If you have a large pot, however, you may need to adjust the quantities of this recipe to fit your pot. You should have about ¾ of the pot full of broth for people to comfortably cook their food.

Recipe FAQS

What kind of broth should I use for the fondue?

This is a great question because I have used a variety. I find that the best results come when I use a vegetable-based paste and add water. This makes a super flavorful broth, and I can control the flavor intensity by adding more or less paste.

Is vegan Fondue Chinoise healthy?

Yes, this one is. For the healthiest options, use a variety of plant-based dipping ingredients, like fresh vegetables.

Can this fondue be prepared in advance?

You can prepare the broth, dipping ingredients, and sauces all beforehand.

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Got a minute? Dive into the comments and rate this Vegan Chinoise Fondue Recipe to let me know how it turned out. Was it a hit? Any twists you added? I want to know if my directions were any good. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.

dipping a piece of vegan steak into vegan chinoise fondue

Vegan Fondue Chinoise

Regi Pearce
This Vegan Fondue Chinoise is delicious and an excellent way to enjoy a social and interactive meal with friends and family. The variety of textures and flavors from the dipping ingredients and sauces ensures there's something for everyone to enjoy. 
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course main course
Cuisine Swiss, Vegan
Servings 6 cups
Calories 13 kcal

Equipment

  • Fondue Pot

Ingredients
  

For the Fondue

  • 4 - 6 cups vegetable broth use vegetable-base paste for better flavor
  • 3 cloves garlic sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3-4 sprigs thyme
  • 1 teaspoon peppercorns
  • ½ teaspoon salt optional

Dipping Option Suggestions

  • mushrooms: shitake, white, or cremini; whole or halved
  • firm tofu cut into cubes and baked (see notes)
  • seitan cut into bite-sized pieces
  • vegan ravioli or tortellini
  • Beyond Meat sausages browned in a skillet
  • Meati steak
  • baby potatoes parboiled
  • cherry tomatoes
  • baby corn
  • bell peppers cut into large pieces
  • artichoke hearts
  • vegan meatballs browned in a skillet first for a nice visual appeal
  • asparagus spears
  • snap peas
  • broccoli florets parboiled or blanched
  • cauliflower parboiled or blanched
  • carrots blanched

For the Dipping Sauces

  • vegan chipotle aioli
  • vegan aioli
  • spicy mustard
  • barbecue sauce
  • soy sauce
  • cashew cheese sauce
  • Cuban chimichurri
  • vegan tartar sauce
  • cocktail sauce
  • mustard sauce
  • vegan Béarnaise Sauce
  • curry sauce
  • horseradish sauce
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Combine Broth Ingredients: In a large pot, combine the vegetable broth, garlic, bay leaves, fresh thyme, and peppercorns. Bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
  • Prepare Dippers: While the broth is simmering, prepare your dipping ingredients. Cut into manageable, bite-sized pieces.
  • Transfer: Once the broth is ready, carefully transfer it to a fondue pot set over a flame. Keep it at a gentle simmer.
  • Dip: Each guest can skewer their choice of dipping ingredients and cook them in the hot broth until done to their liking. It's usually a matter of a few minutes per item. After cooking, dip the items in the various sauces you’ve prepared.

Notes

The longer-to-cook vegetables should be parboiled or blanched to reduce cooking time when enjoying the fondue. I like to brown some of the vegan 'meat' for a nice visual appeal.
I use a small cheese fondue pot for this recipe. If you have a larger pot, you may need to increase the amount of broth. Generally, aim for about ⅔ or ¾ of the pot full of broth. Adjust the remaining ingredients as needed.
Monitor the broth level and temperature throughout your meal. Add more veggie broth or adjust the heat as necessary. Have extra broth available in case your pot gets low.
I use this vegetable-based paste to make the broth extra strong and flavorful. You can also opt for vegan beef bouillon cubes. Add several cubes for extra flavor.
If you are using the Meati steak or chicken, I like to cook them first, as recommended on the packaging, then I slice them up into bite-sized cubes.
Feel free to use any herb of your choice in addition to, or as a replacement for, thyme. Fresh rosemary, for instance, is an excellent alternative.
See the post for variations of the broth and more tips.
If serving this to adults, you can add a splash of white wine or a shot of cognac to the broth right before serving.
When everyone is done cooking, the broth can be enjoyed as a soup or used as a base for making soup. For example, add some noodles to it for a delicious noodle soup.
I bake the cubed tofu in the air fryer for 12 minutes at 350°F to dry it and get slightly golden.
The nutritional information is only an estimate and only includes the broth since the dipping options and sauces vary. 

Nutrition

Calories: 13kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.04g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 821mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Keywords game day, gatherings, healthy, holidays
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About Regi Pearce

Hello! I am Regi, the creator of Nuts & Twigs. I debunk the myths that vegan food is all nuts and twigs and offer plant-based scrumptiousness that goes far beyond that "rabbit food" stereotype. So grab your fork and put on your stretchy pants, 'cause you're gonna want seconds.

Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Rene says

    January 19, 2024 at 8:46 pm

    5 stars
    Oh wow, I stumbled upon this Chinoise fondue recipe and it's a total game-changer for my dinner plans! The preparation was straightforward and fuss-free, which I absolutely loved. It's one of those meals that feels fancy but is surprisingly easy to whip up. Perfect for when I want to have a fun dinner with friends without spending hours in the kitchen.

    You can dunk in pretty much anything that catches your fancy. I tried a mix of veggies and some bread, and let me tell you, each bite was a delightful surprise. The flavors are rich and comforting, exactly what you need for a cozy evening. It's definitely a keeper in my recipe book for those nights when I want something a little different!

    Reply
    • Regi Pearce says

      January 19, 2024 at 8:51 pm

      I'm thrilled to hear that the recipe hit the spot for your dinner plans! It's always a win when you find something that's both fancy-feeling and easy to make. You mentioning that this recipe is a keeper for those cozy evenings is the cherry on top. Thank you!

      Reply

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Regina Pearce

I'm Regi.

Head nut, chief twig, and creator of Nuts & Twigs. My husband, Rob, and I live in Colorado. Here, you can expect delicious vegan recipes that make you realize that a life without cheese is not only possible but also worth living.

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dipping a piece of vegan steak into vegan chinoise fondue

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