The Carbonara Fondue

Ingredients

When using the Evolution Mini, reduce the amount of ingredients by about one-third.

FOR THE BACON AND PARMESAN MEATBALLS:

• 450 g (1 lb) minced chicken
• 250 ml (1 cup) grated Parmesan cheese
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) plain breadcrumbs
• 60 ml (1/4 cup) chopped spring onions
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

FOR THE CREAMY PARMESAN AND BACON BROTH:

• 225 g (1/2 lb) lardons
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) minced dry shallots
• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) minced garlic
• 125 ml (1/2 cup) white wine
• 1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock
• 2 litres (8 cups) 15% cooking cream
• 500 ml (2 cups) grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

SUGGESTED DIPPING INGREDIENTS:

• Leek, cut into rings
• Broccoli, cut into florets
• Roasted Parisian potatoes
• Green beans
• Fresh fettuccine
• Sliced cremini mushrooms
• Baby spinach
• Cauliflower, cut into florets and roasted
• Medium shrimps (size 31/40), raw and peeled
• Pine nuts
• Pancetta
• Parmesan cheese

Preparation

• Preheat the oven to 205°C (400°F).
• Mix the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into 25 to 30 small meatballs, using about 20 ml (4 tsp.) of mixture for each.
• Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the centre of the meatballs is no longer pink. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, in a large pan heated over medium heat, cook the lardons for 5 to 7 minutes until golden and crisp. Drain off the excess fat, leaving about 15 ml (1 tbsp.) in the pan.
• Add the shallots and garlic to the pan. Continue cooking for 1 minute.
• Add the white wine. Bring to a boil, then simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated.
• Add the cream and chicken stock. Bring back to a boil, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes over medium heat, until about a quarter of the liquid has evaporated. If desired, strain the broth through a sieve.
• Add the Parmesan and stir until melted. Taste the broth and season to taste with salt and pepper. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• Pour the required amount of broth into the Fondussimo set. Reserve the rest of the broth to add some during the meal.
• Arrange the meatballs and dipping ingredients in a tableware set.
• Bon appétit!

A few tips

• Since the chicken meatballs in this recipe are precooked, we recommend that you don’t leave them in the broth for too long – just enough to reheat them and give them a nice Parmesan flavour! If you’d like to get away from the classic chicken-carbonara combo, you can also try this recipe with beef or pork meatballs!
• As mentioned in the introduction, the best way to enjoy this recipe is to make your own small plates of pasta carbonara! Top your pasta, meat and cooked veggies with a generous measure of creamy broth – you won’t regret it!
• If you want to avoid the 125 ml (1/2 cup) of white wine in this recipe, simply use ¼ cup of water and ¼ cup of white vinegar, with a pinch of sugar if desired!
• Have some broth left over after the meal? We won’t cause any drama with this idea: make some pasta carbonara! If necessary, thicken the broth in a saucepan to achieve the perfect consistency, and season to taste!