Raclette is a traditional Swiss dish made of melted cheese served with boiled potatoes, pickles, and cured meats. Learn how to make raclette at home for a fun and cheesy dinner.
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.
Video On How To Have Raclette At Home:
What Kind Of Cheese Is Raclette?
Raclette is a semihard cheese made from cow’s milk. It’s originally from Switzerland, but is also made in France and the US.
Raclette cheese is the traditional choice and can sometimes be found in slices or small wedges in grocery stores. If you can’t find it you can use another kind of Swiss cheese, like Emmental or gruyere. And even Cheddar will do in a pinch, you just need a good cheese that melts nicely.
If you’re not in a hurry and want a traditional raclette party with a giant Swiss raclette wheel, you can order the cheese online.
Do I Need Special Equipment To Make Raclette?
In Swiss restaurants, raclette is made using a big machine that you put a massive half round of cheese onto. This machine heats one side of the cheese and then you scrape the melty bits off onto the diner’s plate.
For raclette at home, some people opt for a table top raclette grill like this. This allows everyone to melt cheese as needed that can be served at the table.
However, I’ve dispensed with the need for any special equipment. I do mine under the broiler in a cast iron skillet. Instructions are in the recipe below.
What Else Is Served With Raclette?
Raclette is traditionally served with boiled or steamed potatoes and various charcuteries. Try small white potatoes, Yukon gold, or fingerling varieties. Some pickled items that you buy at the store are great, like cornichons or gherkins, olives, and pickled onions. Along with cured meats like ham, salami, or prosciutto that are also usual accompaniments.
A modern raclette dinner may also include cooking sausages or veggies on top of the grill if you are cooking at the table instead of under the broiler. You could also keep it simple with a salad served alongside. A dry white wine or light beer works well to pair with the raclette cheese if you need a beverage for your raclette dinner party.
Serving Raclette Dinner
Raclette is a fun and interactive dinner, like fondue. Though instead of dipping food into melted cheese, you’re pouring melty cheese on top. You cook a bit of the cheese at a time and then share it as you pass the meats and pickled items between you.
What I like to do is to put some potatoes and meats onto my plate, then scrape the melted cheese over top of it all. The pickled foods are on the side to munch on in between since they cut the richness of everything else really well.
I hope you love having a raclette meal at home. If you’re looking for more cheesy goodness, try my Beer Cheese dip. It’s perfect to dip bread in. Enjoy!
Podcast Episode: Making Raclette
Listen to learn how to make this recipe, along with some great tips from Christine, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
PrintRaclette Instructions
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 2–4 servings 1x
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Swiss
DESCRIPTION
Raclette is a traditional Swiss dish made of melted cheese served with boiled potatoes, pickles, and cured meats. Learn how to make raclette at home for a fun and cheesy dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. of small white potatoes
- Salt
- 1 small jar of cornichon or gherkins and other pickled items like artichokes, small onions, etc.
- 1 lb. cured meats like ham, prosciutto, salami
- Vegetable oil
- 1/2 lb. raclette cheese (you can use gruyere or emmentaler if you can’t get raclette)
Instructions
- Preheat your broiler.
- Put the potatoes in a large pot and just cover them with cold water.
- Add a tablespoon of salt. Put them over high heat uncovered until the water boils. Reduce heat to low and partially cover allowing it to simmer until the potatoes are just fork tender (the amount of time depends on the size of your potatoes but can be anywhere from 5-10 minutes).
- Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot and put the cover on the pot to keep them warm. Set the covered pot of potatoes on the table.
- Meanwhile, set out your cornichons and other pickled items and your meats on a serving tray. Put them on the table.
- Drizzle a bit of vegetable oil into a cast iron skillet. Rub it around with some kitchen towel.
- Cut two ¼” slices from the cheese. Put the slices in a single layer in the skillet.
- Put the skillet about 8 inches from the broiler elements. Cook until it is melted and bubbling and just starting to brown at the edges.
- While the cheese is cooking, serve some potatoes, meats, and pickles onto your plates. When the cheese is ready, use a spatula to slide it over the potatoes.
- Once you’ve eaten a bit and are ready, slice some more cheese and put it under the broiler.
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This post originally appeared in February 2013. It was revised and republished in September 2022.