“Hoi allemaal” translates to hi everyone. I can tell you from personal experience that Dutch food is seriously lekker.
That means tasty. It is a shame that you rarely see Dutch restaurants in the United States.
You might know about the famous fries from this region. Yet there are so many other incredible foods you need to try.
These 19 recipes are homey and hearty. I think they are super comforting.
You can easily make them in your own kitchen. Let us bring a bit of the Netherlands into your home today.
1. Macaroni Schotel
This dish is like the love child of quiche and baked mac & cheese. Every bite is chewy and creamy.
It is practically a whole meal on its own. It has lots of protein from eggs and cheese.
You also include shredded chicken. Add a veggie on the side.
2. Dutch Hutspot
You know winter has arrived when this dish appears. It is a very specific type of stamppot.
You make it by mashing potatoes with onions and carrots. The mixture gets loaded with milk and butter.
I suggest adding spekjes or bacon bits. It almost always comes with smoked sausage on the side.
3. Dutch Stroopwafels
This might be the most iconic dessert from the Netherlands. You simply must try a stroopwafel if you have never had one.
Your taste buds will thank you. Thick caramel syrup sits between two thin cinnamon cookies.
Think of the texture of waffle cones. Every bite is sweet and flavorful.
Sometimes people even dip them in chocolate.
4. Dutch Vegetable Soup with Meatballs
The Dutch are big fans of meatballs. You will often see them in soup.
I was shocked when I had tomato soup in the Netherlands for the first time. I have to say it is really tasty.
Every spoonful of this vegetable soup brims with noodles and broth. You also get deliciously tender meatballs.
It is healthy and hearty.
5. Appeltaart
The Dutch have some of the best apple pies around. The crust is the key to appeltaart.
It is a sweet shortcrust made with brown sugar instead of white sugar. The result is light and buttery.
The filling includes apples with sugar and cinnamon. You also add raisins and breadcrumbs.
6. Kaassoufflé
This is one of my absolute favorite Dutch treats. The name translates to cheese soufflé.
It is literally fried cheese. You wrap the cheese in puff pastry and breadcrumbs.
It is like a Dutch version of mozzarella sticks made with Gouda. I could eat a whole platter by myself.
7. Poffertjes (Dutch Mini Pancakes)
These really are mini pancakes. They are fluffy and sweet.
You will see versions of these all over Europe. Poffertjes are made with a yeasted batter.
You need to give the batter a little time to rise. These little guys are worth the wait.
Serve them with butter and powdered sugar.
8. Traditional Dutch Split Pea Soup (Snert)
The name is funny and the appearance is less than appetizing. Snert is absolutely delicious regardless of its looks.
It gets better the longer it sits. The soup is full of split peas and celeriac.
You also add celery and carrots and potatoes. It comes loaded with pork products.
I would not eat this thick soup before a big date.
9. Hachee (Dutch Beef and Onion Stew)
The Dutch will never win awards for plating. Who cares what it looks like when it tastes this good.
Hachee is comfort food at its finest. It features beef cooked slowly with caramelized onions.
A little red wine vinegar cuts through the richness. It is thick and creamy.
This is just what you need for the winter.
10. Tompouce
You cannot have a list of Dutch foods without this treat. Good luck finding it on the King’s birthday on April 27th.
That is why it is great to make it yourself. Tompouce is a layered dessert made with puff pastry.
It has a cream filling. You cover it with a bright orange sugar glaze.
Orange is the national color.
11. Dutch Kibbeling
Kibbeling will be right up your alley if you love fish and chips. This white fish is fried in batter.
It is seriously crunchy. Cod is the most commonly used fish.
You will also make a delicious pickle and mayo sauce. All you need on the side are some Dutch fries.
12. Stamppot (Dutch National Dish)
This steamy dish is made in a whole bunch of different ways. Stamppot is basically mashed potatoes plus veggies.
This version uses kale as a staple ingredient. You make it with flavorful alliums and butter and milk.
It tastes a lot like Irish colcannon. It is always served with smoked sausage.
13. Ontbijtkoek
This is a little breakfast cake that you do not typically eat for breakfast. It is often served with coffee.
The spiced loaf cake is reminiscent of a pound cake. The ratios are totally different.
Ontbijtkoek is dense and dark. You will definitely like this scrummy cake if you like gingerbread.
14. Oliebollen
Ring in the New Year with this fabulous fried treat. Oliebollen are like the cousins of donuts and beignets.
They are wonderfully indulgent. Sometimes they are filled with fruit.
They are always topped with sugar and cinnamon. Be sure to eat them fresh out of the fryer.
You will need to double the batch.
15. Saucijzenbroodjes (Dutch Sausage Rolls)
You will find these rolls in any grocery store or gas station in the Netherlands. They are very popular for snacks.
They feature ground meat wrapped in puff pastry. You bake them to golden perfection.
Kids and adults like them.
16. Dutch Almond Paste-Filled Pastry Log (Banketstaaf)
The Dutch love desserts. They do dessert well.
Take this holiday treat for example. Banketstaaf features buttery puff pastry stuffed with rich almond paste.
Then they baste the pastry with apricot jam. I guarantee you will not want to share.
17. Boterkoek
Boterkoek is my favorite dish. It is often served as a little pre-meal treat.
Your waistline might not love it. Boterkoek translates to butter cake.
This cakey cookie is chock-full of butter and sugar. I recommend adding a splash of almond extract.
18. Broodje Rookworst
This is basically a smoked sausage and sauerkraut sandwich. It is almost like a hot dog.
It is also almost like a British sausage sandwich. But it is uniquely Dutch.
It is stadium food. Broodje rookworst is best served with a cold Radler.
19. Huzarensalade
You know it is party time when you see the huzarensalade. This Dutch potato salad blows our potato salad out of the water.
It comes loaded with beef and pearl onions. You also get pickles and apples and peas.
Everything is covered in Dutch mayo. It sounds weird but this stuff is lekker.