Traditional Swiss Raclette is probably the most well-known Swiss recipe out there! With the goal of helping you discover food from other cultures, I am sharing traditional recipes from all over the world!
This time’s feature: traditional Swiss Raclette!
In this international recipe feature, my travel blogging friend Jan shares with us the tastiest Swiss Raclette recipe you will find online!
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Hi, I’m Jan!
I’m American but have been living in Switzerland for 27 years. I’ve learned a lot about Swiss food over the years and I love any kind of cheese, especially the cheese dish called ‘raclette’.
This Swiss specialty dates back to the 1300s and was originally eaten by peasants in the Alpine mountain regions of Switzerland.
How to cook raclette
There are two ways to cook raclette. The traditional way to prepare a raclette is with a half-moon-shaped round wheel of cheese (which can weigh up to 6kg/13lbs) and a large grill/oven device. The grill melts the top layer of cheese and then you scrape off the cheese and eat it with small firm boiled potatoes.
If you order raclette in a restaurant, this is the way they normally serve it. You can pay for each plate of potatoes and cheese or sometimes they will have an ‘all you can eat’ deal (by the way, this is called ‘a gogo‘ in this country).
The easier way to prepare raclette is to use an electric table-top grill, called a ‘raclonette’. These grills usually have six or eight trays where each person puts a cheese slice on a small square-shaped skillet pan.
The broiler grill melts the cheese slice and then you scrape it onto your plate with a wooden spatula. This method is much easier and is fun for dinners with friends or family!
Everyone prepares their own raclette according to their preference!
The ingredients you need
For 4 persons you need:
- 600-800g (20-28 oz) raclette cheese
- 16-20 (small) potatoes
- a jar of pickles
- a jar of baby onions
- raclette spice mix
- anything else you like!
In the Swiss grocery stores, they sell the raclette type of cheese in a small rectangular block or even already sliced (this option is more expensive).
Switzerland also sells special ‘raclette potatoes’ that are small and tasty. The condiments that are usually served with raclette are small pickles and baby round onions. There is also a specific raclette spice that you can buy and add to your salt and pepper!
Other than these standard items, you can get as creative as you want by adding bacon, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, or just about anything!
What to drink with your Swiss Raclette
Another tradition when eating raclette is to serve white wine (we use the local Fendant) or hot tea. They say that this helps you digest better the heavy cheese.
The last thing you want to do is to drink water when you are eating raclette cheese as it could cause the cheese to harden in your stomach and give you indigestion pain… no fun!
The result!
If you haven’t tried raclette, you will be surprised how delicious it is! Even in other parts of the world, you can find raclette cheese if you go to a specialty cheese shop. If you can’t find one of the table-top grills, you could always melt the cheese on boiled potatoes in the oven to obtain the same taste.
I hope you can enjoy this Swiss meal as much as I have!
Did you enjoy it?
I absolutely love Raclette myself! It’s traditionally Swiss but you can find it everywhere in Belgium as well, especially around Christmas!
Did you like Jan’s Swiss Raclette recipe? You can find her writing about her adventures on her travel blog Jan Adventures or here on Instagram!
Do you love Raclette? I personally think it tastes best with some fine ‘charcuterie’. Let me know how you like yours in the comments!
Interested in submitting an international recipe yourself? Send your recipe idea to emmasroadmap@gmail.com and get featured on my blog!
PS: don’t forget to check out my other recipes!
16 thoughts on “A Traditional Swiss Raclette Recipe!”
I love raclette, will give this version a go for sure. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Bon appetit!
Hi Veggie Queen, I’m glad you enjoyed my article and hope you enjoy trying this special vegetarian dish!
Looks delicious! Never had a raclette but I can’t wait to try!
Oh yes, melted cheese it the best!
Nothing like a good Raclette melted over potatoes! Maybe I need to splurge on a grill.
I totally agree 😉
That sounds delicious!
It really is!
Nice article. It’s weird how raclette tastes so good but smells so bad! 😂
Hahaha, depends on the cheese I think!
Yes, it does smell strong and stinks the house out for days! That is why Swiss people sometimes have a closed-in room in their basement (called a Carnotzet) where they cook and eat the raclette and fondue meals. Interesting, huh?
I think the smell of the cheese cooking makes the meal so authentic and I think I,m back in Switzerland……baby potatoes, baby pickled onions and baby pickled gherkins my favorite meal……
Mine too! I really love the recipe, it’s perfect for a winter day ;).
What about the Viande de Grison (air dried beef)?
this food is very delicious thank you for making this delicious recipe