What is Raclette?
The name "raclette" (pronounced ruck-lett in English) designates a semi-firm swiss cheese, made from cow's milk, which is usually used for melting. This cheese is round shaped and normally averages 6kgs (13 lb).
However, the term 'Raclette' is also a dish indigenous to parts of Switzerland and the Savoy region of France. The traditional dish can be described as melted cheese, eaten with boiled/roasted potatoes and accompanied by small gherkins, pickled onions and dried meats (like smoked ham).
Legend has it that a local shepherd from the Swiss Alps valleys set up camp for the night and the cheese that was lying around on stones at meal time, accidentally melted near the open fire. Not wanting to waste any of the cheese, the shepherd proceeded to scrape the cheese off the rock and tasted it. He loved it and the idea of melting the cheese quickly spread to other shepherds, farmers and to the rest of the people in the valley. And so the Raclette Cheese became famous for its melting abilities. At that time, the meals were accompanied by gherkins (pickled cucumber) and small onions which were part of the swiss shepherds/farmers regular diet. To drink, they had kirsch (cherry liqueur), herbal tea or Fendant (local white wine).
Modern electrical appliances that are used to prepare the dish are called raclette grills with small pans, known as coupelles, to heat slices of raclette cheese in. Generally the grill is surmounted by a hot plate, granite stone or griddle. The cheese is brought to the table sliced, accompanied by platters of boiled or steamed potatoes, other vegetables and the dried meats.
And although the method of melting the cheese has changed over time, the meal in itself maintains its simplicity and is quite easy to make. This simplicity allows for a lot of 'twists' to be incorporated, making it very adaptable and easy to personalize for different occasions or tastes. Because it makes use of the simplest of ingredients, it's becoming an all-time favorite for parties, dining with friends and even those special 'single couple' nights.
The traditional raclette dish originated in Switzerland, and is therefore one of the country's best loved dishes, but it's also very popular in other parts of Europe such as France and Germany and also gaining an increasing number of fans in the U.S. In turn, this rising of popularity lead to numerous raclette recipes that now include a lot more ingredients than when it was invented, which will keep you trying out new combinations for a long time.
For more information and FREE raclette recipes, try visiting RacletteRecipes.net at http://www.racletterecipes.net.
Questions and Answers
I have to admit that if you've never experienced such a type of dinner, it is hard to imagine how to host a raclette party. Questions such as: "How to start preparing for the dinner?", "What should you do with the food before and after grilling?", "What kinds of different foods are better to use for the raclette grill?", "What role does cheese play in grilling on a raclette?", "What are the little secrets of having a successful raclette dinner party?" These are tips for a guaranteed success....
A raclette party is a great dinner event. It's pretty easy to organize, it's even easier to make (everyone does their own cooking) and it's a fun way of getting your friends together. And in the process you might even cause a 'Wow!' factor in a lot of them... which we all like (a lot).
You've probably read our other article with tips and tricks for hosting the perfect raclette party, but here are some more ideas to make the event even better. Your family and friends won't stop talking about it for days...
There are number of cheeses that can be used in a raclette meal, including of course the cheese that gave the meal it's name. The list below includes the most commonly used cheeses, all of which are now more or less available in every supermarket.
For centuries, seafood has been the top ingredient of eastern and western civilization. People across the world enjoy the delicious seafood and take advantage of its immense health benefits
After you are done with serving the guest for the dinner, and he is quite pleased with the type of the treatment he is dished out, one can easily win over his heart by serving him with the possible delicacy of the night: dessert.
If you're thinking about picking up cooking, but aren't sure what to do and where to start, then you've come to the right place. When it comes to cooking the more knowledge you gain, the more you have to apply towards making a great meal. Knowledge such as contained in this article can help you to become a better cook.
Smells coming from the kitchen can many times evoke childhood memories of grandmas famous apple pie or thanksgiving dinner. Creating lasting memories like these for your little ones today is important. The following cooking tips will help you to savor those old memories as well as cook up some new ones for generations to come.
Is cooking a scary frontier for you? Are you nervous about entering your kitchen, remembering a previous disaster? If this is you, never fear! Plenty of people have trouble with cooking, and all it takes is a little practice and proper education to cook like a pro! Read on to find out how.
You've probably read our other article with tips and tricks for hosting the perfect raclette party, but here are some more ideas to make the event even better. Your family and friends won't stop talking about it for days...
A raclette party is a great dinner event. It's pretty easy to organize, it's even easier to make (everyone does their own cooking) and it's a fun way of getting your friends together. And in the process you might even cause a 'Wow!' factor in a lot of them... which we all like (a lot).
There are number of cheeses that can be used in a raclette meal, including of course the cheese that gave the meal it's name. The list below includes the most commonly used cheeses, all of which are now more or less available in every supermarket.
After you buy or build your rabbit hutch, the first thing that you have to put in your mind is – ‘this is my pets home'. And just like your home, it will need regular maintenance and cleaning to stay safe and comfortable. Unfortunately, your rabbit can't do its own home maintenance and cleaning, and can´t ‘dial-a-repair' either. So it is 100% dependent on you to make sure that the hutch stays in good condition.
Discuss this Article
