10 popular dishes to savour in Switzerland

First of all, you should know that Swiss cuisine is influenced by its neighbouring countries. Traditional German recipes fuse with French touches, and of course Italian gastronomy has also left its legacy. And that means there is some very tasty food to be had in Switzerland. So, let's take a look at what you can eat in Switzerland and which dishes are typical there.

Cheese fondue

It is probably the most famous dish of Switzerland. It's basically a mixture of processed cheese with liqueur or white wine added, served in a ceramic pot called a Caquelon, which is placed on the cooker (réchaud) or fire to keep the cheese warm. The fun is that you dip a few slices of bread into cheese with long forks, while holding a glass of wine or a good beer in the other hand.

Raclette

Next up is a dish that will drive cheese lovers crazy, if you're not one of them, you may have a hard time in Switzerland. Raclette is a type of cheese that is usually associated with a special preparation: it is cut in half and placed next to a heat source that melts the top of the cheese. When the cheese is soft, you run a knife over it to separate it from the cheese that is still hard and you have Raclette. Raclette cheese is usually eaten with potatoes or onions and pickled gherkins, but it can also be served as a side dish with meat or eaten as is.

Swiss cheese

It is undeniable that cheese is one of the symbols of Switzerland and we have already seen it used in several recipes. The secret here is the milk. There are many different varieties of cheese, at least try Gruyere, Emmentaler, Appenzeller or Tête de Moine.

Rösti

This is one of our favourite Swiss dishes, and if it involves potatoes, it's definitely a favourite! Rösti is a flattened omelette (without eggs, of course) made from grated potatoes fried in hot oil, reminiscent of American hash browns. Although in the past this dish was served for breakfast, nowadays it is the perfect brunch option.

Älplermagronen

"Macaroni of the Alps" is how you can translate this recipe, as it is a macaroni dish with cheese, cream, onions and applesauce. It's simple to prepare and the baked au gratin at the end gives it a delicious twist. It's a bit of a shock to Italians, but the dish is a big hit there. If at home spaghetti with tomatoes is a wild card, in Switzerland it's Älplermagronen.

Zürcher Geschnetzeltes

This dish is typical of the city and neighbourhood of Zurich, although it can easily be found anywhere in the country. Basically, it's a dish of veal cut into strips, cooked with mushrooms, onions, cream and white wine. It is served with fries, mashed potatoes, rösti, pasta or rice. This dish reminded us a bit of Russian stroganoff.

Tartiflette

It is made with boiled potatoes, smoked bacon, caramelised onions and cheese (in the original recipe it is made with Reblochon cheese). It is usually served in a separate mould and although this gives it a tart-like appearance, make no mistake, its name comes from the Savoyard potato known as Tartiflette.

Risotto with saffron

Originating from Milan and Lombardy, this dish is made with rice, onions, wine, wine, cheese and, most importantly, saffron from the village of Mund in the canton of Valais, which is considered one of the best in the world and one of the most expensive. Curious: in Italy, this risotto is known as "risotto alla milanese".

Birchermüesli

It is one of the most typical Swiss breakfasts: a bowl of oatmeal, nuts, lemon juice, dried fruit, milk or yoghurt (some people add fresh fruit such as raspberries or blueberries). While this dish may look unappetising at first glance, it's actually very tasty. And it's healthy too, as its inventor was a doctor who had the idea of including healthy and energising food in his patients' diets.

Basler Mehlsuppe

This recipe hails from Basel (as the name suggests), and the second part of its name, "mehlsuppe", translates to "flour soup". It is a simple soup to prepare, but like most soups, it is great, especially on cold days. It is a very typical dish during Fasnacht, the Basel carnival.

This dish is one of those traditional recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation in all Swiss families and is prepared differently in each family. It is a kind of chard flatbread filled with a dough made of flour and eggs, to which other ingredients may be added, and cooked in milk and water. There are versions in which it is fried or baked.

In conclusion, Switzerland is indeed a beautiful country with its varied dishes. As you could realise, there are so many things to try besides cheese and chocolate.