Garden Party Menu Inspiration: Easy + Impressive Raclette Recipes
Looking for garden party menu inspiration? Let’s talk about the easy and impressive Raclette recipes that have become a foodie favourite.
Whether you’re searching for a barbeque side dish or want to plan a Raclette dinner party, these gourmet cheese dishes are this year’s essential recipe. Here’s everything you need to know to create your own Alpine-inspired masterpiece.
What Is Raclette?
When it comes to Swiss recipes, nothing holds a candle to this classic Alpine cheese dish. Originally from the southern canton of Valais in Switzerland, this once humble food has become one of the biggest food trends in Ireland.
This popular semi-hard cheese dish is the perfect party food that’ll leave your guests talking. Simple, versatile, and truly foolproof, this simple recipe ticks all of the boxes. As easy as can be, this recipe only has one ingredient: cheese.
Difference Between Raclette and Fondue
While fondue has been around for years, Raclette is a relative newcomer to the Irish food scene. Though many food lovers have mastered the art of fondue, most of us are just getting started with Raclette recipes.
Both being melted cheese dishes, the difference between fondue and Raclette is a bit cloudy but it’s actually a simple distinction. With a Raclette dinner, you’re scraping the cheese out and putting it on your plate (Raclette comes from the French word racler, which means to scrape). With fondue recipes, on the other hand, you’re going to dip your food into the cheese. Traditionally, fondue is made with Emmentaler and Gruyère cheeses rather than Raclette cheese.
Best Cheeses For Raclette
Raclette cheese is the gold standard when it comes to making the Swiss classic Raclette recipe. Far from an arbitrary choice, this melting cheese has the ideal properties for the grill. As a semi-hard, matured, full-fat cheese, it melts like a dream.
If you have ever tried to melt a random cheese, you may have experienced that annoying fat separation. Rather than melting with the cheese, the fat will pool together and make a puddle of grease. This is exactly what you don’t want. By choosing the right melting cheese for your Raclette, you will have a thick and creamy consistency with none of the greasy mess.
Foodie Tip: You can buy Raclette cheese in Ireland and it's well worth making a special trip. The Raclette savoie from Sheridans Cheesemongers is every bit as good as the best premium Raclette cheese from Switzerland or France. They have shops in Dublin, Meath, Galway, Kildare, Waterford and Limerick so pop in for some fabulous cheese or order it in advance.
Raclette Cheese Alternatives
There is a range of other cheese substitutes for Raclette. Gruyere is widely considered to be the best Raclette alternative. You’ll find this cheese in a wide range of Irish grocery stores and you can also order premium gruyere online. Emmentaler cheese, also known as Emmental or Emmenthal, is another popular type of Swiss cheese that has an optimal texture for melting. It tastes very similar to Raclette cheese and is a substitution that you probably won’t even notice.
An easy option that you’ll find in every shop in Ireland is gouda. This cheese melts well and has a buttery taste that works well with countless combinations of food. Another local favourite, cheddar cheese, is another popular melting cheese pick. While cheddar doesn’t taste like Raclette cheese, it is always a crowd-pleaser that pairs well with meat, potatoes, and pretty much anything else you might want to grill up.
How to Make Raclette in a Wood-Fired Oven
Raclette recipes are some of the greatest easy gourmet pizza oven recipes and they’re a mainstay on our garden party menu. While you can make a Raclette in an oven, there is nothing like a Raclette cooked over a fire. In fact, when the Swiss first started making this recipe back in the thirteenth century, they heated the cheese on a stone over the fire until it reached that gooey cheesy perfection. Cooking cheese over a fire gives it a rich smoked flavour that takes your recipe to another level.
To make a Raclette in a pizza oven or on the grill, all you need is a heat-resistant pan. While you will see all kinds of fancy equipment out there, none of it is necessary. A simple cast iron pan works perfectly. Choose your smallest pan so your cheese isn’t spread too thin and you’re all set.
When it comes to the ingredients, you only need cheese (but the sky's the limit for creative adaptations). Raclette is an old recipe that has been made countless ways over the years. The classic recipe is nothing more than a Raclette cheese melted so start with that then try other cheese and blends.
What to Serve with Raclette
Traditionally, Raclette is served with charcuteries, potatoes, bread, onions, and pickles. We’ve tried it with our Wood-Fired Oven Roasted Potatoes and Sautéed Mushrooms and absolutely loved it. When you’re planning your garden party menu, get creative.
Raclette side dishes can be anything you like. Everything from pears and pineapple to spinach and tomato makes a perfect pairing. To make it hearty, be sure to bring a crusty French bread or potatoes.
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