Classic raclette is served with a trio of sides: potatoes, pickled onions and gherkins. Add a pepper mill and perhaps a special mix of raclette spices. But this doesn’t mean that there is no room for a bit of creativity when it comes to raclette. Restaurants and private hosts are increasingly surprising their guests with innovative side dishes and bold seasoning.
Raclette side dishes
Everything there is to know about raclette
“Gschwellti” or steamed potatoes are a must for raclette. In addition to pickled onions and gherkins, other great options include fruit mostarda, corn on the cob, red pepper or sun-dried tomatoes. Fruits such as pears, pineapple or grapes are also delicious with raclette. Have you ever tried steamed spinach, leeks or even onion salad as a side?
With or without meat
Blanched pieces of squash or briefly fried broccoli florets also go well with raclette. If your raclette stove has a flat-top grill, you can use it to grill mushrooms, courgette or aubergine – a lovely subtle yet flavoursome way to round off the dish. If you like really hearty food, try combining your raclette with grilled food and include sausages, bacon or even pieces of chicken, beef or lamb.
Good seasoning and you are on to a winner
When it comes to seasoning raclette, opinions differ. Traditional raclette experts do not season their raclette, so the taste of the cheese remains the focus. If you are less rigid in your views, you can season your raclette with pepper, paprika, saffron, thyme, nutmeg, caraway, chilli or smoked salt – special raclette mixtures are often a pot pourri of the aforementioned spices. Chutneys also go brilliantly with raclette, especially those containing mango, figs or raisins.
Fine wines to accompany raclette
Normally, people drink white wine with raclette. And it is not a bad idea, as the acid in the wine helps with digestion. But what if your guests don’t want white wine and instead want to drink red? No problem! There is no reason why raclette should only be consumed with white wine. It is far more about tradition, as white wine is more established in the Valais and French-speaking Switzerland than its red cousin. Whether you opt for red or white: make sure the wine isn’t too cold, as it can put extra strain on your stomach.
If you don’t like alcohol, you can enjoy a herbal or black tea. Note: it is well-known that schnapps can have a negative effect on the digestion. But this is not the case with a herbal liqueur – the herbs have a positive impact on the gastric juices. But only if you limit your consumption to one or two glasses!
Did you know? How to get rid of the smell of cheese from your apartment
It is great to look back on an evening of raclette or fondue – and sometimes you have no choice, as the smell lingers in your home the following day. Here are a few simple tricks to remove the stubborn smell of cheese. Stick some cloves into half an orange and leave it to absorb the smell. It will have done its job in just a few hours. A few small bowls filled with bicarbonate of soda and distributed around the apartment will also help to get rid of the smell of cheese. If you prefer to smell vinegar than cheese, try the following trick: fill a plate with wine or herb-flavoured vinegar, leave to stand over night and ventilate the room well the next morning.
