On the Menu: Dutch Food

Eet Smakelijk!!

No, that's not what we're making for dinner, it's the Dutch phrase for "enjoy your meal"!!  The Netherlands are known for making some of my favorite types of food- cheese and licorice.  Not together, of course, that would be gross. 

The Dutch have been making cheese since 400 A.D. and are one of the largest exporters of cheese in the world.  Edam, gouda, beemster are a few examples.  There are markets set up just to sell cheese!

 

The people of the Netherlands also have a great fondness for licorice.  They have over 80 types of licorice, ranging from sweet to salty, chewy to hard.  I would definitely go crazy in their candy stores!!






Stamppot
 

The typical cuisine of the Netherlands is pretty simply prepared.  A very common dish is "stamppot", basically mashed potatoes mixed with mashed vegetables.  This is served with sausages or braised meat.  Soups and stews are very popular.  Sometimes they are almost the same thing- Dutch pea soup is traditionally so thick that a wooden spoon will stand straight up in the pot!  We made another traditional soup for our weekly recipe- Brown Bean Soup.

Bruine Bonen Soep (Brown Bean Soup)
recipe found on About.com
For the recipe you will need:

• 8oz bacon - cubed
• 3 shallots - chopped
• 2 carrots- diced
• 1 leek- sliced in rings
• 1 T ground paprika
• 3 cans of pinto beans- drained and rinsed
• 12oz. tomato puree
• 3 cups beef stock
• 2 bay leaves
• salt & pepper
• Worcestershire sauce

1. Fry the bacon in a large soup pot.  When crispy, remove some of the bacon for later.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients (except salt, pepper and Worcestershire).  Bring to boil, turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes at least, longer wouldn't hurt but you want the veggies soft.
3. Blend the soup with in a blender, food processor, or with an immersion blender until it's a little chunky but mostly smooth.
4.  Taste the soup and add seasonings to your taste.  Top with bacon and enjoy!

This soup was simple but good.  It was sweeter than I expected it to be, very nutritious and super easy to make.  I would've liked a little more, I don't know? Oomph? I'm used to pretty flavorful foods and this was just, well, BEAN SOUP. 

This weekend I found out there is a Dutch festival in SF!!  I swear I didn't plan that at all, but I am sooooo excited!  Apparently, April 30 is Queen's Day and the celebration is going to be held at the big windmill near the tulip gardens in Golden Gate Park!!  I will be sure to try some of the (hopefully) delicious snacks and beverages and post as much as I can!!  I love a good field trip!!!!!