Officially known as the Kingdom of Belgium, Belgium is a country in Northeastern Europe that is also one of its most populated. Despite its small size, several linguistic communities are living there including the Flemish, the French, the Germans, and more.
Their history has been well-documented over the centuries, which is why you’ll find many interesting stories about what happened during their ancient and medieval pasts. In the text below, you’ll find that dishes in Belgium have a little bit of history sprinkled in them. Why not learn a little bit about Belgium medieval periods with these dishes?
1. Belgian Fries
The Belgians are extremely proud of their fries. They won’t even entertain the idea of ‘French’ fries. To them, they make the best fries in the world to the point that Belgian fries are the unofficial national food of Belgium! And looking at the pictures, how can you disagree? They might even taste better than TikTok’s viral recipe for roast potatoes!
Belgian fries are made in a two-step frying process. First, the fries are deep-fried in oil at an exact temperature of 150oC. Let cool for a few minutes just before serving. Then, deep-fry them again, this time at 175oC, and serve while it’s still steaming hot. This cooking method allows the fries to be nice and crunchy on the outside while soft on the inside.
Finish it off by topping it with your condiment of choice. Mayonnaise is the most common topping.
2. Moules-Frites
You might have heard of fish and chips before, but have you heard of mussels and chips? Yes, you heard that right!
Belgians get their mussels from the North Sea, and they tend to be a lot meatier and a tad saltier. You can either cook them traditionally in white wine and vegetable broth, or you can do it how the Belgians do and cook it in Belgian beer. This adds an earthy taste that’s impossible to resist!
Once you’re done chowing on the mussels, you can use your remaining fries to soak up the excess broth. Trust us, with this dish you’ll want to leave nothing behind!
3. Speculaas
What could be better than a plate of warm cookies? Why not a plate of warm cookies with a rich caramel flavor?
Speculaas is perhaps the national dessert dishes of Belgium. It is a shortbread cookie that’s baked with a ton of seasonings including cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper—as you can imagine, these cookies are filled with spice!
Speculaas have been around since the 10th century when they were originally baked to honor the bishop. That’s why a lot of their designs are based on religion or nature. They’re as fun to look at as they are to eat!
4. Belgian Waffles
Undoubtedly the most well-known Belgium dishes on the list, Belgian waffles are tasty and decadent treats that’ll have you wondering if it’s a breakfast food or a dessert. They are crisp on the outside and super soft on the inside, with deeper pockets so you can add in more syrup and butter. What’s not to love?
There are two varieties of Belgian waffles. The first is the more common kind, which is lightly sweet but topped with a ton of goodies like syrup, creams, fruits, and butter. The second kind is less frilly, but much sweeter because more sugar is added to it. Both kinds can be found almost anywhere in Belgium.
5. Waterzooi
Waterzooi is an extremely rich and creamy dish stew that tastes heavenly on the tongue. It is flavored by chicken, seafood, and various vegetables that have been boiled for a few hours to really infuse well with the broth made of egg yolk, cream, and vegetable stock. Indeed, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V was so addicted to waterzooi that he regularly ate it even while having bad bouts of gout!
Because it’s very warm and filling, waterzooi is a comfort food typically eaten during wintertime. Nothing will heat you better than a piping hot bowl of chicken or seafood stew!
