It is lunchtime! So Alessia and I decided to have an uitsmijter. It is a dish comparable to the German Strammer Max, but transformed with Dutch ingredients. There are many variations, but we chose to make it traditionally: with Dutch brood (bread), kaas (cheese), ham (ham), and spiegelei (fried egg). Sometimes ontbijtspek (bacon) is used as well. It is indeed a very well-filling lunch, that is easy, quick and tasty! Does Alessia agree?
The most interesting thing about the dish is its name. Uitsmijten means “to throw out”, and an uitsmijter is an “out-thrower”, and yes – it is also the Dutch word for a bouncer. The origin for the name of the dish is unclear, but there are many theories.
The café in Amsterdam
One theory goes that there was a café guest in Amsterdam that always had to be thrown out for some or the other reason. And he would come to the café to order the uitsmijter. I wonder then what it was called in those days…
The quick preparation
Another theory says that, because the dish is made so quickly (as all you have to do is fry the egg and the bread), it is basically thrown out of the kitchen or the pan. It can be served quickly!
The last dish before closing
Connected to the quick preparation, this theory goes that an uitsmijter can be made five minutes before closing, so the last thing the guest can order before he is thrown out of the café!
I have mentioned the café above so much, because it is a typical dish to be served in cafés. It was already mentioned at the beginning of the 20th century, as “sneedje brood met plakje vleesch en een spiegelei er op” (slice of bread with a slice of meat and fried egg on top).
How to make it yourself!
The result!
Ingredients (for 1 person)
1 slice of bread
2 eggs
1 slice of ham
1 slice of cheese
A little bit of butter
salt and pepper
(some parsley to decorate)
Directions
Fry the bread in some butter – but do not soak it!
Fry the eggs next to it – sunny side up.
Take out the bread, put on cheese, ham, and the eggs (in that order).
Decorate with parsley and spice it up with salt and pepper.
Hi! I am Sten, both Dutch and German. For many years, I've written for the German and the Dutch blogs with a passion for everything related to language and culture. It's fascinating to reflect on my own culture, and in the process allow our readers to learn more about it! Besides blogging, I am a German-Dutch-English translator, animator and filmmaker.
Comments:
William:
I am an American man with a Dutch wife. She likes to put mayo, pickles and tiny onions on top instead of parsley. I’ve had a few myself and they are quite tasty.
Comments:
William:
I am an American man with a Dutch wife. She likes to put mayo, pickles and tiny onions on top instead of parsley. I’ve had a few myself and they are quite tasty.