Most of us think of chocolate and cheese when it comes to Swiss food, who can blame us for that? After all, one of the two things Swiss do best is cheese and one chocolate. However, if you visit Switzerland, there are other delicacies that you should taste. You should really try the food that locals always eat and to enjoy the taste of Switzerland like a true Swiss.
Let’s take a look at these authentic Swiss food under the influence of Italy, Germany and France.
1. Bircher Muesli
This mixture was created by a Swiss doctor named Maximilian Bircher Benner in order not to make patients eat heavy meals. It has now become a must in the Swiss breakfasts. Soaked overnight oats are mixed with yoghurt, and Bircher muesli is prepared by adding fruit and nuts.
Click here for the recipe: Bircher Muesli Recipe
2. Cheese Fondue
When it comes to Swiss food, the first thing that comes to mind is the cheese fondue. It was first made by Swiss people who wanted to find a way to consume their dried and stale bread and cheese in a period of food shortage.
This dish, which is preferred in the winter months, is prepared by adding white wine, garlic, cornmeal and some cherry liquor to melted cheese. It is served in a ceramic pot under a small portable stove. Bread pieces are held in long fondue forks and dipped in fondue.
But beware, according to Swiss traditions, if your bread escapes from your fork and gets lost in the fondue, you may be punished by singing or running naked through the snow 🙂
Click here for the recipe: Cheese Fondue Recipe
Bonus: Chocolate Fondue Recipe
3. Raclette
Just like fondue, Raclette is a dish that is preferred during the winter months. A raclette grill is placed in the middle of the table and there are small pans under the grill where everyone can cook their own cheese. Melted cheese is served on either boiled potatoes or poured into pieces of bread. You can cook meat, sausage, bacon, mushrooms and peppers on the grill.
Click here for the recipe: Raclette Recipe
4. Rösti
Rösti, Switzerland’s most famous potato dish, is made by frying grated potatoes. This grated potato, which is crispy on the outside and soft inside, is added bacon, onion, cheese and apple paste.
Click here for the recipe: Rösti Recipe
Bonus: Apfelmus Recipe
5. Bratwurst
Although Bratwurst is of German origin, it is also one of the main foods of Swiss people. A flavour that you can come across at every corner while wandering the streets of cities. Like doner kebab around the world, Bratwurst is the most common fast food here.
Click here for the recipe: Bratwürst Recipe
6. Zürcher Geschnetzeltes
This dish, which can be considered as the signature of the Canton of Zurich, is made by adding white wine, mushroom and cream sauce to the meat and usually served with rösti.
Click here for the recipe: Zürcher Geschnetzeltes Recipe
7. Brezel
One of the indispensable Swiss breakfasts is Brezel. It can be found almost everywhere; bakery, patisserie, market, cafe and in addition to plain varieties, there are also varieties with salami, cheese and even desserts made by Brezels.
Click here for the recipe: Brezel Recipe
8. Papet Vaudois
This dish, which is prepared by cooking mashed potatoes and leeks with white wine for a long time and served with pork sausage on it, is one of the most traditional Swiss dishes.
Click here for the recipe: Papet Vaudois Recipe
9. Tartiflette
Tartiflette, whose homeland is France, is one of the most beautiful forms of potatoes. This dish, which is cooked in the oven by adding lardon (a kind of bacon cut into cubes), onion, cream and cheese on thinly sliced potatoes, is one of the most consumed dishes in Switzerland.
Click here for the recipe: Tartiflette Recipe
10. Meat Fondue (Fondue Chinoise)
As the name suggests, this meat fondue, whose homeland is China, is a traditional dish especially eaten at Christmas. The finely sliced beef is dipped in the broth in the fondue pot on the table and left in the broth for a minute or two and then eaten.
In the past, oil fondue (Fondue Bourguignonne) was preferred instead of broth, but nowadays, the version cooked in broth is preferred, which is both healthier and more odorless.
Click here for the recipe: Meat Fondue (Fondue Chinoise) Recipe
11. Älplermagronen
This dish, which consists of a mixture of pasta, cheese, boiled potatoes and pork, is eaten with caramelized onion sauce and apple puree. After the Gotthard tunnel was built in the country, thanks to the Italians, they mixed other ingredients to give energy and satiety while doing jobs that require intense body conditioning in the Alps. Then Äplermagronen, the traditional mountain dish of Switzerland, emerged.
Click here for the recipe: Älplermagronen Recipe
12. Spätzle
This pasta made of egg dough is cooked in butter without drying as it is prepared and served with cheese on it. It is generally served with meat dishes and sauced dishes.
Click here for the recipe: Spätzle Recipe
13. Berner Platte
This “Bern plate” consists of various meats and sausages such as beef, ham, bacon, pork tongue, ribs, pork loin, shoulder, bone marrow in addition to sauerkraut and potatoes.
Click here for the recipe: Berner Platte Recipe
Bonus: Sauerkraut Recipe
14. Capuns
This is one of the most interesting Swiss dishes. Although it looks like ”sarma” in appearance, it is made by wrapping spätzle dough and dried meat inside chard leaves. These prepared sarmas are cooked in a mixture of milk, water and broth and served with grated cheese.
Click here for the recipe: Capuns Recipe
You can browse here for all Swiss recipes.
