Writer: Helena Bergström
We're back in Sweden, but now we have to tell you about the cheese and dish raclette in Switzerland! Before we travelled to Switzerland, I had a rather vague idea of raclette. I knew it involved melted cheese and some kind of side dish, but you can't just eat cheese for dinner, can you? Or can you ... ? We have now had raclette twice - once in the traditional way and once with a raclette iron on the table. Now we know a bit more what it's all about.
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Traditional raclette in Switzerland
The first time we tried raclette was in a restaurant. Le Carnotzet de L'Aigle at the Hotel Nendaz 4 Vallées in Nendaz. Here the raclette is made in the traditional way. This means that the chef uses a large raclette cheese, which is heated a little at a time so that he can scrape off a piece onto a plate.
When we were served, we have to admit that it felt a bit strange. A plate of cheese ... was that it? The cheese was served together with small fine potatoes, pickled cucumbers and pickled onions. The cheese tasted really good and the combination of flavours was also excellent. Still, we were left with that feeling ... cheese for dinner?
Many people (not just the Swiss) love raclette and if you have a penchant for melted cheese, this is heaven. We were a bit more fickle, but we didn't give up. The next day we had raclette again!
Raclette with a raclette iron on the table
Many people want to eat raclette at home and it's not easy to handle a whole (huge) raclette cheese and the necessary equipment. Instead, small, handy raclette irons have been invented and placed in the centre of the table. The cheese is served in thick slices and each person has their own 'spatula' which is inserted into the raclette iron until the cheese is melted.
We were served raclette like this at the Ferdinand restaurant in the hotel Cervo in Zermatt. Here, in addition to potatoes, pickled cucumbers and pickled onions, we also got cold cuts, walnuts and apricot jam as side dishes.
We have to say that it is very nice to eat this way. But completely we are still not sold. For our taste it was simply a bit too much ... cheese. If you visit Switzerland, we still recommend trying it. Whether it becomes a favourite or not, it is an experience!
What about other food in Switzerland ...?
Of course, you can eat more than raclette in Switzerland. Among other things, the country is also known for cheese fondue. During this trip, we visited the Valais region in southern Switzerland, and there we had hearty food, such as meat, potatoes, rösti and pasta. There are three things that we ate unusually a lot of during these days (apart from cheese!):
- Salad with vinaigrette before dinner
- Good quality cold cuts
- Apricots cooked on all possible way
There is also much else to try in Switzerland. Read more about Swiss food here!
And wine ...?
Switzerland is not very well known as a wine country, perhaps because its exports are very small (which in turn is due to high production costs and prices and the fact that the Swiss happily consume their own wine).
Valais, where we were, is actually the country's most important wine canton and we tried a lot of local wine. We even got the chance for a small wine tasting at Verre d'Ici in Nendaz. What did we think? Several wines that were not stupid at all!
Video about raclette in Switzerland
Peter has put together a film from our experiences with raclette in Switzerland. Please check it out!
What do you think about Swiss food?
Have you also been to Switzerland and what are your experiences with the food? Have you tried raclette and what do you think?
You might also like:
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Different dishes - 10 odd things we've eaten while travelling
16 Swedish dishes that we have offered our foreign guests
What to eat in Switzerland? - 15 classic dishes you must try
Shopping in French supermarkets - our experiences
Kitchen French - all those French terms in the kitchen
English (UK) 
Svenska
Matts Torebring says:
We have a racklett grill that we put on the table. There are eight irons on it to melt cheese while grilling (frying) the meat. It's very tasty, to say the least,
13 August 2017 - 6:59
Helena says:
Oh, so you usually eat meat too!? Then it will be a little different. But certainly good 🙂 In Switzerland, no meat was served, but the cheese was the "main course".
13 August 2017 - 7:57
s p i n d e l t j e j e n says:
Yummy!!! 😀 How long are you out now? 😀
13 August 2017 - 7:33
Helena says:
We just got back from Switzerland, but we haven't had time to write about everything yet, so there will be a few more posts.
13 August 2017 - 7:58
Steve says:
I like cheese. But melted cheese, no thanks!
I never think of Switzerland as a food country as I do with France and Italy, for example.
13 August 2017 - 8:21
Helena says:
Switzerland is not as well known as France and Italy, but each country has its own specialities.
13 August 2017 - 10:12
Lisa i byn says:
We eat raclette here at home once in a while. I had two, but then I bought the third and gave the girls each one.
When we eat raclette, I pre-fry chicken and pork in small strips, then we have pineapple crush, chopped red onion, mushrooms, concentrated orange juice, garlic cream frache, grated cheese, peanuts.
We don't have as much cheese as the Swiss, because when we put on what we want, we put on some grated cheese. We eat rice with raclette.
It was quite a long time ago that we ate raclette, but what a craving I got now. It must be for the weekend!
Take care// Lisa
13 August 2017 - 9:26
Helena says:
Wow, what an exciting recipe! What you describe is very far from the Swiss dish raclette, but that does not prevent it from being good! 🙂 Wishing you a good weekend dinner! 🙂
13 August 2017 - 10:14
Monet says:
I think I've written about raclette before. Here in France you have a large hot iron in the centre of the table and the potatoes are kept warm on top. Each person heats a piece of cheese in their own spatula underneath. They serve a variety of cold cuts and sausages, including salami, plus cornichons and olives. There are special ready-made raclette packs in the shops with slices of cheese - and it is important that they are raclette cheese - and different types of cold cuts. You don't add the amount you were given, just some of the melted cheese on the potatoes. If you can't find raclette cheese in Sweden, Svarta Sara and Gamle Ole are the closest in flavour. Lisa's recipe sounds delicious but has very little to do with the original raclette. It's nice to have picked food around the table anyway. Great film Peter!
13 August 2017 - 9:45
Helena says:
Interesting to hear about the French version of raclette! It sounds like it's relatively similar, but there are differences at the same time. I think I would probably like it more, with a little more cold cuts and a little less of the cheese (although it is good). Glad you liked the film!
13 August 2017 - 10:16
Johanna i Skåne says:
We got a raclette iron as a wedding present and rediscovered it a year or so ago. The youngest son likes melted cheese and thought he could eat lots of it, but after a few big melted slices with potatoes, pickles and gherkins, it just stops. Good but very powerful.
13 August 2017 - 9:59
Helena says:
I know the feeling of stopping 😉 Cheese is good, but it's hard to eat as much as you want ... 😉 .
13 August 2017 - 10:17
Solan says:
Last time we were in the East (Basel) I had a rather mediocre risotto for the bargain price of €40...hrmmph! Weekend, everything was closed except one of the city's art galleries with a restaurant. Didn't give me much of a taste, so to speak....
13 August 2017 - 10:04
Helena says:
It sounds like a boring (and expensive!) experience. Many people talk about how expensive it is in Switzerland, so I have tried to check and write up prices for a few different things. There will probably be a post about it soon,
13 August 2017 - 10:18
Husbilen Helge says:
Even Camenbertmef cloudberry jam isn't bad either!
13 August 2017 - 10:43
Helena says:
Can only agree 😉
13 August 2017 - 11:36
Kors och Tvärs says:
We often eat raclette and pour the cheese over boiled delicatessen potatoes. We like to add shredded beef, pickled onion and cucumber, of course, and vegetables as available (squash, peppers, etc.) We also cheat and use cheaper gouda cheese that works just as well. A little more flavour and you can add some Roquefort cheese. Yummy?
13 August 2017 - 11:17
Helena says:
Sounds good with some shredded ground beef and a few more vegetables. I think I would like it that way too! Interesting with roquefort cheese 😉 .
13 August 2017 - 11:37
Hasse says:
We have had a raclette iron at home for many years, even worn out a bit. We buy raclette cheese and make cubes. Put them in small bowls on the table and also some other tasty and varied things we come up with. Then everyone makes their own purple iron and puts it in the grill, it's a long and pleasant dinner and no one can complain about too much or too little of anything 😉 and with it a good red wine of course. Have them!
13 August 2017 - 11:19
Helena says:
It's so much fun to read how everyone cooks their raclette, there seems to be as many ways as there are raclette irons 😉 Anyway, it seems that we in Sweden are a bit creative 😉.
13 August 2017 - 11:38
Emma, Sol som sol? says:
I love cheese but have never had raclette, curious of course. But I suspect it will be a very "fatty flavour" as melted cheese tends to be perceived. I don't think my stomach could handle a dinner consisting only of cheese. Would probably also have mixed it up with a lot of other little things.
I've only travelled through Switzerland, we stopped in Geneva but that's about it. It's beautiful anyway.
13 August 2017 - 11:40
Helena says:
I also made sure to mix up my cheese with plenty of accessories, I can't just eat cheese... 😉 And it's definitely beautiful!
13 August 2017 - 20:26
Milana Chigridow says:
So well written! I was also just as shocked when raclette turned out to be nothing more than cheese haha!
13 August 2017 - 11:50
Helena says:
Haha, yes, I had kind of expected more accessories and less cheese 😉 But we had fun anyway! 🙂
13 August 2017 - 20:27
Webbtanten says:
Cheese is good in all forms, but I haven't tried raclette yet.
13 August 2017 - 12:00
Helena says:
Try it if you get the chance! 🙂
13 August 2017 - 20:27
Ruth i Virginia says:
Talking food with a "houseguest" the other day, and we both said,
that what would be most difficult to do without in a diet is cheese, but
that melted cheese on potatoes seems a bit too heavy
Never heard of raclette until now.
Fondue, on the other hand, was very popular in the 70s and 80s.
Celebrated Christmas Eve with a family for about 10 years - always fondue;
the whole house smelled of hot oil, but it was sweet and fun to cook what
you wanted with different sauces.
Has been a very nice trip, especially the views - also liked it
the bike ride. 🙂
13 August 2017 - 12:12
Helena says:
We probably think like you here. Love cheese, but here it was almost too much of a good thing 😉 We have also tried the fondue you describe. Good and nice! In Switzerland, I think fondue is instead related to cheese, which you dip bread in. But we haven't tried that kind of fondue ... yet 😉.
13 August 2017 - 20:30
Ruth i Virginia says:
You're right; the original fundue is melted cheese flavoured with kirsch, in which bread is dipped, but the word is used here for cooking meat, fish, shrimps etc. in hot oil in 'fondue pots'. There is also chocolate fondue for strawberries among other things.
13 August 2017 - 22:23
Helena says:
Yes, the same here! That kind of fondue has been quite popular in Sweden as well for some time.
16 August 2017 - 5:45
åsa i åsele says:
I/we actually have a raclette iron 🙂 though we have never used it 😉 .
it's like the fondue pot 😉 took a couple of years before we tried it for the first time 😀.
Melted cheese is not really good... I believe in some kind of "picking food a'la tacos" 😉 think Lisa in the village & Kors och Tvärs seems to run a bit that style 🙂
I've probably never even thought about food in Switzerland, or I've mostly thought about cheese and red wine 😀.
13 August 2017 - 13:12
Helena says:
I recognise that things are left standing ... But now maybe it's time to get out the raclette iron? 🙂 Mix up with some accessories and it will surely be great! 🙂
13 August 2017 - 20:32
BP says:
That post was right up my street:-) I love raclette cheese and have eaten it many times in the traditional way. Have actually also let the cheese melt in the oven. Tasted just as good but it stank in the apartment several days afterwards;-)
13 August 2017 - 15:47
Helena says:
Haha, good tip! Then maybe I'll avoid making raclette in the oven... 😉.
13 August 2017 - 20:33
Johnny Friskilä says:
The experience I remember most about Swiss food is the result: constipation.
Otherwise, if you want to try cheese fondue one evening here in Stockholm, I'm happy to offer it to you. I have made cheese fondue many times at home. 🙂
13 August 2017 - 16:03
Helena says:
It is not very good for the stomach with so much cheese, so I can understand that result ... 😉 We will have a little detox from cheese for a little while now, I think, haha ... then we want to try cheese fondue! 🙂
13 August 2017 - 20:35
Ditte says:
I like raclette and cheese fondue, which is part of Switzerland, but it has to be on a small scale because it becomes "fat" and I don't like that. But for me this is mostly winter food in Switzerland and extra good after a full day on the ski slopes. But then you lose a lot of calories too... I think it's best with "little" and with accessories that compensate for the fat in the cheese.
Good for you for trying it out anyway.
13 August 2017 - 20:33
Helena says:
I can imagine that this dish is better suited to winter (although you can also do sports in the summer by hiking or mountain biking).
16 August 2017 - 5:36
Ama de casa says:
Oh! I love raclette! We got a raclette iron as a wedding present and used it extensively for many years. We even took it to Spain (not many kitchen gadgets get that honour...).
Now, unfortunately, it has been cancelled...
13 August 2017 - 20:48
Helena says:
Everything has its time ... or it's time to buy new!? 😉
16 August 2017 - 5:37
Kjell/Dessan says:
We also have a raclette iron and only eat it occasionally. A bit too much cheese for me, but a cosy dish with friends?
14 August 2017 - 7:01
Helena says:
Agree exactly 🙂
16 August 2017 - 5:37
JoY says:
You will understand that we also have and eat raclette, Swiss people without a raclette iron are hardly compatible.
I understand if you think there was a lot of cheese. We usually have different vegetables and pickles with pickled onions, usually smoked ham. Raclette cheese, preferably flavoured with green pepper/paprika or garlic. Unfortunately, the flavoured raclette cheese is not available here at home, or at least we have not found it. So we buy it with us home.
Put the cheese in the small pan and when the cheese has started to melt, add a vegetable/ham and let it melt together. The potatoes stand on top of the iron that Monet told us about.
I think many people eat this dish too quickly. Fast fast and it becomes a big cheese ball in the stomach. We sit for several hours and eat this. A party dish You will be full in any case.
It's important to take that little snap afterwards, the food distributor. Otherwise Ajaj in the stomach?
Hugs
14 August 2017 - 8:10
Helena says:
Yes, it is clear that you eat raclette sometimes! Good with expert advice 🙂 Many accessories sound good, and also not to eat too fast!
16 August 2017 - 5:41
Elisabeth says:
My experience of Switzerland goes back a long way, when it wasn't just raclette and cheese fondue. Many towns have their own fondue and it often includes meat with various accompaniments. Lamb and beef tasted really good in various forms.
14 August 2017 - 8:41
Helena says:
I thought cheese fondue was with bread and not meat? But I don't know, because we never tried it ... It will be next time, or in Sweden! 😉
16 August 2017 - 5:43
Kattis says:
I love cheese in all its forms, but I'm probably just as sceptical as you are, cheese for dinner as a main course....no!:P But I'll definitely try it when I go back to Switzerland sometime:).
14 August 2017 - 14:52
Helena says:
It is worth testing! A fun experience if nothing else 🙂
16 August 2017 - 5:43
Steel city anna says:
Looks super tasty! Cheese for dinner sounds like a great idea 🙂
15 August 2017 - 15:06
Helena says:
I'm glad you like the idea haha 😉 .
16 August 2017 - 5:44