Every nation has its own famous dishes, some better than others. Many will say the food of their country is simply the best. Spain is famous for its tapas and paella, Thailand for their mixed rice and Argentina for their awesome barbecues. I was convinced that the Netherlands didn’t have an own identity when it comes to food, because we mainly try food from different countries. However, when I thought about it we have a lot of dishes which are exclusive for the Netherlands. Underneath I summed up some examples:
1. Stamppot – Stew
Stamppot is a typical Dutch dish which comes in many forms. The base consists of mashed potatoes combined with a vegetable, such as endive, carrots, unions or cabbage. To add some bite, you can either add smoked sausage with bacon, or add some meatballs to it. To finish the dish, you can add the gravy of the meat for the perfect flavor.
2. Poffertjes – Mini Pancakes
Another typical Dutch snack is poffertjes. Poffertjes is made of the same base as pancakes, it only comes in a smaller form and in larger numbers. Poffertjes is mainly eaten with powdered sugar and butter. But off course you can add all kinds of different flavors. Variate your poffertjes by adding some fruits or chocolate!
3. Kroket – Croquette
A delicious snack but a really bad one when it comes to your diet is the Kroket. The kroket is fried in oil, which makes it crispy, but soft inside. The inside is filled with a ragout of beef or goulash. The kroket also comes in a smaller version named the bitterbal. The best way to eat a kroket is with bread and mustard, or with some fries.
4. Stroopwafels – Syrup Waffles
A stroopwafel is a combination of two cookies with syrup in between. It is a beloved and traditional treat that is said to originate from the city of Gouda. If you go to an open-air market or fare during your stay, the sweet smell of freshly made syrup waffles will probably attract your attention. It is really a delicious sweetness that is worth a try!
5. Drop – Licorice
Very famous and eaten a lot in the Netherlands is licorice. These special sweets, made with salmiak, sugar and gum arabic gum, are not very popular among foreigners the first time they try. So if you are going to try it for the first time, it might be best to start with gentle sweet liquorice.
Comments