In short: Thin apple slices and fresh figs warmed in the raclette pan with a little raclette cheese, then drizzled with honey and sprinkled with walnuts. It’s the cheese board and the dessert combined in a single pan.
Chef’s tip
There’s always a guest who swears, hand on heart, that they’re “not hungry at all anymore.” Set a pan of apple, cheese and honey in front of them and watch the conversion live.
The real tip: cut the fruit thinly and use little cheese. Half a slice per pan is enough: the cheese should blanket the fruit, not crush it. Add the honey when the pan comes out of the grill, never before, otherwise it caramelizes too fast and turns bitter.
| Prep time | 15 min |
|---|---|
| Cook time | 10 min |
| Total | 25 min |
| Servings | 4 people (adjustable) |
| Difficulty | Very easy |
Ingredients (for 4 people)
- 360 g of sliced raclette cheese
- 2 apples (tart, such as Reinette or Boskoop)
- 6 fresh figs
- 60 g of shelled walnuts
- 80 g of liquid honey
- ½ lemon (for the juice)
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme
- Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
- Prepare the apples. Wash the apples, remove the core and cut them into thin slices. Sprinkle them with lemon juice so they don’t turn brown.
- Cut the figs. Cut the figs into quarters, without peeling them.
- Toast the walnuts. Toast the walnuts for 3 minutes in a dry pan, then crush them coarsely.
- Turn on the grill. Plug in the raclette grill and let it heat for 10 minutes. Place the fruit, honey, walnuts and thyme in the center of the table.
- Fill the pans. Put a few apple slices and two or three fig quarters in each raclette pan, then cover with half a slice of cheese.
- Melt. Slide the pan under the heating element for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the fruit slightly warmed.
- Finish and serve. Slide the contents onto a plate, drizzle with honey, sprinkle with walnuts and thyme, and add a turn of the pepper mill.
Chef’s tips
- Choose tart apples: their acidity balances the richness of the cheese and the sweetness of the honey.
- Out of fig season, replace them with dried figs cut into thin slices.
- A mild raclette cheese suits this sweet version better than a smoked or garlic one.
- Serve with a few slices of toasted walnut bread to tie it back to the cheese board.
Variations
- Replace the apples with pears and the honey with a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Add a few halved grapes and use hazelnuts instead of walnuts.
- For a more indulgent version, replace the thyme with a pinch of cinnamon and a few dried cranberries.
Which wine to serve?
A sweet white wine or a vin de paille goes well with the honey and fruit. Without alcohol, a sweet cider or sparkling apple juice does the job nicely.
Frequently asked questions
Which cheese for a fruit raclette?
A plain, mild raclette cheese. Smoked or flavored versions overpower the taste of the fruit.
How much cheese should I plan for a dessert?
About 80 to 100 g per person is enough, since fruit raclette comes at the end of the meal.
Can I make it with canned fruit?
Fresh or dried fruit is better: fruit in syrup releases too much juice in the pan.
Read also: Chocolate and fruit raclette and Roasted pears and caramelized onions for raclette
