Raclette is THE dish we love in all seasons (ok, winter is tied with fondue and tartiflette…). Let's be honest:what's better than melted cheese, paired with potatoes, cold cuts and a good white wine? At the end of the year, we wanted to share tips to make this meal even more enjoyable (yes, yes, it's possible!).
We could say that, since it is cooked, it is not worth buying a quality cheese? Big mistake. It is precisely he who makes all the difference! Experts recommend preferring raw milk cheeses, which have more character, buying them by the slice (there are between 200 and 300 g per person, depending on appetite!) and slicing them yourself, for more freshness. Good to know:if raw milk is not recommended for pregnant women, once it exceeds 70°C, the risks of listeriosis are eliminated, suddenly, in a raclette, it is authorized! As for charcuterie, it's the same:it's better to eat less, but opt for foods that have taste and preferably the least fat possible (raclette is already not light, light...). Finally, we buy potatoes whose firm flesh holds together when cooked, so as not to end up with mashed potatoes on the plate (although, that can't be bad!). On the wine side, we opt for a white that is not too dry or a red that is not too tannic (to accompany charcuterie).
The must of raclette is to offer lots of different cheeses, just to vary the pleasures. There are plenty of kinds:mustard, smoked, spicy… We also think of Comté, Morbier, Gouda, or even goat cheese or Tomme de Savoie. On the accompaniment side, we allow ourselves small follies:and if we replaced the potato with sweet potato? You can also offer vegetables such as button mushrooms, peppers or carrots, quail eggs and onions, but also fruit, for a pretty sweet and salty pairing (apples, pears, etc.). A good green salad is usually quite appreciated as an accompaniment.
No, an excellent raclette cannot be improvised! We therefore think of taking the cheese out of the refrigerator several hours before the meal, so that it is at room temperature and thus has more taste. We think of turning on the raclette machine about ten minutes before going to the table to avoid the frustrating wait for the start of the meal.
So, who's going to enjoy it?!
