Now this, dames en heren, is a dish called uitsmijter.
Delicious and hits the spot when you’re wanting something warm and filling for lunch. It consists of a slice (or two!) of bread, topped with ham and/or cheese and a minimum of three eggs, fried sunny-side up. There are numerous versions to this dish, including replacing the ham with fried bacon or melting the cheese. Heel lekker.
But wait, it’s called uitsmijter. Isn’t that the Dutch term for a bouncer? As in a bouncer outside of a club or pub?
You are correct! This name possibly was derived from when the dish was first introduced to Amsterdam, where bouncers would make up a large proportion of the people who ordered this meal.
Right, I’ll let you on to a little secret. You’ll see this dish available at most restaurants and bars around the Netherlands but the Dutch did not invent this. The Germans did!
The Dutch uitsmijter is heavily based on the German (Berlin region) dish Strammer Max. Hilariously so, Strammer Max is actually a slang term for an erection... as it’s supposedly good for impotence and infertility. The original Strammer Max dish consists of toasted bread, ham and fried eggs. Geen kaas!
So, when you’re next out and about around the Netherlands, your stomach is grumbling and the clock has struck midday... get yourself an uitsmijter lunch.
Of je kunt het thuis maken! Natuurlijk!
