Malakoff (food) facts for kids
Two malakoffs
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| Type | Cheese dish |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Region or state | Vaud |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredients | Cheese |
| Variations | Vinzel beignet |
A malakoff is a delicious ball of fried cheese. You can usually find this special dish in western Switzerland. It's especially popular in villages like Eysins, Begnins, Bursins, Luins, and Vinzel. These villages are all located near the beautiful Lake Geneva. In Vinzel, it's sometimes called a “Vinzel beignet.”
The name "Malakoff" comes from a famous battle. This tasty cheese dish was first made by Swiss mercenaries (soldiers who fight for money) during a long battle called the Siege of Sevastopol.
History of Malakoff
Let's go back to the time of the Crimean War (1853-1856). During this war, soldiers from England and France were fighting. Many Swiss soldiers were also part of their armies. They were stuck outside a city called Sevastopol. This city was protected by a strong place called Fort Malakoff.
A general named Aimable Pélissier had his soldiers dig special zigzag trenches. These trenches helped the soldiers get closer to the fort safely, away from the enemy's cannons. During this long time, a story says that soldiers would fry slices of cheese in a pan. Or, they might have just warmed the cheese over a campfire. However, the Swiss soldiers' daily food didn't actually include cheese. So, no old writings have proven this story.
The Fall of Sevastopol
After a very long siege that lasted eleven months, Fort Malakoff was finally captured in September 1855. Taking this fort led to the fall of Sevastopol. This also helped bring about a peace agreement called the Treaty of Paris on March 30, 1856.
When the Swiss soldiers returned home, many from Geneva and the La Côte area would gather. They would fry slices of cheese in butter, just like the story from the war. They ate it with bread and drank lots of white wine. To remember the brave attacks on the famous Sevastopol tower, they named this cheese dish "Malakoff" after the fort.
How the Modern Malakoff Began
The malakoff we know today got its start a bit later, between 1880 and 1891. A young couple named Jules and Ida Larpin from Bursins worked for Prince Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte. They worked at his home, the Prangins villa.
One day, Prince Napoleon was hosting a party for soldiers who had fought in the Crimean War. Mrs. Larpin loved trying new things in cooking. The prince asked her to make something special to honor his guests. So, she served a new version of malakoffs as a starter. It was a slice of cheese covered in pastry, then fried and cooked in butter. This is how the modern malakoff recipe came to be!
Serving Malakoffs
Malakoffs are often served as an appetizer before the main meal. In the past, malakoffs were usually shaped like sticks. Vinzel beignets, on the other hand, were more like balls of grated cheese on bread that were then fried.
However, these differences have become less clear over the years. Today, many restaurants serve malakoffs that are round, like balls, just like the Vinzel beignets.
