Well prepared for Christmas: This is what you need for a cozy raclette evening

2020-12-16T14:40:46.780Z

Raclette is particularly popular at Christmas and New Year's Eve. Here you will find all the tips, ideas and ingredients you need for a successful raclette evening.

Raclette is particularly popular at Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Here you will find all the tips, ideas and ingredients you need for a successful raclette evening.

In addition to potato salad * with sausages and roast duck with red cabbage and dumplings,

raclette is

probably one of the most popular

Christmas dinners in Germany

No wonder: you only have to chop up a few ingredients to prepare, and in the evening everyone can prepare their favorite ingredients themselves.

And this type of meal is also very sociable, as you can sit comfortably together and talk for several hours while preparing small

raclette pans

The

perfect winter food

is such a Raclette also because it warms wonderful inside and fills you up.

Which raclette grill is right for you?

If you still have to buy a raclette grill, you should think carefully about which model suits your needs before buying.

There are raclette grills

for two to ten people

Will you often prepare raclette on your own or will you have many guests over?

Basically you can of course also use several pans in pairs, but then maybe it doesn't have to be the large, ten-piece set, especially since it will be more expensive than a small version.

There are also different raclette grill models with regard to the grill

plate

: In addition to the classic

metal plate

on which you can roast meat and Co., there are also models with

natural stone

on which you can even bake mini pizzas.

But pieces of meat tend to stick to a stone slab.

If you can't make up your mind, choose a raclette grill that combines both: a multifunctional raclette with a split plate made of grill and hot stone (promotional link).

By the way: If you ca

n't

decide

between

raclette and meat fondue

Christmas and New Year's Eve

, there are even models that combine table grill and fondue - very practical.

Also read: You can use

these tips to prepare a classy dinner at home.

That depends on the raclette grill: Tips for roasting meat and fish

You can

fry

meat and fish on the

raclette

grill plate.

It is best to choose meats that are suitable for pan-fried foods, for example

minute steaks, sliced meat or fillet

of pork or beef.

Those who prefer poultry can also cut turkey breast or chicken fillet into slices and cook them on the table grill.

Count on around

200-250 grams of meat per person

, depending on how many other ingredients you offer for the raclette.

Cut the meat as

thinly

as possible

or into bite-sized pieces

so that it doesn't take too long to cook on the raclette grill.

You can marinate the meat beforehand as you wish.

A simple

marinade

made from olive oil, herbs such as rosemary and thyme, onions and garlic

tastes delicious

Also

fish

is well suited to be cooked on a Raclette.

Count on

180 to 200 grams of fish per person

Salmon steak or salmon fillet, trout or tuna,

for example, taste good

That goes into the raclette pans: sausage, vegetables and Co.

You can cook everything that fits in the pans.

Sausages such as

salami, bacon and ham

are well suited

, but small

crabs

are also

tasty.

Vegetarians in particular enjoy

meat-free ingredients for raclette

You can take anything that the vegetable drawer has to offer, for example

peppers

, mushrooms, boiled potatoes, cocktail tomatoes, corn and courgettes

Harder varieties such as carrots and aubergine are difficult to cook in a pan.

You should cut the vegetables

into bite-sized pieces

before the raclette evening

and put them on the table in small bowls.

Each guest can put together their own ingredients individually.

You should

pre-cook

potatoes

just before you start

so that they only have to be baked in the raclette

pan when

sliced.

Also interesting: the

main thing is that it is greasy: this is the right cheese for raclette and fondue.

The right raclette cheese: what you should pay attention to

If you want to make things easy for yourself, buy

raclette cheese

It is, of course, specialized in the preparation of raclette, which means that it melts well and has a suitable aroma, depending on your taste, it can be a mild or stronger variety.

It is important that the cheese has a

fat content of at least 40 to 45 percent

so that it has a nice consistency when it melts.

For example,

mozzarella

, mountain cheese or butter cheese

taste

delicious when they are used to gratinate the raclette pans.

Those who like a stronger aroma in cheese will be

happy

with

Gorgonzola

If you want, you can offer your guests different types of cheese to choose from.

For a raclette evening, calculate with around

200 to 250 grams of cheese per person

In the video: Eating on Christmas Eve - This is what Germany eats

The best side dishes for raclette: bread, sauces and drinks

In addition to meat, vegetables and cheese, certain side dishes should not be missing:

Serve with some fresh

baguette

or ciabatta
.
It tastes great with the gratinated ingredients from the raclette pan.
Silver onions
and

gherkins
or pickles that can be eaten with it
are also traditional
.
And

sauces and dips
are important for a perfect raclette evening.
Here you can prepare or buy everything you and your guests like: herb butter, cocktail sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, tzatziki, barbecue or chili sauce.