Dutch Winter Food

Winter is the best time to try Dutch cuisine. Dutch dishes are not refined or very subtle in taste. That’s why restaurants serving traditional Dutch food can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Another reason is that Dutch dishes are considered best when home-cooked. Few restaurants bother to promote Dutch food.

stamppot and smoked sausage

The ultimate Dutch winter dish is stamppot – mashed potatoes mixed with shredded raw or cooked vegetables. Stamppot is eaten with rookworst -smoked pork sausage – and a generous dollop of mustard. Stamppot means that vegetables and potatoes are mixed to a smooth consistency.

Boerenkool stamppot met rookworst and hutspot met klapstuk are my favourites. But I also like snijbonen (runner beans) stamppot. Boerenkool is not very well known outside Holland and translates as curly kale. The main ingredients for hutspot are klapstuk, potatoes, carrots and onions. Klapstuk is boiled beef. I prepare these dishes only in winter, because they are a bit heavy on the stomach.

Stamppot is easy to prepare. Here are two recipes.

1. Take equal quantities of potatoes and vegetables. Some recipes tell you use two-thirds potatoes and one-third vegetable, but I like my stamppot with lots of vegetables. (The Dutch do not consider potatoes as a vegetable. If you question this, the Dutch will tell you, potatoes are potatoes).
2. Mash the potatoes with a lump of butter and milk. Add salt to taste.
3. Chop the curly kale finely and cook until tender.
4. Mix potatoes and vegetables together and your stamppot is ready to eat.
5. Serve with rookworst or frankfurter sausage if you cannot get Dutch rookworst.
6. Use runner beans or sauerkraut instead of curly kale.

1. Ingredients: Rib of beef or thin flank steak, one-third potato, one-third carrot and one third onion.
2. Pre-cook meat for 2-3 hours water.
3. Clean carrots and chop them in little pieces.
4. Peel and chop onion, add with peeled potatoes and carrots to the meat.
5. Cook all together until done (about 30 minutes).
6. Remove the meat. Mash and mix the vegetables.

Restaurants specializing in Dutch food:

D’vijff Vlieghen, Spuistraat 294 (map)
The Five Flies rambles through five old gabled houses and has seven dining rooms each creating the atmosphere of the Golden Age.

Brasserie Die Port van Cleve, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 176 (map)
Hotel restaurant right across the Royal Palace. Diners pile in to sample Dutch food and drink beer in the beer hall decorated with old Dutch tiles.

Haesje Claesje, Spuistraat 273 (map)
Old fashioned and gezellig (full of atmosphere and welcoming). Occupies six building which retained their original architectural features.

photo credit: personal collection