Dutch cuisine is very much influenced by the agricultural produce of the Netherlands and the country's history as a seafaring nation. Fish and seafood (including cod, eel, herring, mackerel, mussels, oysters, plaice, salmon, sardines, soleidae, shrimp, trout and tuna) are all eaten in the Netherlands. Popular meats include beef, chicken and pork.

The colonial past of the Netherlands has also had an influence on the country's cuisine. The Dutch were involved in the Dutch East Indies (Dutch: Nederlands-Indië) - present day Indonesia - for approximately 250 years, and Indonesian cuisine has left a lasting mark on the Dutch palate. Indonesian dishes such as Nasi Goreng (spicy rice with chicken or pork) have become Dutch dishes too!

Here are some other popular Dutch dishes:

- Balkenbrij - A liverwurst sausage loaf (Dutch: Leverworst) made from pork, but containing enough pork liver to have a distinctive liver-taste. The loaf is cut into slices about ½ inch (1 centimeter) thick which are then fried.

- Boerenkoolstamppot - A stew made with potato and kale. It is served with gravy and rookwurst (Dutch spicy sausage).

- Hete bliksem - Boiled potatoes and green apples, with stroop (syrup) or diced speck (juniper-flavored dry-cured ham).

- Hutspot - A traditional stew made using boiled and mashed potatoes with carrots and onions.

- Stamppot rauwe andijvie - Raw endive (a variant of chicory) mashed into potatoes, and served with diced and fried speck (juniper-flavored dry-cured ham).

- Zuurkoolstamppot - Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) with mashed potatoes. served with sausage or bacon, and sometimes flavored with curry powder, raisins or pineapple.

Popular Dutch desserts include:

- Appeltaart - Apple pie. In the Netherlands, apple pies usually contain cinnamon, lemon and raisins, and have a lattice-style topping and icing.

- Oliebollen - The Dutch version of donuts made by deep-frying dough, allowing it to cool and rise, and covering with powdered sugar. They are eaten at fairs, and during the Christmas period, especially around New Year.

- Spekkoek - A very rich and spicy Dutch-Indonesian pastry made from many layers of pastry.

- Stroopwafel - Two round waffle-like wafers with a caramel filling between them.

About the Author

By S. Tanna. Originally published at http://www.recipesmaniac.com/cook_dutch.php - visit this site for more information, photographs and cook books.

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