L'Aelplermagronen De Suisse Centrale

Aelplermagronen (Alpine herdsman’s macaroni) is one of Switzerland’s most beloved comfort dishes. Macaroni and diced potatoes cook together in the same pot, get drained, then tossed with grated cheese and milk while still piping hot so the cheese melts into a creamy sauce on contact. Softened onion rings go on top as a garnish.

This is mountain food in the truest sense. Swiss herders created this dish from ingredients they had at altitude: pasta, potatoes, cheese, milk, and onions. Nothing fancy, nothing wasted. The genius is in the simplicity. Cooking the macaroni and potatoes together means they absorb each other’s starch, creating a more cohesive, creamy dish than if cooked separately.

The recipe suggests using soup broth instead of plain salted water for cooking, and that’s worth trying. The pasta and potatoes absorb the broth’s flavor, adding another layer of savory depth to what starts as very humble ingredients. Freshly ground pepper and those soft, golden onion rings are all the garnish this needs.

Kitchen Tips

• Work quickly once drained. The cheese needs the residual heat of the hot pasta and potatoes to melt properly. If they cool too much, the cheese clumps instead of forming a sauce.
• Cook pasta and potatoes together from the start if possible. Cut potatoes small enough that they finish at the same time as the macaroni.
• Grate the cheese fine for the fastest, smoothest melt. Coarse shreds take longer and may not fully incorporate.
• Traditional accompaniment: In Switzerland, this is often served alongside applesauce or stewed pears. The sweet fruit against the cheesy pasta is a classic Alpine pairing.

Variations

• Use Gruyere or Emmental for the most authentic Swiss flavor. These alpine cheeses melt beautifully and have the right nutty character.
• Crispy onions: Instead of just softening the onions, fry them until deeply golden and crispy for more texture contrast.
• Add bacon or speck for a meatier, smokier version closer to what you’d find in some Swiss mountain huts.