Experience the Irresistible Charm of Raclette Dinner on Your Grill
The ultimate comfort food in the form of cozy dinner, raclette is melted cheese oozing onto all kinds of delicious sides. And thanks to the popularity of this Alpine mainstay, right from its origins in French and Swiss regions to other parts of Europe and beyond, enjoying your own homemade raclette dinner on your regular grill is more than just possible, it’s easy. Known as the Raclette grill or Raclette machine, this additional equipment can be substituted, and you can achieve the same ambience, warmth and deliciousness on your regular grill racks with these simple steps. In this article, we will walk you through how to make a raclette dinner on your grill, so that you can treat your friends and family to this hearty meal.
Understanding Raclette
Before we start getting into grilling raclette, let’s talk a little bit about raclette. Raclette is a semi-hard cheese derived primarily from cow’s milk, with a creamy, smooth texture and a rich, nutty taste. It is often eaten as it is melted over potatoes, charcuterie, pickles and vegetables. The word ‘raclette’ comes from the French verb ‘racler’, meaning ‘to scrape’, referencing how the cheese is scraped onto the plate.
Selecting Your Ingredients
When combined with good ingredients, raclette takes the form of a communal dinner that rivals almost anything you’ll find at a restaurant. Your shopping list should include good-quality raclette cheese. Depending on your palate and budget, you can use an authentic raclette cheese, aged and made in Switzerland or France – melts evenly and has lots of flavour – or something less expensive, such a cow’s milk cheese. A variety of accompaniments to the melted cheese rounds out your raclette meal. Good choices might be boiled or roasted new potatoes, boiled fingerling potatoes, cured meats (for example, prosciutto or salami), pickled vegetables (cornichons), crusty bread (baguette) and fresh green herbs.
Preparing Your Grill
You’ll want to preheat your grill to medium before cooking your raclette, and for fuel sources other than gas to allow the raclette grill attachment or a heat-proof tray to sit directly on the grill grate. If using a standard charcoal grill, wait until the coals are overlaid with a thin white ash before setting your platform directly on the grill’s grate. Ensure that you maintain a steady temperature throughout the whole process, so while you don’t end up with scorched cheese, you get evenly melted cheese too.
Setting Up Your Raclette Station
With your grill preheated, set up the raclette station: place the raclette grill attachment or a heat-resistant cooling- or baking-rack on the grill grate, level and sturdy. Place various accompaniments (boiled potatoes, meats such as thin-sliced cooked beef or cured ham, pickles, bread, and more) on platters around and above the grill, in a decorative and easily accessible manner. Slice the cheese into thin rounds and place them in trays to be melted on the grill – at each person’s place setting – ready to go.
Grilling and Melting the Cheese
Place the raclette trays of cheese on the grill, or on a heat-resistant tray to slowly melt the cheese, being very careful to melt the cheese out from the sides, piece by piece. Then scrape the glorious melted cheese onto the plate, or directly on the accompaniments. Encourage your guests to play a part in this symphony of melting and scraping.
Serving and Enjoying Your Raclette Dinner
When all the cheese is melted and scraped into the plates, it’s time to serve and eat your feast. Encourage everyone to pile the melted cheese on top of potatoes, meats, pickles and bread, and for everyone to try different combinations on their plates. The best thing about raclette is that it can be customised for everyone – with lots of different elements to try, every diner can create a plate that suits their taste. Pour the wine or beer into glasses and serve along with the raclette dinner.
In conclusion, making raclette dinner on your backyard grill is a marvellous recipe for a happy gathering: it provides a feast that brings family and friends together for happy moments. Follow these directions and use good ingredients to bring the best of two worlds – a modern American backyard grill or patio – and a traditional French raclette. Raclette dinner on the grill will not fail to delight your guests.
Questions and Answers
- What type of cheese should I use for raclette?
The best cheese for doing a raclette is semi-hard, like Swiss cheese.
- How long does it take to cook raclette on the grill?
It typically takes about 10 minutes to cook raclette on the grill.
- Can I cook other foods on the grill while making raclette?
Well, yes, you could still grill more food on the way. I guess just to be on the safe side, definitely you would need two different plates, one for meat and one for the raclette.