North America Gets Cheesy with Raclette Grills

Photo: Pixabay

Yes, the fondue pot of the ’70s was pretty cheesy, but in this century, nothing is more cheesy than raclette.   In recent years fondue pots have experienced a resurgence in popularity, and with them has come to the raclette grill.  Though not traditionally well known in the US and Canada, raclette is suddenly experiencing a boom in popularity.  

Raclette is a semi-soft, relatively mild, easily melted cheese from Switzerland. The term also refers to the cooking method of melting cheese at a tabletop grill and serving with a variety of accompaniments.  

Legend has it that the original method for melting the raclette cheese began when Swiss herdsmen settled down for the night in their camps.  They placed a hunk of cheese near their campfire and as it melted, scraped it off onto a slice of bread.   

Today, this same meal is mimicked but with a much greater variety of foods, and with electric raclette grills that are much more convenient.  Though the melting method has changed over the years, this simple and entertaining meal has remained just as enjoyable for entertaining evenings with friends and family.

There are several kinds of raclette grills that you can choose from.  Traditional raclette grills hold a half- or quarter-round of raclette cheese on an angle, with a heating element melting the surface of the cheese, which drips onto a plate of dried meats and other accompaniments.  

Today, the most common raclette sets include a cheese-melting element with a grill for cooking meats at the table.  They provide up to 8 people with individual cheese pans and feature non-stick, dishwasher safe surfaces for convenience and easy cleanup.  Perfect for entertaining!  

Portable raclette using fondue-type burners are also available for camping and picnicking.    

A raclette grill can provide not only a delicious, hot-off-the-grill meal but also provide a lot of fun for family and friends.  For optimum enjoyment, serve traditional raclette with a Fendant or other light-bodied dry white wine.  If you are grilling meats, serve a wine appropriate for the meats.  

A traditional Swiss raclette meal uses raclette cheese with the following accompaniments:

- baguette bread

- small cooked potatoes

- small gherkins

- pickled onions

- charcuterie meats such as salami or prosciutto

You can also get very creative with a raclette meal.  A departure from tradition – but an adventure in taste – could include: 

Raw meat for grilling and dipping into sauces:

- Italian sausage cut into 1/4” slices 

- Chicken tenderloins cut into 1” pieces

- Beef tenderloin cut into 1/2” cubes

- Shrimp and Scallops

Thinly sliced cheeses: 

- Brie

- Camembert

- Oka

- Cheddar

- Cambozola

Vegetables blanched to al-dente, such as:

- Mushrooms

- Broccoli

- Cauliflower

- Asparagus

Here are two excellent recipes for dipping sauces for your meats and vegetables:

Pimento Sauce

3/4 cups mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons tomato sauce

1/2 cup canned pimentos or 1 red bell pepper, roasted with skin removed

Salt and pepper, to taste

Blend all ingredients in a blender.  Season to taste.  Serve chilled.  

Cucumber Garlic Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup sour cream

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cucumber, peeled and finely chopped

1 tablespoon of finely chopped chives or green onion

1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

fresh ground pepper

Mix well all ingredients.  Serve chilled.

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Mongolian Hot Pot - More Uses For Your Fondue Pot

Mongolian Hotpot restaurant in the city of Wuhai, China - Photo: Wikimedia

As much as you love your fondue pot, you can’t dunk bread cubes into hot melted cheese every night. On those nights when you need a break from cheese fondue, why not use the fondue pot for something else. Mongolian Hot Pot is a great meal that can be cooked in an electric fondue pot.

It is said that Mongolian Hot Pot was originated by the ancient Mongols who would cook their food in boiling water. They would season the water with the dry spices that they carried along with them on their many journeys and battles. Those Mongols probably would not recognize this Mongolian Hot Pot recipe but it's easy to make and delicious.

To make Mongolian Hot Pot you'll need a to fill your fondue pot with broth. Usually, beef broth is used but you can substitute chicken or other broths for variety. Using your fondue forks you skewer meats and vegetables and cook them right at the table. Like fondue, this is a great meal for small dinner parties. All the of preparations such as cleaning and cutting the vegetables and meat into bite-sized pieces can be done beforehand.

You'll need at least three dipping sauces to offer your guests some variety. Any less than that will become monotonous.

The vegetables and meat add flavor the broth while cooking in it. At the end of your meal, you can add noodles or rice and serve it to your guests in a bowl. This after-dinner soup is a special treat that your guests will remember and look forward to at future dinner parties.

Mongolian Hot Pot Recipe

Broth:

5 cups Beef Broth

2 Green Onions (chopped)

2 Garlic Cloves (minced)

About 5 Shiitake Mushrooms (chopped)

2 tablespoons Cilantro (chopped)

2 tablespoons Ginger Root (minced)

2 tablespoons Soy Sauce

Vegetable Platter:

8 Bok Choy leaves (cut into strips)

2-ounce Spinach leaves (cut into strips)

1 – 8 ounce Can Bamboo Shoots (drained)

2 Green Onions (chopped)

1 cup Broccoli Florets

4 ounce Egg Noodles (cooked)

Meat Platter

1 pound Beef Tenderloin (sliced into thin strips)

Arrange vegetable platter before guests arrive

Bring Beef Broth to a boil

Add Green Onions, Garlic, Mushrooms, Cilantro, Ginger and Soy Sauce Simmer for 15 minutes

Spear beef strips with fondue forks and cook in broth for 3-5 minutes

Spear vegetable strips and cook until tender

Dip cooked beef and vegetables into desired sauces

When all the meat has been eaten:

Add cooked Egg Noodles to broth

Add remaining vegetables to broth

Simmer for about 5 minutes

Serve portion to each guest in a bowl

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Dipping Sauce Recipes

Sesame Sauce

2 tablespoons White Sesame Seeds

1/3 cup Soy Sauce

2 tablespoons Green Onion (chopped)

1 tablespoon Cider Vinegar

2 teaspoons Ginger (finely chopped)

1 teaspoon Water

Brown Sesame Seeds in frying pan or skillet

Chop Browned Seeds and a few drops of soy in food processor on high

Add rest of the ingredients and mix

Soy-Wasabi Sauce

2-ounce Soy Sauce

2 tablespoons Wasabi

Mix until smooth

Spicy Oriental Sauce

2 tablespoons Soy Sauce

1.5 tablespoons Lemon Juice

2 Green Chili Peppers (chopped)

1 clove Garlic

2 teaspoon Sesame Oil

Add all ingredients and mix

Kitchen Mysteries: The FONDUE Pot

One of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the kitchen is the fondue pot. Fondue pots are a popular bridal registry item and they are often given as housewarming gifts. But by the time the thank you cards have been sent, the fondue pot has usually disappeared never to be heard from again. They wind up in the back of a closet or in the attic or some are even re-gifted. Why does everyone want a fondue pot but no one ever gets around to making fondue?

Swiss fondue (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fondue is easy to make. Sure there are some recipes that require sautéing vegetables or marinating meat overnight and some use exotic ingredients that you won’t find at the supermarket. Those types of recipes taste great but they are the reason that your fondue pot is gathering dust instead of being used.

The key to getting used out of your fondue pot is to pick very simple recipes that are easy to make such as the recipes listed below. One is a basic cheese fondue that substitutes regular Swiss Cheese for the more expensive and harder to find Gruyere cheese. The 2nd recipe is Mocha Fondue, a must try a recipe for coffee and chocolate lovers. Once again this is a recipe with basic ingredients and easy instructions.

Swiss Fondue

2 cups dry White Wine

1 Garlic Clove

1 lb Swiss Cheese

3 tbsp Flour

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

1/4 tsp White Pepper

Salt to taste

Nutmeg to taste

Rub the inside of the fondue pot with the garlic clove and add clove to pot

Heat up the White Wine & Lemon Juice on medium-low heat - should be hot but do not boil

Mix Flour and Cheese in a bowl

Slowly add cheese mixture while stirring

Add remainder of ingredients while stirring

Optional: Add a splash of Kirsch or Blackberry Brandy

To Dip: Italian bread cut into cubes, vegetables, flatbread

Mocha Fondue

8 oz Semisweet Chocolate

1/2 cup Hot Espresso or Coffee

3 tbsp Granulated Sugar

2 tbsp Butter

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Chop chocolate into small pieces and set aside

Heat espresso and sugar in fondue pot on low heat

Slowly add chocolate and butter while stirring

Add Vanilla

Optional: Add a splash of Irish Cream

To Dip: Angel Food Cake, Apple Slices, Bananas, Strawberries, Pound Cake, Pretzels, Pineapple Chunks, Marshmallows

Fondue can be easy to make and it’s definitely fun. The key is to use simple recipes so that you can spend your time enjoying fondue and not worrying about getting a complicated recipe right. Isn’t it time that your fondue pot became a permanent fixture on your countertop. You can free up some room for it by moving the crock pot into the closet.

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