Kaasprak Cheese Mash Recipes

KAASPRAK (CHEESE MASH)

Steps:

• Slice the onion in half rings approximate 1/8 inch thick (about 3 millimeters), very slowly simmer the onion in the butter until translucent. (Add a splash of water if it goes too fast).
• Cut the cheese in about half inch cubes.
• Make a stock with the stock cube.
• Cook and mash the potatoes and mix with the milk and stock, it should be rather thin (runs of a metal spoon). (Do not use all the stock, that's way too much. Think of it as thick porridge).
• Taste and add salt and pepper to the mash (careful with the salt, the cheese and stock adds salt as well).
• Mix the cheese cubes and the onions (with its buttery goodness) through the mash with a spoon and transfer to an oven proof (glass or pyrex and deep, not a shallow) baking dish. The cheese is not supposed to melt at this stage, maybe a little on the outside.
• Put the dish (without a lid) in an oven (preheated to 180 degrees Celsius) for approximately 45 minutes or until the top becomes golden brown. (If you have a glass baking dish you can see the cheese bubbling away in the bottom so you know it's heated through).
• Serve with a baked egg and a gherkin.

TYPICAL DUTCH BREAKFAST / VLOKKEN, KWINKSLAG EN HAGEL

Steps:

• Take the slice of bread (always bread, Toast is a concept from over to other side of the English Channel).
• Spread one side with margarine or softened butter.
• Pour on your hagelslag, vlokken or kwinkslag (you can press it down with a knife to make it stick a little better if you want).
• Cut the slice of bread in half and eat!

CHICKEN DHANSAK

Steps:

• Put the lentils in a large pan. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and let them cook for about 40 minutes.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large pan like a dutch oven. Add half of the ginger and half of the ginger and stir fry for 1 minute. Add the chicken and fry until golden brown. Add the lentils.
• While stirring, add tomatoes, pumpkin, 2/3 of the onions, spinach, mint, and salt to the chicken. Bring to a boil and let cook uncovered for 45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Put the chicken on a plate and put the lentil/vegetable mixture in a food processor, blending until it becomes a smooth puree.
• Heat the rest of the oil in a clean pan. Add the rest of the onions and fry until they are golden brown. Stirfry the pepers and the rest of the ginger and garlic paste. Add the rest of the spices and fry for about 6 minutes. Add water if the mixture is too dry. Add the lentil mixture and mix well. Softly boil for 20 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and cook another 20 minutes. Serve with fresh coriander on top.

GAMMON WITH IRISH-STYLE MASH

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes until tender. Drain, return to the pan and stand over a low heat for 1 minute to drive off any excess moisture. Add the milk and heat but don't boil. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper, then add the mustard and mash until smooth.
• Meanwhile, put the cabbage in a pan of boiling water and cook for 5-10 minutes or until just tender. Drain well.
• Stir the cabbage and spring onions into the potato. Add the cheese and keep warm.
• Grill the gammon steaks under a preheated grill on medium heat for 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Grill the tomatoes for 3-4 minutes or until the soften slightly. Serve the gammon with the mash and grilled tomatoes.