Europe is known for its great food. France and Italy have long been celebrated for their food. Germany's food is quite distinct. And the past several years have brought a rejuvenation of British and Irish cuisine. But no one talks much about the food of the Netherlands. It's partly because the Dutch by their nature eschew the spotlight. They fly under the radar, as does their food. But in an attempt to change that, cookbook author and food blogger Emily Wight has offered us a feast to change our minds.
So what is Dutch food exactly? It's food that feeds the soul. It is nourishing and warming, made with quality local ingredients and lots of flavorful spices. There is hearty proteins--meats, dairy, fish--as well as plenty of bread and sweets. It's practical and frugal and prepared simply. It's tasty comfort food, rich in butter and cheese, to feed you on every level.
Wight's new cookbook, Dutch Feast, is the result of marrying into a Dutch family and loving food so much herself. She starts us off slowly, with an introduction and a very brief history, and then there is everything you need to know to stock your pantry for the best Dutch cooking. Dried spices like nutmeg, paprika, cumin, curry powder, ginger, and turmeric share space with flavor bomb sauces like fish sauce, mustard, and soy sauce. Almond and vanilla extracts, brandy and gin, and fresh chilies and ginger add even more flavor opportunities, so you never have to worry about a bland meal.
Chapters on Comfort Food, Coffee Time, and Weeknight Dinners offer simple solutions for daily meals, while chapters on Daytime Entertaining and Christmas are filled with ideas, recipes, and inspiration for special occasions. And chapters on genuinely Dutch rituals like Borrels (basically Dutch tapas, or small plates) and Rijsttafel (Rice Table, a feast of Indonesian inspired dishes served with rice) shares a bit of the culture along with the cuisine.
Recipes include (and know that there are so many more than this!) Dutch Eggs in Lettuce, Sugar Bread, Rose Meringues, Applestroop, Bitterballs, Marinated Herring, Braised Meatballs, Fried Trout and Sweet Potato Stamppot, Honey Rice Pudding, Dutch Fries, Dutch Macaroni, Prune Tart, Honey Rice Pudding, and Salted Licorice Ice Cream. Sound interesting?
Honestly, I wasn't at all sure what I'd find in the pages of Dutch Feast, but I ended up finding a new cuisine that sounds like it's right up my alley. It's going to take some cooking and eating to know for sure, but I'm willing to give that a try. Any cuisine that understands the simple comfort of bread is a cuisine I can get behind. And with lots of interesting recipes and gorgeous photos, I think trying out a Dutch Feast will be quite a trip.
Galleys for Dutch Feast provided by Arsenal Pulp Press through Edelweiss, with many thanks.