DID YOU KNOW ?
What a pleasure for me to propose you MY version of this iconic Swiss recipe from the French speaking part of Switzerland and more especially from the Canton of Vaud!
If there is one recipe that represents the beautiful Canton of Vaud, then this is the malakoffs, but so what?!… You will probably wonder what the interest is for me to relate you for the umpteenth time the popular legend of the origin of this dish?
We have indeed all probably heard that this recipe would have been developed by Swiss soldiers who served in the French and English army during the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856. To have an occupation during the very long siege of the city of Sebastopol, which was proudly defended by Fort Malakoff, they would have improvised themselves as cooks by frying small pieces of cheese with bread. Gossips would say they couldn’t because they didn’t have cheese in their war ration—so what?
Parcels sent by their families or local looting couldn’t they have allowed this? We’ll never know!
However, we sometimes tend to forget that this recipe was developed at the Villa Prangins on behalf of Prince Jérôme Bonaparte by the Larpin family, who then opened an “auberge” in Eysins.
Finally, don’t be surprised to discover my stick-shaped Malakoffs. It appears like this was the original shape. The ones in the shape of a half-sphere would represent the donuts of Vinzel.
Enjoy the tasting !