Swiss cuisine, like the country itself, consists of combinations of three different cultures. Officially, the Swiss Confederation is inhabited by three nations living in three separate territories: German, Italian and French. Administratively, the country consists of 20 cantons and 6 semi-cantons, each of which has all the power, its constitution and laws and has its own governing bodies. And each canton has its own recipes for Swiss cuisine.
This is why the recipes that make up the Swiss cuisine tradition can be divided into 26 separate groups( according to the number of cantons and semi-cantons).The formation of this cuisine was greatly influenced by neighboring countries, as well as by the natural conditions of the cantons.
Switzerland is famous for its mountain passes and plains. The climate in the country is moderate. Its business card can be considered chocolate and cheese. The dishes of this country are uncomplicated variations of Italian, French and German dishes, the recipes of which complement the ingredients available to the inhabitants of the cantons.
Favorite Swiss products
The main products for Swiss cooks are vegetables( potatoes, cabbage, carrots and spinach), meat, milk, beans, rice, pasta, cheese, sausages, fruit and chocolate. Strangely enough, but with a fairly developed livestock, meat is not an obligatory ingredient in the Swiss table dishes. Spices and spicy herbs in cooking they use very little.
At home, local people prepare simple meals, most often for breakfast. And they prefer to have dinner and supper in cafes or restaurants. The people of Switzerland like bread, and in its various forms. Every day with fondue, butter or cheese they eat black, white, rye, wheat, dietary, sausage and bran bread. As a rule, for breakfast Swiss eat sandwiches, fresh bread, butter, cheese with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. At lunch they are usually limited to a snack, but at dinner they eat all the main dishes.
The best Swiss cuisine
Swiss national cuisine gave the world a sufficient number of dishes, without which it would not be so interesting and original. So, thanks to the francophone Romandia( the territory of Switzerland) the whole world knows such dishes as "fondue", "raclette" and pie "cholera".The latter should be told especially. Its slightly awesome name cake owes to the era in which it appeared. And to this day this pie with apple-potato filling is considered a delicacy. The culinary traditions of the canton of Ticino are so similar to the cuisine of Italian Lombardy, which is not surprising the presence in the Swiss menu of dishes such as risotto with saffron and polenta.
Among the world-famous dishes of Swiss cuisine, it is worth highlighting birkhermyusli - a great breakfast, or Birli - small loaves, which are served with shashlik. The history of birchermusli began in 1900, when Dr. Birkher created a recipe for a balanced breakfast consisting of cereals, oat flakes, nuts, fruits, seeds and cinnamon. First, the taste of muesli was appreciated by the doctor's patients, and then he was loved all over the world.
The most famous dish of Swiss cuisine, without a doubt is fondue. This dish is prepared from a mixture of cheeses and served it with diced white bread, pears and rice. From drinks, Swiss people prefer to drink white or red wine, as well as beer.
From desserts you should try homemade cakes, casseroles, chocolate cake, carrot pie, numerous rolls and biscuits, and, of course, one hundred percent Swiss chocolate.