Raclette is not just a dish, but a party event! Learn how to make raclette where the guests and raclette are the stars of the evening. Originating in Switzerland this wonderful party dish is fantastic for Christmas or any group gathering! Guests will love an evening of conversation while mixing and matching meats, chicken, cheeses and vegetables with bread and of course the second star is the cheese!
Melting cheeses are key to an enjoyable raclette dinner party. Simply choose your or your guests’ favorite melting cheeses as they enjoy the raclette experience for any holiday. While raclettes generally have 8 trays for individual cheese melting a party is not limited to 8; there can be less or more easily, raclette is very flexible.
What is Raclette?
The original raclette is when cheese is melted by an open fire and then scraped onto plates filled with meats, vegetables, potatoes and the not to be missed gherkins. More on gherkins later!
Actually raclette is two things: a dish and a cheese. Raclette comes from the “racler” which means to scrape. And raclette is a cheese of course frequently used in raclette. Full disclaimer in that raclette cheese is strong so while raclette cheese can be included in the selection of cheeses it will more than likely be the strongest cheese.
The modern raclette with an electric grill is called raclonette in Switzerland. In the United States raclette is a table top grill with 3-8 trays for heating the cheese. Diners can mix and match the ingredients to personalize their own raclette as the festive dinner progresses.
How to Make Raclette Dinner
Ingredients
Marinated Chicken, shrimp or beef, bite sized and thinly sliced or cut
Variety of Melting Cheeses: Havarti, White cheddar, Raclette, Gruyere
Sliced French baguette, one minimum
Variety of peppers, include jalapeno if desired
Sliced new potatoes
Vegetables (any that grill well) Thick slices of zucchini, asparagus, sliced colorful peppers, mini corn cobs, medium thick onions, sliced mushrooms, small tomatoes
Mini gherkins (sweet or dill), use both!
Marinating sauce for the meat or fish
Fondue Sticks optional (see dessert)
Raclette – granite or no stick
How To Make Raclette Dinner
Directions
- Prep! here’s the rub with raclette, the good news is much of the prep can be done the day before, that bad news is Raclette requires lots of prep, slicing, dicing and preparing. But again, good new! the vast majority of everything about a raclette party is that everything can be done the day or night prior which leaves you to be able to enjoy your guests while actually sitting with your guests!
- Prep all the vegetables and all meats which can be marinated the night before the party. Depending upon the fish and whether it is fresh or frozen, plan on prepping or marinating the fish the day of the party.
- The vegetables, side dishes and dips can also be plated the night before the party and tightly wrapped and refrigerated.
- Set the table for the party the night before.
- The day of the raclette – do any last minute decorations or table prep. Bread should be cut and prepped the day of the party to ensure freshness.
- Prior to seating the guests, about 10 minutes before warm up the raclette grill according to manufacture instructions.
- Pre heat the grill. This is particularly key to a granite grill. The granite takes longer to warm up, but once it warms up it can be HOT, so be prepared to turn the temperature down.
- The non stick grills are similar to electric burners in that the heat tends to be more even over time. Either way don’t skimp on the pre heating.
- Let the fun begin! First time raclette guests will need a bit of instruction. What is important is that any combo of food goes! This gives guests the opportunity to combine the meats, breads, cheeses and vegetables.
- Don’t forget the pickle talk! And this will sound odd to most guest and not a combination immediately thought of, but the pickle and cheese is a must.
- The very yummy combo is a crowd pleaser and I haven’t seen a guest, even one with understandable trepidation about combining a pickle and cheese, to not love it! Fair warning, this does not apply to guests who don’t like pickles, they can slide!
- Raclette Tip: Do a run through before your first party.
- Second Raclette Tip: Potatoes take longer to grill than most of the other raclette friendly vegetables. Parboil the potatoes or use canned potatoes. (promise the guests will not care!)
What To Serve With Raclette?
While raclette is a meal on its’ own which includes vegetables I usually serve a side salad, family style at the table. Side dishes with rice or noodles also pair well with most raclette dinners. If using a theme for the Raclette party use the traditional side dish for the theme.
Raclette also needs dessert, what meal does not! While the grill is cooling down and the plates are removed get your guests ready for dessert. A raclette meal is an event with the conversation flowing and food grilling which means the time of the meal will be much longer (and that is the intent) than a dinner. Guests will be ready for dessert!
Make it easy and chose a make ahead dessert of your choice. A dessert which is easily served and plated along with tea, coffee and after dinner drinks if desired.
But one fun!!! dessert right in the lane of raclette is fondue as dessert. Warm up the fondue pot and bring out the platters of dippers for the fondue. If a large gathering use two fondue pots one for chocolate and one for another flavor sweet fondue. So darn yummy!
Raclette Party Ideas
Hawaiian Raclette – think pineapples, coconut shrimp, salmon, ham, cheese, lei’s
Mexican – Hot pepper sauce and seasoning for meat, thinly sliced beef, hot peppers, peppers, sweet corn
Thai – curry seasoning, thai seasoned beef, ciantro, mushrooms, tomato, shallot, garlic, onions, peanut sauce, thai noodles as a side
Chinese – sweet and sour sauce, sliced onions, bok choi, sliced almonds, seasoned beef, peppers, fried rice as a side dish
Mini Shish kabob’s ( any of the combos above on skewers)
My Favorite Raclettes
Why I Like The Granite Raclette? I like the granite raclette because the heat is more true! If you use a gas stove versus an electric stove the intensity of the flame is different. The granite is like a gas stove. Once the grill is heated up the stone can get amazingly hot so be prepared to turn down the heating elements.
Just like a grill the granite will become seasoned with time and the clean up is not quite as easy as the non stick. If clean up is a consideration then the non stick raclette may be more in your lane.
Why I Like The Non Stick Raclette
The non stick raclette grill is extremely easy to clean! This is one of the main benefits of the non stick version. The grill heats up much quicker than the granite version. Again I like level of heat between the granite and non stick raclette to the difference between a gas stove and an electric stove. Either work very well!
Another feature of the non stick raclettes are the different sizes and shapes:
Small round Raclette, serves six
Half and Half Raclette! Half non stick, half granite
Rectangle Raclette Non Stick serves three
How to Make Raclette Dinner
Equipment
- Raclette
Ingredients
- Marinated Chicken shrimp or beef, bite sized and thinly sliced or cut
- Variety of Melting Cheeses: Havarti White cheddar, Raclette, Gruyere
- Sliced French baguette one minimum
- Variety of peppers include jalapeno if desired
- Sliced new potatoes
- Vegetables any that grill well Thick slices of zucchini, asparagus, sliced colorful peppers, mini corn cobs, medium thick onions, sliced mushrooms, small tomatoes
- Mini gherkins sweet or dill, use both!
- Marinating sauce for the meat or fish
- Fondue Sticks optional see dessert
Instructions
- Prep! here's the rub with raclette, the good news is much of the prep can be done the day before, that bad news is Raclette requires lots of prep, slicing, dicing and preparing. But again, good new! the vast majority of everyhting about a raclette party is that everything can be done the day or night prior which leaves you to be able to enjoy your guests while actually sitting with your guests!
- Prep all the vegetables and all meats which can be marinated the night before the party. Depending upon the fish and whether it is fresh or frozen, plan on prepping or marinating the fish the day of the party.
- The vegetables, side dishes and dips can also be plated the night before the party and tightly wrapped and refrigerated.
- Set the table for the party the night before.
- The day of the raclette - do any last minute decorations or table prep. Bread should be cut and prepped the day of the party to ensure freshness.
- Prior to seating the guests, about 10 minutes before warm up the raclette grill according to manufacture instructions.
- Pre heat the grill. This is particularly key to a granite grill. The granite takes longer to warm up, but once it warms up it can be HOT, so be prepared to turn the temperature down.
- The non stick grills are similar to electric burners in that the heat tends to be more even over time. Either way don't skimp on the pre heating.
- Let the fun begin! First time raclette guests will need a bit of instruction. What is important is that any combo of food goes! This gives guests the opportunity to combine the meats, breads, cheeses and vegetables.
- Don't forget the pickle talk! And this will sound odd to most guest and not a combination immediately thought of, but the pickle and cheese is a must. Really yummy and I haven't seen a guest, even one with understandable trepidation about combing a pickle and cheese, to not love it! Fair warning, this does not apply to guests who don't like pickles, they can slide!
- Raclette Tip: Do a run through before your first party.
- Second Raclette Tip: Potatoes take longer to grill than most of the other raclette friendly vegetables. Parboil the potatoes or use canned potatoes. (promise the guests will not care!)
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