Raclette Sandwich

Raclette cheese makes the most melty, gooey sandwich you could ever imagine. Get an authentic taste of the Swiss Alps with this fresh and cheesy raclette sandwich.

The food in Switzerland just can’t be beat. I honestly dream about it! From fancy fondues, to decadent Swiss cheese pies, to simple baguettes and cheese sandwiches and everything in between, it is just *so* good. One of our favorite things to do when we were in Switzerland was to buy sandwiches from the bakery or market, wrap them up, and eat them while hiking. Food just tastes better with a view, right?

Depending on where you hike, you can also stop at little restaurants along the trail and grab a quick bite. One of these times, we dropped into a place that served simple baguette sandwiches but for a couple Swiss francs more, they would scrape on a heap of melted raclette. I thought the simple deli sandwiches were incredible but I am telling you, adding that raclette didn’t just take it to the next level, it sent it through the roof! When I got home, I couldn’t wait to recreate that sandwich in my own kitchen and ultimately share it with you guys!

What is Raclette?

Raclette is a beautiful, traditional Swiss cheese. Made from aged cow’s milk, it has a taste and smell that ranges from mild to sharp. Described as being slightly “funky” people typically enjoy this cheese paired with other things such as vegetables or meats.

Raclette also defines a way of enjoying cheese, melted and served over vegetables such as potatoes, cured meats, or even pickles. Raclette comes from the French word “to scrape”. This cheese is used in sandwiches and dishes in its melted form to cover whatever you’d like in deliciousness. If you want to dive more into Raclette and how to serve it, I wrote an entirely separate post about how to make raclette with dinner ideas, recipes, and everything. Check it out! This sandwich is like a raclette dinner, but with all the ingredients piled together in sandwich form. If you love raclette, you are going to *love* this sandwich!

Ingredients

There are only a few ingredients in this sandwich, but for a tasty outcome, it’s important to buy quality ingredients.

• Slice of Raclette cheese – this will be melted on top. You can find raclette at most grocery stores with a specialty cheese section. I got a block right off the wheel at Fred Meyer. You can also find it seasonally (fall and winter) at Trader Joe’s, pre-sliced.
• Fresh baguette – The fresher the bread, the better! I got the “take and bake” baguette from Fred Meyer (they also have a great one at Trader Joe’s), and it was perfect. As soon as it was hot and finished crisping up, I made my sandwich. Of course you can also make your own bread, but I lack that kind of patience when I have raclette on the mind!
• Stone ground mustard – Dijon also works!
• Prosciutto – you’ll need about 4 slices per sandwich. I got the Parma ham prosciutto from Costco for a great price and it tasted just like the prosciutto I got in Switzerland.
• Cornichons – these are like a small pickle, you could also use dill gherkins  

Substitutions for Raclette Cheese

If you can’t find Raclette or don’t wish to use it, the most common substitution is Gruyère, it has a strong nutty flavor with a firm texture. This cheese is easy to find in most grocery stores. Another option would be Fontina cheese. This cheese is semi-hard and also has a nutty flavor with a rich and creamy texture. It’s also easy to find at the grocery store. A third option is Gouda. This cheese has a milder, yet still nutty flavor and a great texture for melting. You can find this cheese most anywhere.

How to Make a Raclette Sandwich

You may have seen pictures of chefs in restaurants melting Raclette off a huge cheese wheel. While this is eye-catching and certainly stirs the senses, it isn’t practical for the everyday cook. We use something called a Raclette maker or a Raclette pan. These are long, rectangular pans used to melt one piece of Raclette at a time, much more practical!

This sandwich seems a lot fancier than it is, follow along to see how easy this is to make:

• Step 1: slowly (as to not burn) melt your cheese on the Raclette pan, or on a non-stick pan on top of the stove.
• Step 2: as the cheese melts, prepare your baguette by cutting it lengthwise, but not all the way through. Imagine a book, you want to be able to fold it open while it’s still attached in the back. Use a fresh baguette right out of the oven for best results!
• Step 3: spread mustard on the bread and top with cornichons and meat.
• Step 4: when the cheese is melted and perfectly ooey gooey, slide it off the pan and onto the meat and toppings of your sandwich.
• Step 5: close your sandwich and serve.

Sandwich Variations

Ham – choose your favorite ham and either arrange on the sandwich as is, or slightly grill the slices of ham in your skillet for a different flavor. The slight sweetness of the ham complements the cheese wonderfully.

Pastrami or salami (see image below) – the nuttiness and creaminess of the cheese perfectly balance out the salty flavors of these meats. This is my husband’s favorite way to enjoy a raclette sandwich. He likes to heat the pastrami in a skillet before adding it to the hot bread to the entirety of the sandwich is hot. I’ve gotta say, it’s dang good.

Bacon – this is a classic combination you have to try!

Burgers – although this isn’t technically a sandwich, the combination is unbeatable and you have to try it!

More Hot Sandwich Recipes

Aren’t hot sandwiches the best? Here are some more!

French Dip with Au Jus
Meatball Sub Sandwiches
Easy Philly Cheesesteaks
Mushroom Swiss Roast Beef Sliders
Corned Beef Sandwiches
Chicken Pesto Sandwiches
Hot Turkey Sandwiches
Arby’s Beef and Cheddar