Raclette Cheese Substitutes
Sometimes raclette can be tricky to find, especially in the U.S. As I mentioned above, you can find it seasonally at Trader Joe’s but other times of the year it may be harder to find. It can also be a bit pricy if you are getting it at a specialized shop. I have found fantastic imported cheeses at Costco for amazing prices. Several of the cheeses in the picture below are from Costco and they are great for melting. Gruyere and Appenzeller are my two favorite substitutes for raclette. The tastes are similar and they melt well. You can also use gouda, Jarlsberg, Emmentaler, Comté, Havarti, or any other semi-hard Swiss cheeses. You can really melt any kind of cheese in the melting pans, even though it won’t traditionally be “raclette”. Try melting cheddar, provolone, pepper Jack, mozzarella, or even blue cheese! In the traditional raclette dish, the cheese is heated (traditionally by a fire directly from the cheese wheel or nowadays with a raclette grill) and then scraped onto boiled potatoes, bread, and other accompaniments like pickles, onions, and cured meats. The name “raclette” comes from the French word racler, meaning “to scrape,” referring to how the melted cheese is scraped off the wheel. Since most people don’t have a giant wheel of raclette cheese at home to heat and scrape, it’s much easier to melt individual slices in small cheese pans (like the one pictured below). This is a perfect solution for home kitchens, and you’ll still get the same result: hot, ooey, gooey melted cheese to pour over just about anything.
Mini Candle-lit Raclette Grill
Little raclette grilling sets (like the one pictured above) are traditional and create a fun ambiance. However, they just aren’t practical for more than one or two people at a time. It’s a great idea for a romantic date-night in or for Valentine’s Day but not ideal for a family dinner. The cheese takes longer to melt but romantic, candlelight dinners aren’t supposed to be rushed. The grill kit itself is more compact so it’s super easy to store, so that’s a plus.
Cheese Melt Pans and Electric Griddle
Non-Stick Skillet
You can also use a small non-stick skillet to melt the cheese. This method is great if you don’t want to go through the trouble of buying anything new. You can just use what you have on-hand. Place the slices in a non-stick skillet and heat gently over the lowest heat possible. If you have an oven-safe non-stick skillet you can place it in the oven and broil until bubbly on the top. The only real downside is that the cheese doesn’t slide out of the pan as easily because it is circular. You may have a more difficult time spreading the cheese over the plate, but it’s definitely doable!
Traditional Accompaniments
Baby potatoes (aka “Gschwellti in Switzerland) Cured meats (like salami, pepperoni, ham, prosciutto, etc.) Cornichons (tiny dill pickles) Crusty breads (like French bread) Cocktail onions Baby corn or corn on the cob Sliced cherry tomatoes
More Accompaniment Ideas
bite-sized cooked meats (chicken, steak, meatballs, shrimp, smoked sausage, etc.) asparagus (I love it with prosciutto wrapped asparagus) Roasted vegetables (root vegetables, onion, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) Sautéed mushrooms (so good)
Pictured: the best burger I have ever eaten in my entire life, and that is saying something. It is from the Riffelalp Resort above Zermatt. Made from all the freshest ingredients from Switzerland and the melted raclette cheese just takes it to the next level. We want to hear from you! Please leave a review. Rate and Review
