Monday, March 22, 2010

The Evolution of Dutch Food

Holland and the Netherlands might not be renowned for its food in the same way as, for example, France is, but there are some really tasty Dutch dishes and Dutch cuisine does have an interesting history.
Thick broth, pickled herring and heavy potato dishes might be quick to spring to mind if you are thinking about famous Dutch recipes but there are also a lot of delicious regional recipes. A lot of Dutch cooking focuses on legumes and vegetables. This cuisine is healthier, cheaper, and easier than you might have thought.
The Netherlands was doing well until the 1600s when the country lost a lot of its colonial possessions to the British during the Anglo Dutch wars. This defeat, as well as the quick growing population, meant that the Dutch could not afford to eat the way they had been eating. A more frugal approach to cooking was found.
In the 1900s, Dutch girls were sent to home economics schools where they were taught about the importance of efficiency. This replaced a passion for Dutch food with a focus on cooking as frugally as possible, and as a result a lot of wonderful traditional family recipes were lost, which was a real shame.
Modern Dutch Cooking
Over the past ten years or so, there has been a renewed interest in Dutch food. People are becoming curious about ingredients like parsnips, celeriac, and kohlrabi again. Dutch cheeses like cumin cheese and clove cheese are being exported and even the Dutch people are realizing that good food comes with a price tag but sometimes it is worth paying for quality.
Dutch food still tends to be simple but most good recipes are simple. Dutch comfort food like brown bean soup or apple pie will never go out of fashion. Using the best ingredients and the freshest produce is important if you want to make the best Dutch recipes. Try to buy seasonal, organic produce where possible.
Recipe for Aged Gouda and Cumin Muffins
These delicious savory muffins are made with aged Gouda, which is known as "oude kaas" in Dutch. If you cannot find it, you can use Parmesan instead. The cumin and cheese flavors work very nicely together. This recipe makes twelve muffins.
You will need:
  • 1 cup aged Gouda cheese (plus extra for sprinkling)
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 egg
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
How to make it:
Preheat the oven to 390 degrees F. Combine the flour, salt, cheese, and sugar in one bowl and beat the egg with the milk and butter in another bowl. Combine the two mixtures and spoon into a greased muffin tray. Fill each muffin cup about two thirds full because the muffins will rise up.
Sprinkle some extra cheese on the top of each muffin, and then the cumin seeds. Bake the cheese muffins for about eighteen minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Cook the muffins for ten minutes on a wire rack, and then enjoy them warm or cold.


Source:http://ezinearticles.com


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