Rösti

Rösti

A plate of rösti with a parsley garnish
Type Side dish
Place of origin Switzerland
Region or state Canton of Bern
Main ingredients Potatoes, butter or other fat
Cookbook:Rösti  Rösti
The rösti is often given a round shape by the frying pan

Rösti ([ˈrøːʃti]) or röschti is a Swiss dish consisting mainly of potatoes. It was originally a common breakfast eaten by farmers in the canton of Bern, but today is eaten all over Switzerland and also in many restaurants in the western world. Many Swiss people consider rösti a national dish. Today, rather than considering it a complete breakfast, it is more commonly served to accompany other dishes such as "Spinat und Spiegelei" (spinach and fried eggs, sunny side up), cervelas or Fleischkäse. It is also a dish one can order in many Swiss restaurants to replace the standard side dish of any given meal.

Preparation

Rösti is made with coarsely grated potato, either cooked or raw. Depending on the frying technique, butter or another fat may be added (and usually salt and pepper). If not, oil is used for the frying. The grated potatoes are then shaped into rounds or patties, which come in different sizes, usually measuring between 3–12 cm (1 to 5 inches) in diameter and 1–2 cm (0.5 inch) thick. Often, rösti is simply shaped inside of the frying pan. They are most often pan-fried, but can also be baked in the oven. Although basic rösti consists of nothing but potato, a number of additional ingredients are sometimes added, such as bacon, onion, cheese, apple or fresh herbs. This is often considered to be a regional touch.

Cultural impact

In Swiss popular cultural ethos, rösti is mostly eaten only in the German-speaking part of the country, although it can be found easily in the rest of the country. It is portrayed as a stereotypical identifier of Germanic culture, as opposed to the Latin one. The line separating the French and German speaking sides is jokingly called the Röstigraben, literally the "rösti ditch".

See also

References

    External links

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