In short: Keto raclette keeps the melted cheese and the cured meats, but swaps the potatoes and bread for roasted vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms and courgettes. Prawns and chicken grilled on the plate round out the meal, without a gram of starch.
Chef’s tip
Let’s be clear from the start: keto, short for ketogenic, is a way of eating that is very low in carbohydrates (often under 20 to 50 g a day) and high in fat. Raclette suits it surprisingly well, because raclette cheese contains almost no carbs: it’s the potatoes and bread that bring most of them. Take those away, put roasted vegetables in their place, and the evening is still a proper raclette.
What this recipe is not: a light meal, or a promise of weight loss or good health. 200 g of cheese per person is a lot of fat and calories, keto or not. If you follow a ketogenic diet for a medical reason, talk it through with your doctor. For the cheese, a raw-milk raclette has more flavour and makes up for the missing potato; the oven-roasted vegetables bring crunch and a toasty note that goes very well with the cheese.
| Prep time | 30 min |
|---|---|
| Cook time | 35 min |
| Total | 1 h 05 |
| Servings | 4 people (adjustable) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Ingredients (for 4 people)
- 400 g broccoli florets
- 400 g cauliflower florets
- 300 g button mushrooms
- 2 courgettes
- 400 g raw peeled prawns
- 400 g chicken breast
- 250 g cured meats (prosciutto, coppa, air-dried beef)
- 800 g sliced raclette cheese
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 lemon
- Gherkins, salt and pepper
- Equipment: a raclette machine with grill plate and pans
Preparation
- Roast the broccoli and cauliflower. Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Spread the broccoli and cauliflower florets on a tray, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil, season and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are well browned.
- Prepare the courgettes and mushrooms. Slice the courgettes into 5 mm rounds and halve or quarter the mushrooms. They’ll cook on the grill plate at the table: keep them in a dish with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt.
- Marinate the chicken and prawns. Cut the chicken into 1 cm strips. Mix with the prawns, the rest of the oil, the crushed garlic, paprika, and the lemon zest and juice. Leave to marinate in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- Cook on the grill plate. Heat the raclette machine for 10 minutes. Put the chicken on the grill plate and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning, until no longer pink in the middle. The prawns take 2 minutes per side, until pink; the courgettes and mushrooms 4 to 5 minutes.
- Melt the raclette. Meanwhile, slide a slice of raclette into each pan and let it melt under the element for 3 to 4 minutes, until it bubbles.
- Serve. Arrange the roasted vegetables, cured meats and gherkins on the plates. Everyone pours melted raclette over their vegetables, prawns and chicken, scraping the pan with the spatula.
Chef’s tips
- Dry the vegetables well after washing: wet, they steam instead of roasting.
- Keep the roasted vegetables warm in the switched-off oven, door ajar.
- Check the label on the cured meats: some contain added sugar (dextrose).
- To drink, choose water or a dry wine: beer and soft drinks are high in carbs.
Variations
- Fish: cubes of salmon and scallops instead of chicken.
- Vegetarian: grilled halloumi, peppers and aubergine, no cured meats.
- Smoky: smoked raclette and cauliflower roasted with smoked paprika.
Which wine to serve?
A dry white from Savoie such as Chignin, or a Fendant from Valais, goes with the cheese without adding sugar. In moderation, keto or not.
Frequently asked questions
What does keto actually mean?
It’s short for ketogenic: a way of eating that is very low in carbohydrates and high in fat. Here we simply remove the potatoes and bread, which are the main sources of carbs in a raclette.
Will keto raclette help me lose weight?
We promise nothing of the sort. It’s a meal rich in cheese, so in fat and calories. It suits people who limit carbs, not people looking for a light meal.
Does raclette cheese contain carbs?
Very few, usually under a gram per 100 g. Still check the label on flavoured cheeses and cured meats.
🧀 The right grill: To grill prawns, chicken and vegetables while the cheese melts, you need a machine with a proper grill plate: the best raclette grills, tested and compared.
Read also: all our raclette recipes.
