Whenever anyone asks me, “What’s your favorite kind of Cheese?” I automatically answer, “The melted kind.” And yes, I have the kind of family that loves cheese, eats loads of cheese, and spends a lot of time talking about cheese. No wonder there were loud CHEERS when I brought the Raclette Grill home. Where has this lovely dish been my whole life? Granted, it’s Swiss, but the Germans have wholeheartedly adopted the tradition, especially on New Year’s Eve. This melted cheese dish is excellent for a delightful and memorable dinner party and makes the family happy. All this with minimal cooking and preparation time! It’s a dream come true! So, what is Raclette Cheese, and what is a Raclette machine? Let me explain why you need to try this cheesy, gooey, and amazingly delicious tradition.
What is Raclette Cheese?
Raclette is a type of cheese and the device used to make it.
Raclette Cheese is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese from the Alps. According to one of my kids and my nose, it’s stinky cheese (not as stinky as some, but you will definitely smell it). When melted, it goes all creamy and gooey.
And no, it’s not Fondue; Raclette pre-dates Fondue by a few hundred years. The original Raclette, still found all over Switzerland and in many German Christmas Markets, takes a half wheel of the cheese and clamps it into a holder under a heat source. The heat melts the cheese. The melted cheese is scraped off the wheel and onto whatever you want to be smothered in cheese (Raclette means “to scrape”). Little boiled potatoes are traditional, as are veggies, bread, Aufschnitt, and mushrooms.
(I can see some of you thinking, ah, like Fondue! Well, no. Fondue is a communal pot that holds a sauce of melted cheese, wine, and seasonings that everyone around the table DIPS bread or other things into. Raclette lets you have your own plate, and the cheese goes on top.)
These days, I find Raclette Cheese in my local stores (Sprouts and Trader Joe’s), but you can order slices or whole Raclette cheese online.
Can’t find Raclette Cheese? (And you don’t want to wait for your order?) If you are using a Tabletop Raclette Machine, you can go ahead and use an Emmentaler or other Swiss Cheese. (Shhhhh… We’ve even substituted Cheddar—just don’t tell the Swiss!)
Raclette Grill
Sure, the half-wheel of Raclette cheese with a giant heating element is very impressive, but it’s not practical for home use, primarily because of storage. Thankfully, there are little tabletop Raclette Grills that work like a dream and are super fun! Who doesn’t love cooking their own meal at the table?
They work like this…
On top is a grill for cooking or heating up meats or veggies. Under the grill is a shelf for little pans called coupelles that are heated from above. Into the pans goes your cheese. Slide it under the grill, and watch it go bubbly.
When it’s sufficiently melted, you can pour the cheese onto potatoes, meats (like the ones you grilled), or veggies.
Or you can eat the cheese straight, like my daughter does.
The Raclette for One Grill would be a great gift for any cheese lover…
Where to Buy Raclette Cheese
This packet of Raclette slices makes it so easy, you don’t even need a knife. I pick up slices in my grocery store… but you can also order them here…
Mifroma Raclette Slices, 7oz.
EMMI Sliced Swiss Raclette, 7 OZGrand Suisse Raclette Cuts, 6 oz, 12 Pack
Or buy larger portions and slice as needed. With so many different styles and flavors, you can set out an assortment for people to try.
igourmet Raclette Suisse Classique Cheese – 5lb Half Wheel (5 pound)Raw Milk Raclette Cheese – 2.5 Pounds Cut (Quarter Wheel) – 100% made in USARaclette Suisse Classique Cheese – Whole Wheel (14 pound)Switzerland Swiss Raclette Half Wheel, 6 LBFrench Raclette (half wheel) – 6-7 PoundsRaw Milk Raclette Cheese – 5 Pounds Cut (Half Wheel) – 100% made in USAigourmet French Raclette Cheese – 6.lb Cut (Half Wheel) 6 PoundFrench Raclette (quarter wheel) – 3-4 PoundsSwiss Raclette Quarter Wheel (Approximately 2.5-3 lbs)French Raclette Cheese, 9 lb. Wheel, Semi-Firm Cow’s Milk, Perfect for Melting and Fondue
Raclette Party Kits
These kits are a one-stop shop for your Raclette Party. They also make a great gift!
Raclette Tabletop Grill
This smaller Raclette Grill is perfect for four people.
I use this one… it has a grill and a stone on top, and 8 little trays to melt the cheese. Perfect for parties or family gatherings (and my son borrows it a LOT when he has friends over). It was reasonably priced, and packs away in its box.
There are a lot of Tabletop Raclette Grills… there are many to choose from!
I like the ones that have a griddle across the whole top. Our granite slab is nice for some more delicate veggies, but I think the griddle would be more practical. The round one is great for smaller tables.
Indoor Grill, CUSIMAX Raclette Table Grill, 1500W Electric Grill Korean BBQ Grill with 2 in 1 Reversible Non-stick Plate/Wooden Base, Party Grill with 8 Trays & Wooden Spatulas, New ModelSwissMar Matterhorn Oval Raclette Table Grill Indoor w/ Wood Base – Reversible Cast Aluminum Non-Stick Grill Plate – Tabletop BBQ, Perfect for Parties & Family Bonding – 8-PersonGreenLife Raclette Indoor Tabletop Grill, Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, 2-in-1 Grill and Griddle, 8 Square Nonstick Pans, Adjustable Temperature Control, Easy Indicator Light, PFAS-Free, TurquoiseSwissmar Geneva Raclette Grill with Reversible Cast Aluminum Grill Top – Perfect for outdoor & Indoor Electric Raclette Grill & Griller – Barbeque Bonding – 8-PersonCUSIMAX Raclette Grill Electric Grill Table Portable 2 in 1 Korean BBQ Grill Indoor & Cheese Raclette, Reversible Non-stick plate, Crepe Maker with Adjustable temperature control and 8 Paddles
CHEEZEPALOOZA!
Fondue and Raclette in one! With 12 paddles for grilling cheese, this is the perfect setup for a party!
Or go ALL OUT with this top of the line WMF model
And of course… the Raclette Wheel Holder
These are generally sold for commercial use. But if you REALLY LIKE CHEESE, why not?
YUEWO Raclette Cheese Melter Commercial Electric Raclette Machine Swiss Dish Maker Demi Melting Warmer for Half Nacho Cheese Wheel Sliced Cheese Adjustable AngleCommercial Cheese Melter Machine,Adjustable 900W Electric Raclette Grill for Restaurant,Rapid Heating Raclette Melting Machine
What to Serve with Raclette
Set the Raclette Grill in the middle of the table. Surround it with bowls of different options for people to choose from. Try for a balance of fresh veggies and fruits, pickled veggies, meat (if you want it), and of course, the potatoes. Truly, there are not hard and fast rules… if you like it covered in cheese, you can serve it.
Make sure everyone has a plate and a wooden scraper to get the cheese out of the pan without scratching it… and let it happen.
Traditionally, Raclette is served with tiny boiled potatoes.
Boil potatoes in salted water until they can be easily pierced with a knife. Drain and keep them warm by wrapping them up in a tea towel.
Also-
Sliced ham or Schinken
Salami
Cornichons (little Pickles)
Pickled veggies
Grill vegetables on the top surface, then cover with cheese-
I like to pre season the vegetables before setting them to the table.
Asparagus
Mushrooms
Mini-Bell Pepper rings
Zucchini
We also grilled slices of sausage
Put food INTO the pan with the Cheese to grill
Chives and Green Onions
Mushrooms
Chopped bits of Ham
Small shrimps
Fruits work as well- Place them on the grill top, or just cook them in the pan with the cheese.
Figs
Pear Slices
Apple Slices
And we’ve seasoned and pre-cooked some veggies to serve along side the Raclette
Crispy Bussels Sprouts
Mushrooms in Wine
I like to warm and slice a baguette to go along with the Raclette.
Serve with a crisp white wine! (But my people seem to prefer beer)
There are LOADS of recipe books and recipe ideas available!
Swissmar Raclette Recipes CookbookRacletteDie leckersten Raclette Rezepte: Diese Raclette-Gerichte muss jeder mal probiert haben! (German Edition)
A week ago or so you published a recipe for SCHWEINE HAXE MIT SAUERKRAUT. Can’t find it. Could You publish it again on FB or send it to my e-mail address????
Oh boy, that wasn’t me… I’ll keep an eye out
We can’t justify a raclette. Grill for once a year. I just melt the cheese in the microwave at a lower power.
true…. I can understand not wanting another appliance in the pantry for once a year. In our home we use it more often. I find that it works for different cheeses.
Is raclette Swiss gruyère cheese?
Similar… both come from the Alpine region… but raclette is softer.