Potatoes Raclette Food

RACLETTE (POTATOES AND CHEESE FROM SWITZERLAND)

Steps:

• Scrub the potatoes, but do not peel them. Use the tip of a knife to cut out any eyes.
• Put the potatoes in a pan of cold, salted water. Bring it to the boil and cook them for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Cut the cheese into thin slices.
• Check that the potatoes are cooked by pushing a sharp knife into one. It should come out easily.
• Drain the potatoes and let them cool a little. Cut them in half. Lay the cheese onto the cut side of each potato.
• Put the potatoes under the broiler (or onto a grill rack) and cook until the cheese melts and starts to bubble.

RACLETTE (MELTED CHEESE WITH POTATOES AND PICKLES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Heat four 10-inch oven-proof dinner plates in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. To ensure the success of the raclettes, the plates must be very hot.
• When ready to serve, remove the plates from the oven. Working as quickly as possible, arrange four slices of cheese in the center of each plate, overlapping them slightly. The cheese should begin to sizzle once it comes into contact with the plate. At once, place the four plates on the floor of the oven. Let cheese melt in the oven for about 2 minutes, being careful not to let it brown. Remove from the oven, place a potato and one or two gherkins and pickled onions on the side of each plate and serve at once. Serve each plate on a service plate to prevent scorching the table.

BAKED RACLETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the potatoes in a medium pot, cover with water by one inch, add 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are barely tender when tested with a wooden skewer. Drain and cover with a kitchen towel to steam for 5 minutes. Cut in half lengthwise and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large (12-inch) sauté pan, add the chorizo, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning often, until browned. Drain all but a tablespoon of the fat from the pan, add the potatoes, and toss to combine with the chorizo and fat. Off the heat, stir in the wine, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Divide the sausage and potatoes among four gratin dishes. Arrange the raclette in one layer over the potatoes and chorizo. Distribute the thyme sprigs on top. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is hot and bubbly.
• Remove the gratins from the oven, place the cornichons on top, and serve hot with the bread and mustard.

POTATOES RACLETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly grease a medium casserole dish.
• Place 1/3 of the potatoes in the dish, season, and top with 1/3 of the cheese.
• Repeat two more times.
• Pour on the cream.
• Cover and bake for 45 minutes.
• Remove the cover and bake 15 minutes longer.
• Allow to cool slightly before serving.

RACLETTE WITH POTATO ROUNDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss potatoes with olive oil and salt on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, tossing halfway through, until golden, about 17 minutes. Transfer potatoes to an ovenproof 6-inch skillet. Top with raclette. Bake until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Top with cornichons, and serve with toothpicks.

TWICE-BAKED POTATO-AND-RACLETTE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Butter a 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Bake potatoes directly on upper rack until tender, 1 hour to 1 hour, 15 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly; when cool enough to handle, cut in half and scoop out flesh, reserving skins. Rice or mash potato flesh in a large bowl; add butter, sour cream, cream cheese, half of raclette, milk, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and mix until smooth and creamy. Transfer to prepared dish; top with remaining raclette.
• Slice potato skins into 1 1/2-inch-wide strips. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet; toss with oil, garlic, sage, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread in a single layer. Bake casserole on upper rack and skins on lower rack until cheese melts and skins become crisp and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle roasted skins over casserole; top with chives and serve.

RACLETTE

Steps:

• In a large pot combine 8 cups water, potatoes and 1 tablespoon salt. Place over high heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, 15 to 25 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• If you have oven-proof plates, preheat a broiler. If you do not have oven-proof plates, preheat oven to 250 degrees. When cool enough to handle, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Divide the warm potatoes, cut-side up, evenly among four plates, arranging them in a pinwheel pattern.
• Arrange one quarter of the cheese slices in a single layer over each portion of potatoes, taking care to completely cover all potatoes. Broil or bake until cheese melts, about 3 minutes in a broiler or 10 minutes in an oven.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with scallions sprinkled on top. Cornichons, pickled onions and pickled cauliflower are optional accompaniments. If desired, the dish may be served with a green salad.

RACLETTE

Steps:

• Start by making the vinaigrette. Put the mustard and red wine vinegar into a bowl or jug and whisk together. Add salt and pepper then slowly add the sunflower oil, whisking as you go until the mixture is thick and smooth. Stir in the chopped chives and store in the fridge until needed.
• Boil the potatoes for 15-18 mins or until tender. Drain, leave to steam dry for a few mins then add the butter, keep warm until serving.
• Arrange all the other ingredients in bowls, plates and platters on the table. Set up and turn on the raclette machine according to manufacturer's instructions - you may want to set the raclette machine on a heatproof tray to catch any melty cheesy drips.
• Let your guests help themselves to ingredients - if your raclette machine has a top hot plate use this to keep the potatoes warm or crisp them up and use to cook the peppers if you don't want them raw.
• Get stuck in! Everyone should have their own mini handled tray on which to put a slice or two of raclette cheese. This then sits under the central grill until melted. With an arrangement of potatoes and/or cured meats etc on their plate, your guests can then scrape their own portion of melted cheese on top with a wooden paddle or spoon. Leave the jug of vinaigrette on the table so it can be drizzled over the potatoes or salad leaves to taste. Serve with crusty bread on the side.