Raclette is an Alpine cow’s milk cheese, available in specialty stores and markets that carry a good selection of European cheese, and is relatively expensive. It has a firm, smooth, and creamy texture, is ivory-pale yellow in color with small irregular holes, and has an edible orange-brown rind.
What is a raclette dish?
Dish. Raclette is a dish native to parts of Switzerland. The raclette cheese round is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped onto diners’ plates. In at least one traditional Geneva restaurant the solid cheese is impaled on a spike next to the fire so that it drips.
What do I need for a raclette dinner?
The most common ingredients for a raclette party are various cheeses (see more descriptions on cheeses below), boiled potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, bread, pickled gherkins, cured meat, bacon, and much more. Nothing that you can’t find in a common supermarket.
What does raclette taste like?
How does raclette taste? This fantastic cow’s milk cheese has a wonderful creamy texture and a salty, slightly sweet, slightly nutty flavor not unlike Gruyere. It’s fairly aromatic and becomes more pungent the longer the cheese wheel is aged.
What kind of cheese is raclette? – Related Questions
Do you eat the rind on raclette?
The crust of the raclette cheese can usually be eaten without any problems. Only in a few cases, the raclette cheese still has a red-brownish, soft layer, which should be scraped off before the meal. The cleaned, more or less crispy rind that forms on the edges of the cheese after a few raclettes is a delicacy.
Can you eat raclette raw?
Raclette cheese is a semi-hard cheese which is thickly sliced (less than 1 cm) and used for melting and grilling; it is not intended to be eaten raw. The mild varieties have a characteristic pungency, so it is definitely a dish for cheese-lovers only.
Does raclette taste bitter?
Raclette cheese is slightly bitter and salty and is perfect for cooking. Because of its quality, this cheese is very versatile and will complete any dish with its creamy texture.
What is raclette cheese similar to?
Raclette Cheese is from Switzerland and is similar in texture and flavor to Gruyere cheese. This semi-hard cow’s milk cheese is the traditional use for raclette is for use in a dish by the same name.
How is raclette different from fondue?
Cheese fondue is cheese (or several different cheeses) melted in a pot with white wine and eaten with bread. With raclette, the usual custom is to take a block of cheese, grill it and then scrape off the melted, or slightly crispy, part. Raclette offers slightly more freedom to your meal.
When should you eat raclette?
Raclette de Savoie PGI cheese is best consumed from November to April. However, Raclette cheese purists say that Raclette cheese can be eaten all year round, melted, or cold. Most French people eat it during the autumn and winter season.
What should you not drink with raclette?
Another rule: no water (or no drinks besides wine, beer or hot tea while eating raclette –and for two hours afterward).
What meat goes with raclette?
Marinated meats or seafood
- shrimp marinated in a drizzle of olive oil, with chopped garlic and parsley.
- sausages cooked and cut into slices: Italian, chorizo, Toulouse and herbs.
- chicken or steak strips.
- fondue meat (which has the advantage of cooking quickly)
- smoked salmon.
What drinks to serve with raclette?
The Swiss will tell you Raclette is best paired with a dry white wine such as a Roussette from Savoie, in France. We like to be less predictable, so we would suggest Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris, both with refreshing acid to complement the rich cheese.
How do the Swiss eat raclette?
Raclette is a type of cheese from Switzerland. Raclette is also the name of the Swiss dish that traditionally involved taking a big chunk of raclette cheese and melting the side of it near a fire. You would then scrape the melted cheese onto some bread or boiled potatoes.
Can you eat raclette cheese with crackers?
Place slices of Swiss cheese, emmental or gruyere under the Severin Raclette grill until it’s bubbling and delicious. Tip out over boiled potatoes, crusty loaves or crackers and you’ll be in melted cheese heaven. The versatility of a raclette is endless.
How do you eat raclette at home?
To heat the raclette, use a raclette machine, skillet, or small baking dish. Slice the raclette, place it in your vessel of choice, and heat it until the cheese is bubbly and gooey. Pour the melted cheese over the personalized plate and enjoy.
How do you melt raclette without a grill?
How to prepare raclette without a grill
- peel and cut the potatoes into slices just as you would for a potato gratin.
- place in a rimmed dish and microwave in the oven for 10 minutes.
- season and place the raclette cheese on top.
- serve with the cured meats once the cheese has melted.
How do you melt raclette without a machine?
Put a heavy 10-in. cast-iron or enameled cast-iron frying pan in oven to warm 5 minutes (cast iron holds heat well and will keep cheese oozy longer). Add raclette to pan and cook until cheese is hot and evenly melted, 5 minutes.
