Dutch cuisine. Dutch cuisine

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Today, the national cuisines of different countries are of interest not only to professional chefs, but also to lovers of delicious and unusual dishes. In the traditions of different nations, you can find many recipes that are easy to repeat with your own hands. In this regard, Dutch cuisine is very advantageous over many exotic dishes, because all the necessary products can be found in domestic supermarkets and markets. Our article will tell you about the culinary traditions of the Netherlands, the most popular dishes, classic recipes and products.

Today, the people of Holland prefer light and simple dishes, the preparation of which does not require much effort. At the same time, national dishes have sufficient, but not excessive calories.

To get the most complete picture of the cuisine of this country, let's try to cook a few simple dishes: first, second and dessert. And to emphasize the national flavor will help the traditional drink, beloved by the Dutch from time immemorial - beer. Be sure to serve it to the table if you are going to have a Dutch-style dinner or lunch.

History of formation in the Middle Ages

Cookery historians believe that in the old days, Dutch cuisine was more diverse than inmodernity. It was a favorable geographical position. The generous sea gave a rich catch, and the mild climate and good soil created all the conditions for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.

There is evidence that the Dutch began to cook a variety of dishes from milk a long time ago. The cheeses that this country is famous for in our time were prepared by local residents in the early Middle Ages. Moreover, not only we althy townspeople, but also ordinary rural people could afford this delicacy.

In the old days, various soups were common, which were prepared on the basis of milk, vegetable, meat and fish broths, cereal broths.

Seafood was present in significant quantities in the diet of residents: fish, oysters, crayfish, shrimps, shellfish. One of the most favorite dishes of the Dutch was and remains pickled and s alted herring.

As it is today, traditional for the national Dutch cuisine was the predominance of vegetables over the meat part. The inhabitants of Holland grew beets, cabbage, carrots, and beans. It was customary to serve wheat or rye bread to the table. And the unusual name "liquid bread" was used to refer to beer. In those days, both adults and children drank it, because the strength of the drink was relatively small, and it was prepared from the best products.

In 1514, the first known Dutch cookbook was published.

Influence of the development of navigation

The expansion of trade has had a huge impact on the national cuisines of many European countries. ATA variety of wines, nuts, sweets, coffee, tea, exotic fruits appeared in the diet of the Dutch. Game was present in abundance in the diet of the inhabitants of Holland. Dessert recipes began to become widespread and popular: waffles, pancakes, puffers - pastries that taste and look reminiscent of our pancakes (this dish is shown in the next photo).

Potato spread

This vegetable came to Holland in the 17th century from Spain, where it was brought from Peru. Potatoes quickly spread and took an important place in the diet of the inhabitants of this country. It was served boiled at the table for lunch, and the leftovers were pureed and left for dinner. Potato dishes are popular in Holland today. An example is patat, the Dutch version of french fries and our fried potatoes.

It cannot be said that with the advent of potatoes, Dutch cuisine has acquired many recipes. Most often, the root crop was boiled, in a peeled form or in a peel, and served as a side dish for fish. This is still happening today.

School of Home Economics

Many traditional Dutch dishes, common in the old days, lost their former popularity at the beginning of the 20th century. In those days, the table of the poor was meager, and the rich could afford many excesses. In those days, the issue of rational nutrition was seriously raised in society for the first time. A network of so-called home economics schools was organized in the state, in which young housewives and cooks from the richhouses were taught to cook wholesome and simple food. At the same time, the taste and variety of dishes were given a secondary role.

In those days, traditions were formed that are characteristic of Dutch cuisine today. Most dishes are characterized by moderate use of spices, laconic design, and the use of simple ingredients. At the same time, the Dutch festive menu may include unusual dishes, the taste of which combines different shades. Examples include berry and ginger sauces for meat, honey marinade for fish, spicy and s alty liquorice candies.

Main products

Where to start for someone who decided to master a few simple recipes of Dutch cuisine? Of course, from the introduction to the main products.

In ancient times, herring was most often on the tables of ordinary people, today the Dutch also consume cod, mackerel, and salmon in abundance.

This country loves cheese: these are Gouda, Maasdam, Edamer.

An important place is given to sweets. Do you want to emphasize the mood of the feast? Serve with hot chocolate or Montpensier tea, waffles with caramel syrup, speculos figured cookies, peanut butter. The last component, by the way, is added not only to desserts, but also to s alty sauces and gravies.

It is impossible to imagine a Dutch feast without meat and smoked meats. A very popular dish is croquettes, small deep-fried buns that can be stuffed with beef, pork or poultry. You can buy this delicacy almost everywhere.

Don't forget grains and vegetables. Today, a huge number of crops are grown in the Netherlands. The Dutch also appreciate delicious bread.

As you can see, most products are easy to find on sale. And what to cook from them, we will consider in the following sections.

Dutch Celery Soup

This traditional first course takes very little time to prepare. Grate a 100-gram piece of celery root and finely chop a small onion. Fry vegetables in butter. Add a tablespoon of flour, mix, s alt.

Pour in half a liter of meat broth, bring to a boil. Before serving, beat the raw yolk, 50 ml of sour cream and a few drops of lemon juice. When serving, pour this sauce into the celery soup and garnish with chopped herbs. It is permissible to add boiled fish or meat to this dish.

Traditional main dish - stewed cabbage with sausage

The history of this dish goes back to ancient times. Similar recipes are found in many cuisines of the world: in German, Danish, Polish, Russian. In Holland, it is customary to cook shredded cabbage with smoked sausage.

You can use Brussels sprouts or white cabbage (fresh or sauerkraut) for this dish. Often, Dutch housewives use a mixture of different types of cabbage, adding a small amount of kohlrabi to the dish.

Sweat a piece of finely chopped bacon in a small amount of water. Add 0.5 kg of cabbage and simmer covered 20minutes, adding 5-7 juniper berries and a couple of peppercorns.

Sausage is added to the saucepan at the very end. You can cut it into thin strips or large portioned pieces. To infuse the dish with flavors, let it stand under the lid for a while before serving. This treat is usually served with mashed potatoes dressed with nutmeg.

Dessert with caramel

You can taste this delicacy in any cafe in the Netherlands. But many housewives prefer to cook waffle treats at home.

Pour a glass of sugar into a bowl, add 1/3 l. dry yeast and stir. Pour in 150 g of cold milk and add the zest and juice of one lemon. Chop 150 g of butter and add to the dough in parts.

Refrigerate the dough for 5 hours before making the Dutch Caramel Cookies.

Roll out the layer, cut out circles with a glass and roll them in brown sugar. As it melts, it will provide the caramel flavor. You need to bake cookies in a preheated oven for a quarter of an hour.