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Hosting a Raclette Party
Typical Ingredients
Cheese
The classic recipe for raclette consists of melted raclette cheese scraped on boiled new potatoes or bread, then served with pickled vegetables (e.g., gherkins). However, many other deli- cious cheeses can also be used:
Cheddar Camembert Emmenthaler Feta Fontina Gouda Roquefort
NOTE: Plan on using
Vegetables
Raw vegetables do well on the raclette grill, as long as they are cut into small pieces. For faster cooking, whole veg- etables can be blanched until al dente, rinsed with cold water, then cut into pieces before grilling.
Fruit
Fruits that taste best with cheese are slightly tart fruits such as apples, pears, plums, apricots, figs, mangos, and papaya. However, any kind of fruit may be used.
Meat
Meat such as chicken, pork, or beef should be precooked or cut into very
small pieces before grilling so it cooks faster. Consider marinating meat beforehand – it tenderizes meat and adds flavor and variety to the meal.
Fish
Because it cooks quickly, fish is ideal for raclette grilling. Fattier types of fish such as mackerel, salmon, catfish, or fillets with the skin on tend to be better for grilling. Peeled or unpeeled shrimp is also delicious.
Potatoes
The traditional vegetable for raclette is new potatoes
Seasonings
Remember to place salt, a pepper grinder, and other flavorings such as paprika or sauces on the table, because grilled foods should be seasoned after cooking, not before. Marinades should be scraped off prior to grilling because they tend to burn.
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