Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try some authentic Dutch food, and I thought, why not start with the side dishes? I mean, everyone knows about stroopwafels, but what about the stuff they eat with their meals? So, I did a little digging and decided to make a few things.
The Experiment Begins!
First, I looked up some recipes. It was kind of tricky, some were in Dutch, and my Dutch is… well, non-existent. I found a couple that seemed pretty straightforward, and I decided to go for it.
The Lineup
- Stamppot: This seemed like the most classic thing. Basically, mashed potatoes with other veggies mixed in.
- Hutspot: A type of stamppot, with carrots and onions. Sounded simple enough!
- Appelmoes: This is just applesauce. I figured, how hard could it be?
The Process (and Mishaps)
I started with the hutspot. I peeled and chopped a bunch of potatoes, carrots, and onions. I’m not gonna lie, my eyes were watering like crazy from the onions. I boiled them all together until they were soft, then mashed them up with some butter and milk. It actually turned out pretty good! It was surprisingly sweet from the carrots.
Next up, the appelmoes. I peeled and cored a few apples, chopped them up, and threw them in a pot with some water, sugar, and cinnamon. I let it simmer for a while until the apples were all soft and mushy. I may have added a little too much cinnamon, but hey, it still tasted pretty good!
I was very happy about the taste!
The Verdict
Overall, I’d say my Dutch side dish adventure was a success! The hutspot was hearty and comforting, and the appelmoes was a nice, sweet complement. They weren’t super fancy, but they were definitely tasty and felt very… homey. I’m definitely going to try making them again, and maybe I’ll even branch out and try some other Dutch dishes!
