Top 10 Iconic Dutch Foods You Need To Try

Dutch cuisine may not be as well known as that of its European counterparts, but you’d be surprised at how delicious Dutch food is. There’s something for everyone, from the sweet and savory to the downright insane. Take a look at these delectable Dutch dishes, complete with recipes to try at home.

Table of Contents

1. Erwtensoep

Erwtensoep is a thick pea soup – so thick, in fact, that some say you should be able to leave a spoon standing up in it! It’s made with dried split green peas and vegetables like celery, onions, leeks, carrots, and potatoes. Just before serving, you add slices of smoked sausage to a piece of rye bread (roggebrood) topped with smoked bacon (katenspek), cheese, and butter. While the Dutch traditionally consume Erwtensoep on New Year’s Day, it is also a popular winter dish. In fact, you’ll frequently see skaters along the frozen canals warming up with a steaming hot mug of snert – another name for this delicious soup.

2. Pannenkoeken

Pannenkoeken have remained a staple of Dutch cuisine for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. These filling Dutch pancakes can be topped with savory or sweet ingredients like bacon, salmon, apple, cheese, chocolate, powdered sugar, and stroop (a treacly Dutch syrup). But don’t be fooled into thinking they’re the same as the American or Scotch varieties; they can be enormous! As a result, they can be served as a main course for lunch, dinner, or dessert if you have enough room.

Pannenkoeken are made with an egg, milk, flour (traditionally buckwheat flour), and a pinch of salt batter. They are then quickly cooked over high heat in a pan and flipped until golden. Fortunately, there are numerous pancake houses dotted throughout the Netherlands, so you’re never far from your next big feast.

3. Poffertjes

If you can’t get your hands on a pannenkoeken, try the next best thing: poffertjes. These small, fluffy pancakes with a light and spongy texture, made with yeast and buckwheat flour, are a popular food at Dutch festivals and events. They are typically served warm on a piece of cardboard paper with powdered sugar, butter, or syrup (stroop). They are cooked in special poffertjes pans with numerous shallow indentations. If you’re making them at home, simply drop small spoonfuls of batter into a frying pan or skillet and carefully flip them over to cook the other side.

4. Bami Goreng

Because of the Dutch colonial connection with Indonesia, you will find some surprisingly exotic dishes when exploring Dutch cuisine. In fact, Indonesian restaurants can be found all over the country, and nearly every one of them serves bami goreng. This spicy stir-fried egg noodle dish combines garlic, onion, vegetables, meat, egg, and chili. Rendang (meat in coconut milk and mixed spices), rijsttafel (rice served with small dishes of spiced meat and vegetables), and spekkoek (a spiced layer cake) are other Indonesian specialties to look out for in the Netherlands.

5. Stamppot

This isn’t the most sophisticated dish you’ll find in the Netherlands, but you’ll be grateful for it on those cold winter evenings. Stamppot, which literally translates as “mash pot,” is the ultimate comfort food that consists of mashing potatoes with other vegetables and serving it with a large smoked sausage and gravy. There are numerous stamppot varieties to try, such as boerenkool (kale), zuurkool (sauerkraut), hutspot (onions and carrots), and rauweandijvie (endive). Stamppot is one of the most popular Dutch foods because it is nutritious, delicious, and simple to prepare.

6. Hutspot

Hutspot is another popular winter dish that includes mashed potatoes, onions, and carrots. The dish contains winterpeen (winter carrots), a type of carrot that provides a distinct hint of sweetness that ordinary carrots cannot. It is traditionally served with braised beef (klapstuk) or meatballs. According to legend, the recipe was created in 1574, when Spanish troops were forced to flee the city of Leiden after attempting to lay siege to it. Everything was left behind, including parsnips, carrots, and onions. The starving people of Leiden combined these ingredients and feasted. They later changed the recipe to use potatoes instead of parsnips. Many Dutch people still eat this traditional dish on 3 October to commemorate the city’s relief.

7. Saté

Saté, another popular Indonesian dish, has become an essential part of Dutch cuisine. It is thought to have originated in Java and consists of skewered and grilled meat served with a thick sauce made of sweet soy sauce, peanut butter, and sambaloelek, an Indonesian chili sauce. While you may have had saté (or satay) in other countries, chances are you haven’t had it served on top of French fries like they do in the Netherlands! How’s that for decadence?

8. Hachée

This hearty Dutch stew, derived from the French word hachée (which means chopped or ground), is made with beef and caramelized onions that are cooked slowly for tenderness. The dish is thought to have originated in medieval times, when leftover meat was cooked in a Dutch oven with whatever vegetables were available. To tenderize the meat, wine or vinegar was added, and the stew was served with a thick gravy flavored with cloves and bay leaves. Hachée is still a popular dish in the Netherlands, especially during the colder winter months.

9. Boterkoek

Dutch boterkoek (butter cake) is one of the sweetest delicacies found in the Netherlands. It is simple to make and delicious to eat. This dairy delight, made with butter, sugar, and flour, is sometimes filled with almond paste to add flavor. Depending on personal preference, it can also include vanilla, salt, or lemon zest. It is best served with a steaming cup of coffee because of its dense consistency and rich flavor (koffie). Lekker!

10. Appeltaart

For centuries, the Dutch have enjoyed appeltaart (or apple pie). In fact, the first printed cookbook, from 1514, includes a recipe for one. An appeltaart is a deep pie filled with apple slices mixed with sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and occasionally raisins or currants. The top of the pie is traditionally an attractive lattice of pastry strips that allows you to see the delicious filling beneath. This divine dessert is enhanced by a generous dollop of whipped cream (slagroom) and a cup of coffee.

Topic: Top 10 Iconic Dutch Foods You Need To Try

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