Happy Hutspot Day
This month we are going to look at the history of a Dutch staple… the humble hutspot. Not the first food that comes to mind when thinking about The Netherlands, but it is hugely popular and the ultimate comfort food.
Let’s go back to 1573. The Dutch were at war with Spain, known as The Eighty Years’ War. The Spanish tried to capture the city of Leiden, but the people stubbornly refused, and defended their city for more than a year - typical Dutch stubbornness. On October 3, 1574, the Dutch resistance finally succeeded in driving out the hated Spaniards. They blew the dikes in Leiden, and a torrent of water over a foot deep was unleashed. Since The Netherlands is very lacking in high ground, the Spanish had no choice but to flee for their lives, leaving everything behind. It was dinner time when the water came rushing at them, so they left simmering pots of their meal as well.
The people of Leiden raided the Spanish encampment and found this strange food that had stewed in the pots. They were all starving, so they didn’t really care what it was, but one taste and they were hooked. It’s very likely that none of them had ever eaten a potato before, but the Spanish had been eating them for years already. Probably the Dutch used parsnips instead of potatoes until the mid 17th century when they began to be grown in The Netherlands.
Every year on October 3 the liberation of Leiden is celebrated in The Netherlands and by Dutch people world-wide. It’s known as Leidens Ontzet and it is a big party. There are quite a few different versions of a hutspot recipe, but they’re all fairly similar. Potatoes, carrots and onions are cooked together and then mashed. Different kinds of meat can be used. Klapstuk is the most traditional meat used and is boiled with the vegetables. It’s a fatty cut of meat and responds well to slow cooking but is not to everyone’s liking. Smoked sausage or bacon are delicious options, cooked and served on the side. Brussel sprouts, parsnips, kale or spinach are also sometimes added, but that takes away from the traditional recipe. The name hutspot comes from the Dutch word hutsen, meaning to mix, and pot, meaning – well - pot since back in the day everything was put in a pot and simmered slowly.
So, on October 3rd don’t count carbs and enjoy a hearty plate of hutspot with a big piece of smoked sausage on the side. Oh, and don’t forget the copious amounts of gravy!
