Rösti

Rösti

Rösti is a potato dish from Switzerland. It was originally a common breakfast eaten by farmers in the canton of Bern, but today is eaten all over Switzerland. Many Swiss people consider rösti a national dish. It normally is no longer eaten for breakfast but eaten as a sidedish to meat and vegetables.

Rösti is made with potatoes which are grated and often mixed with some fat such as oil. They are then shaped into rounds or patties, which come in different sizes usually measuring from around 3-12 cm (1 to 5 inches) in diameter. They are most often shallow fried but can also be baked in the oven. A number of additional ingredients are often added, such as bacon, onions, cheese, apples or fresh herbs.

There are different views on what makes a perfect rösti. The greatest difference in views is on whether to use raw or boiled potatoes to start with. Also, the kind of potato which makes the best rösti dish is widely disputed.

The issue on raw versus boiled potatoes is commonly considered solved as follows. If rösti is a side dish and the main dish is meat with sauce, then boiled potatoes are taken. This allows the rösti to soak in some of the sauce. On the other hand, if rösti is the main dish (particularly of served with cheese), raw potatoes are more suitable.

Rösti is sometimes considered unhealthy, because of the amount of butter or oil that is used during the frying. It is possible to use up to a third of butter compared to the amount of potatoes used.