Winter is long, dark, and cold, there’s no getting away from it—unless you live somewhere that is blessed with winter sun, of course. But for millions, this season can be tough. And that’s why people have developed fun traditions to help them through it, like raclette. The melted cheese dish originates from the Alpine region of Switzerland, but it’s popular across Europe. France, in particular, is a big fan of raclette. In January 2020, one YouGov poll found that 87 percent of French people eat raclette during the winter months.
The dish is hearty, warming, and social; traditionally cooked on an indoor grill and eaten by the fire with friends and family when it’s freezing outside. But there are no firm rules about when to eat raclette—it can be enjoyed all year round. And you can also change how it’s prepared—it doesn’t have to be made with dairy at all. In fact,…