Chapter · Soepen

Soups

Snert thick enough to stand a spoon in, mustard soup from Groningen, and clear broths with tiny meatballs.

Holland

Pompoensoep (Roast Pumpkin Soup)

Pompoensoep

A modern Dutch autumn soup — pumpkin roasted until caramelised, then blended smooth with ginger and stock and finished with toasted seeds and cream.

65 minBeginner

Soups

Groningen

Bietensoep (Beetroot Soup)

Bietensoep

A deep-crimson Dutch beetroot soup — earthy roasted beets simmered with apple and stock, finished with a swirl of soured cream and a shower of dill.

70 minBeginner

Soups

Holland

Preisoep (Leek & Potato Soup)

Preisoep

The homely Dutch leek and potato soup — sweet softened leeks and floury potatoes simmered in stock, blended smooth or left chunky, with smoked bacon.

50 minBeginner

Soups

The Indies at Home

Soto Ajam (Indonesian Chicken Soup)

Soto ajam

A fragrant golden chicken soup with turmeric, lemongrass and ginger, piled with noodles, egg and beansprouts — the Indonesian comfort bowl beloved on the Dutch-Indo table.

90 minIntermediate

Soups

Zeeland

Vissoep (Dutch Fish Soup)

Vissoep

A North Sea fish soup — a stock built from bones and shells, then chunks of white fish and shrimp poached in a light saffron-tinged, tomato-touched broth.

75 minIntermediate

Soups

Zeeland

Zeeuwse Mosselsoep (Zeeland Mussel Soup)

Zeeuwse Mosselsoep

Zeeland's mussel soup — plump Zeeuwse mussels steamed open, their briny liquor strained into a leek-and-cream broth and finished with parsley and mussel meat.

55 minIntermediate

Soups

Limburg

Aspergesoep (White Asparagus Soup)

Aspergesoep

A silky Limburg soup of white asparagus — the peelings simmered into a sweet stock, then a light cream velouté studded with tender spears and nutmeg.

65 minIntermediate

Soups

Holland

Uiensoep (Dutch Onion Soup)

Uiensoep

Dutch onion soup — onions cooked down slow and dark, simmered in beef stock, and finished with a cap of toasted bread and melted Gouda or Leiden cheese.

95 minBeginner

Soups

Holland

Koninginnesoep (Queen's Cream Soup)

Koninginnesoep

A refined Dutch cream of chicken — koninginnesoep, the 'queen's soup', a velvety chicken velouté enriched with egg yolk, cream and a little sherry.

60 minIntermediate

Soups

Holland

Kippensoep (Dutch Chicken Soup)

Kippensoep

The Dutch chicken soup made when someone is under the weather — a clear homemade broth with shredded chicken, vermicelli, leek and a little parsley.

110 minBeginner

Tomatensoep (Dutch Tomato Soup with Meatballs)

Soups

Holland

Tomatensoep (Dutch Tomato Soup with Meatballs)

Tomatensoep met Balletjes

The Dutch tomato soup of childhood — a smooth, faintly sweet tomato broth with tiny meatballs and vermicelli, the plate-lunch classic done properly.

70 minBeginner

Soups

Groningen

Mosterdsoep (Groningen Mustard Soup)

Mosterdsoep

Groningen's creamy mustard soup — a light roux loosened with stock and cream, sharpened with coarse mustard and strewn with crisp bacon and chives.

45 minBeginner

Groentesoep met Balletjes (Vegetable Soup with Meatballs)

Soups

Holland

Groentesoep met Balletjes (Vegetable Soup with Meatballs)

Groentesoep met Balletjes

The clear Dutch vegetable soup — a good beef broth bright with carrot, leek and celery, dropped with tiny gehaktballetjes and a handful of thin vermicelli.

120 minBeginner

Soups

Holland

Snert (Dutch Split Pea Soup)

Erwtensoep

The Dutch winter soup thick enough to stand a spoon in — green split peas, smoked pork, celeriac and leek, finished with sliced rookworst on dark rye.

170 minBeginner

Soups

Holland

Bruine Bonensoep (Brown Bean Soup)

Bruine Bonensoep

A thrifty Dutch brown bean soup — kidney-brown beans simmered soft with smoked bacon, root vegetables and a spoon of vinegar to cut the richness.

170 minBeginner