Raclette - catering for different food needs

[Mumwithbaggage]

DD would like a birthday raclette on Sunday when 2 of her siblings and partners will be here so 8 of us.

Normally that would be an easy shout - potatoes, salad, French bread, cheese, slice some steak...

There will be 2 veggies (one more veggie than the other :), one nut allergy sufferer though this isn't bothering me and someone newly pregnant.

I have 2 raclette grills (borrowed one) and all cheese will be pasteurised so newly pregnant family member and veggies will use one (so no meat juices likely to drip).

My problem is, apart from some asparagus/mushrooms/broccoli maybe what will be exciting for the veggies (ideas on what to do with mushrooms etc very very welcome), and what meat option can I serve for ddil? Maybe roast a chicken or spatchcock chicken and put it on the table too? Is that too random??

Thanks. It's what dd has asked for - much easier to do a roast but it will be fun. I love any time my family (or at least most of them) are together.

Garlic dough balls
Popcorn cauliflower
Hash browns
Potato wedges
Pickled onions
Gherkins
Apple slices

I served a raclette at new year with a charcuterie plate plus Tesco finest fennel and chilli sausages, and gherkins, pickles, red cabbage. And a simple French salad with a vinaigrette dressing of grated shallot, red wine vinegar, oil and mustard.
I think roast chicken would be good also.
What about a whole roasted cauliflower, i did that one year with raclette.

I usually just chop up some veggies and put them under the grill too but I'm lazy! I mainly just love the grilled cheese dripping over the potatoes. Yum!
You could do something like roasted veg with chickpeas as a side. Really easy to do and tastes great.
You could do some tempura coated veggies (or buy the Itsu ones).

Cocktail sausages in a nice sticky glaze, on sticks!

I personally feel the cheese is the star and rich enough so I’m happy with veg (mushroom, cauliflower, red pepper are my favourites) along with baguette and potatoes and cornichon

i think some of the suggestions - particularly anything breaded - could be too much

also serve with a salad and dips and crudite

Oh and onions - don’t forget the onions!

For the veggies just plain mushrooms (I like the baby ones halved or sliced), peppers, onions and make sure you have cornichons on the side! And the bread and potatoes obv

I cheat and pre cook veggies to speed up the raclette- asparagus, courgette, tenderstem broccoli for example. Last time, I made a dish of patatas bravas which went down well. Mushrooms are good with garlic butter available.
I then do the usual cheese, charcuterie, steak, sometimes prawns and cooked chicken.

We love raclette - it’s such a sociable mess

we always have finely chopped shallots on the table - a sprinkle over the cheese is great

Mushrooms - we slice firm chestnut mushrooms and just pop them on the hot stone

We also like thin strips of red pepper

On the meat grill: for a touch of luxury, we sometimes buy smoked duck slices. They don’t need long to cook which is a bonus

Sauerkraut, fried apples & onions, pickled peppers.

What about a small soup/bread as entrée then the raclette as 'main'? Something thick and filling like curried cauliflower, celeriac, root veg?

Veg for raclette (not traditional I know!): peppers, thick slices of large tomatoes and cheese could go on the top, thin slices of celeriac with cheese on top, thin slices of courgettes. You'll need to check if the cheese contains rennet. I'm not veggie but have tried all sorts. Some work better than others in terms of melting or not- all delicious though. A tip if providing raw meat- partially freeze it. It makes it much easier to slice it very finely!

I'd also have snacky, antipasto type sides like olives, cornichons, pickled onions, little stuffed peppers etc.

Sorry - meat option: shredded slow cooked pork belly slow cooked in aniseed & orange zest.

When I used to have them with a veggie friend she enjoyed veggie 'meat' with hers - quorm ham and tofu mixed with cheese etc

For me raclette just has crudites, cornichons, mini picked onions and boiled new potatoes. And just the one actual raclette type of cheese.

With salad and bread on the side sometimes.

So the stuff you've got sounds great!

Thanks for all the ideas! Seems we're on the right lines.

We fried quails eggs on ours at new year. Can also do pizzas with ready made bases and sauce and sweet pans - pancakes / cookie dough / croissant dough

Quails eggs are very cute! Personally, I can't stomach fried eggs but I appreciate others may like them.

I just want cheese, bread, potatoes, and pickles. Perhaps additional pickled vegetables. I love a quick pickled vegetable. Meat is a large part of my diet, but this is a meal where it just isn’t needed and gets in the way of eating more cheese.

Quail eggs are best hard boiled and then grilled

@Ponderingwindow I'm all for more cheese!!