By far the most important side dish with raclette is the cheese - but not every type is equally suitable for the table grill: In addition to the right seasoning, it needs a particularly high fat content (at least 45 percent) so that it stays nice and creamy when melted becomes. Hearty cheeses from Switzerland, France or the Allgäu are best suited for pure raclette pleasure. Otherwise you are completely free in your choice of side dishes, but below you will find a list of the most important ingredients that you can either buy ready to serve or cut into bite-sized pieces. In any case, various types of meat, fish, cheese and vegetables can be ideally combined with cheese. And if you have to get a new raclette grill in advance, you will also find a few helpful (buying) tips here.

Whether the grill is round, square or oval at the end of the day is irrelevant in terms of taste. The only important thing is how many pans are needed - before you buy, you should think twice about whether you want to eat raclette more often with two, four or six people. And also whether you prefer a pure metal plate, one made of natural stone or possibly a combination of both components? Natural stone slabs have the advantage that the heat is distributed more evenly and you can also bake small mini pizzas on them without any fat. On the other hand, due to the lack of a non-stick coating, pieces of meat in particular stick to it, so the table grill should best be adapted to the ingredients that you prefer for raclette. A combination of metal and natural stone is also possible, but then you only have half as much space per surface. If you still need help in making a decision, you will find a small selection of different models here:

1. WMF raclette grill with reversible cast iron plate

The smaller version for two to four people can be found here.

2. Severin party grill with natural grill stone plate

There is also a smaller version for up to four people.

3. Solis raclette grill and fondue in one

4. Clatronic grill with hot stone and cast iron plate

The single version for one or two people is available here.

For those undecided who can't decide between raclette and fondue on New Year's Eve, there is also this practical combination.

In and of itself, you can put whatever you like on the table grill. However, you must be aware that raw vegetables in particular, such as potatoes, do not cook and should therefore be pre-cooked. To ensure that your guests are well taken care of, vegetarians and meat eaters alike, you should serve up a colorful selection of exquisite ingredients if possible - so there is something for every taste. Starting with the cheese: Here you can either use classic raclette cheese, which you can get ready-cut in the supermarket, or other types like the ones mentioned above. But Emmental, Gouda, Mozzarella or Gorgonzola can also be used. Tip: It is best to calculate with 200 grams of cheese per person. The following ingredients are also suitable for grilling:

MeatFillet pieces are best suited for grilling, regardless of whether they are chicken, beef, pork or turkey. It is best to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces before placing it on the cast plate. Alternatively, you can also fry bacon, small meatballs or even wieners. Plan 150 grams per head here.

Fish You can also rely on fillets when it comes to fish – salmon or trout are ideal here, but also tuna or shrimp. With fish (as with meat), it is important that you do not prepare the raw ingredients in the pans, but directly on the grill plate. Otherwise the food will not cook properly. Unless you par-cook the fish first.

Vegetables In addition to boiled potatoes (it is best to calculate with 200 grams per head), tomatoes and onions, peppers and courgettes, corn and mushrooms go particularly well with raclette cheese. Of course, you can also use very hard vegetables such as aubergines or carrots, but these varieties remain al dente even after grilling.

Fruits can sweeten the raclette evening in the truest sense of the word. In addition to pineapple and tangerines, grapes or apples, mango or melon can also be served. Most of the fruit can be combined with hearty dishes in the pan according to personal taste. Only sour fruits such as lemons or grapefruit are less suitable.

Bread Baguette, which you can cut into hand-sized pieces, is particularly popular with raclette. But a classic toast or wholemeal bread – cut into thin slices – also goes very well with fish, meat and vegetables. Of course, you can also serve nachos in combination with the raclette cheese.

SauceLast but not least, an all-round successful raclette evening also includes an exquisite selection of dips and sauces: from (homemade) herb butter to hollandaise sauce to classic barbecue sauces (cocktail, barbecue, chili, curry), there are no limits to the flavors. Here you can dip as much as you can.

Since all food is presented unwrapped and cut on the table, it can go bad, dry out or tarnish faster. For this reason, time management is crucial for a successful evening. The best way to do this is as follows: Set up the table grill one to two hours in advance, set the table and distribute all the ingredients that were in cans or glasses in small bowls. Fruit and vegetables are then cut into small pieces and nicely arranged together with the cheese. 30 minutes before the start you can put the potatoes on and boil them so that they are still warm when serving. It is best to arrange the meat and fish shortly before your guests arrive - then nothing stands in the way of a delicious evening.

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