These become tender and soft in the oven, and are finished off under the broiler to crip them up! Adapted from Cooking Pleasures magazine. Potatoes and leeks were used throughout Europe and are considered Irish, Russian and Southern USA foods.
I used this recipe for week 26 of my food blog, “Travel by Stove.” I am attempting to cook on meal from every nation on Earth, and Belgium is my 26th stop. I never use any recipe for my blog that I’m not reasonably sure is from authentic or traditional sources, and this recipe has been posted without any alternations or additions to the ingredients. Stoemp is a traditional Belgian potato dish that can be made with many different vegetables, including cabbage, carrots and onions. This version uses leeks.
Serve this as an impressive starter or a light main meal – it has an unsusual combination of cheese, ham and potatoes. Soufflés are easy to make – honestly! The only real criteria is that they are served immediately and that the bowl used for whisking the egg whites is oil and grease free…..but even that is not that essential. I sometimes add bacon instead of the ham – just brown and crisp it up first, and then crumble it before adding.
I adore Moules Frites – for me it is quintessential French and Belgian Bistro food at its best – plus I love tactile eating! You can treat yourself to Moules Frites anywhere in France and Belgium, and for most of the year. I often make the “Moules” part at home – Moules Marinière – but now and then, for a treat I also do the “Frites” bit as well……chips or French fries! Serve these with lots of paper towels or napkins, and a glass of chilled white wine would be the perfect accompaniment! I bought special Moules Frites dishes, as shown in the photos, but a couple of bowls would be fine – and don’t forget a large bowl for the shells. If you really want to be 100% authentic, it is de rigueur to serve the frites with mayonnaise my dear…..sinfully good! Vive la France! Historical Note: Did you know that French Fries are really Belgian? Deep-fried chipped potatoes (“fries” in American English; “chips” in British English) are a very popular food item – and one which the Belgians claim to have invented. They are called frieten in Dutch and frites in French, whatever the name, they are my guilty pleasure!
These have a delightful flavor and are a satisfying alternative to fries that are fried. Note that you’ll need to soak and scrub the pan but it’s well worth the effort. Use a non-stick pan if you have one available.
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