12 Raclette is both a traditional Swiss cheese and a highly interactive dining experience. The name comes from the French word racler, meaning "to scrape". It involves melting layers of rich, semi-hard cow's milk cheese and scraping the molten goodness over boiled potatoes, cured meats, and pickled vegetables. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] The Core Components A traditional raclette meal consists of a few essential items that complement the rich, nutty, and slightly tangy flavor of the cheese: [1, 2, 3, 5] The Cheese: A good melting cheese (traditionally Raclette AOP from the Valais region in Switzerland or French Savoie). Potatoes: Small, waxy baby potatoes, boiled whole in their skins. Charcuterie: A variety of dried or cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, bresaola, or speck. Accompaniments: Tangy items to cut through the heavy cheese, such as cornichons (small gherkin pickles), pickled onions, and sometimes fresh fruit like apples or pears.
