Stamppot
Mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables, often served with sausage
Stamppot is a Dutch dish where potatoes are mashed together with vegetables such as kale, endive, or sauerkraut, and typically served with sausage. It is mainly eaten in the colder months in the Netherlands and Belgium, and sometimes includes additions like bacon, cheese, or pickles.
- Potatoes are mashed with vegetables like kale or endive
- Often served with smoked sausage or bacon
- Hutspot is a carrot and onion version linked to Dutch legend
- Fruit like apple or pear may be added in some regional types
- A well of gravy is commonly made in the mash
What is Stamppot?
Stamppot is a hearty Dutch meal made by mashing boiled potatoes with one or more vegetables. Common choices include kale, endive, sauerkraut, spinach, or a mix of carrot and onion. The dish is usually topped with sausage, often a smoked variety called rookworst, or sometimes bacon or stewed meat. Some versions use raw leafy greens, stirred in at the end, while others add fruit like apples or pears. The result is a filling, rustic mash, sometimes served with a well of gravy, cheese, or pickled vegetables.
Where does Stamppot come from?
Stamppot comes from the Netherlands, with its exact beginnings unclear. A legend links the carrot-and-onion version, hutspot, to the 1574 Siege of Leiden, but this is not proven. The practice of adding raw leafy greens at the mashing stage only appears in records from the 1940s. Over time, the dish has remained a staple of Dutch home cooking, especially in winter, and has spread to Belgium, where similar mashed dishes are also popular.
How is Stamppot made?
There are two main ways to prepare stamppot. In the modern method, potatoes and vegetables are boiled separately, then combined and mashed together. In the traditional one-pot approach, everything is cooked together, drained, and then mashed with milk, butter, and salt. Sausage is usually heated separately and served on top. Sometimes lardons or bacon bits are mixed in for extra flavor. A small well is often made in the mash for gravy.
How and when is Stamppot eaten?
Stamppot is mostly eaten at dinner, especially during cold weather. It is served hot, often with smoked sausage or bacon, and sometimes with cheese, mustard, pickled onions, or gherkins. The dish is common in Dutch and Belgian homes, and can also be found ready-made in shops or ordered in casual restaurants. A popular custom is to make a small hole in the mash and fill it with gravy.
Kinds of Stamppot
Many regional and modern versions of stamppot exist. Hutspot uses carrot and onion, while wortelstoemp is the Belgian name for a similar mix. Some types include fruit, such as apples or pears, or even pineapple. Newer recipes use vegetables like rocket, leeks, beets, sweet potato, or mushrooms. Occasionally, fish is added. Each family or region may have its own favorite combination.
What Stamppot means
Stamppot is a symbol of Dutch comfort food, closely tied to winter and everyday meals. It is widely available in supermarkets and cafes, though changing food laws have limited its presence in some Belgian pubs. The dish is also linked to Dutch folklore, with hutspot associated with the Siege of Leiden. Its simple, filling nature makes it a staple in Dutch and Belgian households.
Questions people ask about Stamppot
What is stamppot made of?
Stamppot is made by mashing boiled potatoes with vegetables such as kale, endive, sauerkraut, spinach, or a mix of carrot and onion. It is often served with sausage, bacon, or stewed meat.
Where does stamppot come from?
Stamppot is a traditional dish from the Netherlands. It is also commonly eaten in Belgium, with similar mashed dishes found in both countries.
How is stamppot usually served?
Stamppot is typically served hot at dinner, topped with smoked sausage or bacon. It may also come with cheese, mustard, pickled onions, or gherkins, and often has a small well of gravy in the mash.
Are there different types of stamppot?
Yes, there are many variations. Hutspot uses carrot and onion, wortelstoemp is a Belgian version, and some types include fruit like apple or pear. Modern recipes may use vegetables such as rocket, leeks, or sweet potato.
Is stamppot vegetarian?
Stamppot can be vegetarian if made without meat or sausage, but it is often served with smoked sausage, bacon, or stewed meat. The basic mash of potatoes and vegetables is vegetarian.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Stamppot", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More from the Netherlands
All the food of the Netherlands
French toast
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreBread soaked in egg and milk, pan-fried and served sweet or savoury
Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks
Nasi goreng
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreSoutheast Asian fried rice seasoned with sweet soy sauce and spices
Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch
Pea soup
🇸🇪 Sweden and 5 moreA thick, hearty soup made from dried peas, found in many world cuisines
Soup, Lunch, Dinner
Scotch eggMeat
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreEgg wrapped in sausage, coated in crumbs and fried or baked
Street food, Snacks, Lunch
Its cousins elsewhere
All main dishes
Hot dogMeat
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreA sausage in a sliced bun, topped with condiments and eaten hot
Street food, Lunch, Dinner
Shchiщи
🇷🇺 Russia and 1 moreRussian cabbage soup, made with fresh or fermented cabbage
Soup, Lunch, Dinner
Seafood boil
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreShellfish and sides cooked together for a communal feast
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
Lentil soupVegan
🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreA hearty soup made from lentils, often with vegetables and spices
Soup, Lunch, Dinner