Dutch Food: Witlofsoep (chicory soup)

Witlofsoep garnished with flat-leaf parsley

 A couple of months ago, I was talking with a group of friends about all of the wonderful Dutch soups that I've learned about since moving here to the Netherlands.  This conversation led to many more suggestions for delicious soups to try out.  One soup suggestion that really caught my attention was witlofsoep (a.k.a. chicory soup).

Witlofsoep is typically made with witlof (a.k.a. chicory, sometimes also called Belgian endive), onions or leeks, potatoes, chicken or vegetable stock, and cream.  I was very excited about the prospect of learning a new way to prepare witlof/chicory, so I set out to make a vegan version of witlofsoep. I think I've had some success figuring this one out, so I'm adding it to my growing collection of vegan-friendly, Dutch-inspired recipes here on my blog.

Here's my recipe:

Vegan Witlofsoep
(6-8 servings)

Ingredients:
4 medium heads of witlof (chicory) - add a 5th if they are on the small side
1 small leek
2 Tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
4 small yellow potatoes
1 bay leaf
6 cups (about 1.5 Liters) water
2 vegan bouillon cubes
1 cup (about 250 ml) oat milk - soy milk is a good substitute if you don't have oat milk
salt and pepper to taste
optional garnishes: chives or parsley and/or vegan crème fraiche

Witlofsoep ingredients

Instructions:
1. Remove the dark green top of the leek - you'll only use the light green and white part of the stalk for this recipe.  Chop up the leek and witlof.  Peel and roughly chop the potatoes.
2. Heat the olive oil in the bottom of a large soup pot and toss in the leek and witlof.  Stir constantly to coat with the hot olive oil.  Cook for about 5-10 minutes.  The witlof should begin to brown and the leek begin to soften.

Sautéeing the leek and witlof in the soup pot

3. Add the water, chopped potatoes, bay leaf, and bouillon cubes next.  Stir and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes.  The potatoes should be very soft. If they are not easily pierced with a fork, keep simmering a few more minutes.
4. Remove the soup from heat and allow to cool.  You are going to blend this soup, so it needs to be sufficiently cooled.  Before blending, remove the bay leaf. If you have a handheld soup blender, you can blend the soup in the pot.  Otherwise, you will need to blend it in a stand blender. NEVER put boiling soup into a stand blender.
5. When the soup has sufficiently cooled, blend it thoroughly.  Return the blended soup back to the stovetop, and stir in the oat or soy milk. Reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
6. Before serving, season with salt and pepper.  If you want to be fancy, you can add a small spoonful of vegan crème fraiche to each bowl of soup just before serving.  Suggested garnish: chives or parsley.

Current Events in Groningen: April 2012 Edition

I've been having so much fun enjoying springtime in Groningen that I forgot to update my blog for a couple of weeks!

So, what's been happening here in the North of the Netherlands?  Well, for one thing, the spring bulbs are in bloom and they are gorgeous.

Crocuses blooming on my balcony

Tulips, also on my balcony

There have also been lots of other fun things happening in Groningen.  In this blog post, I will share my photos from two recent special events - the Bloemenjaarmarkt and the Bierfestival Groningen.

Two weeks ago, on Good Friday, Groningen hosted the Bloemenjaarmarkt. The Bloemenjaarmarkt, also known as the Bloemetjesmarkt, is a giant flower sale that attracts people from all over the Netherlands and Germany. There were flowers and small trees for sale everywhere - on the sidewalks, the streets, and the squares in the city center.  It was a sight to behold!

The Bloemenjaarmarkt took over a portion of Groningen's city center on Good Friday

Flowers could be purchased at very low prices

Entertainment included a street organ with moving figurines

Garden decorations were also well-represented at the Bloemenjaarmarkt

There was even a flower auction!

Evidence that people really do grow flowers in wooden shoes here

Bierfestival Groningen was held last weekend in the Martinikerk, one of Groningen's most remarkable old churches in the city center.  The festival brought together breweries from Europe and America, including a good representation of breweries from the northern provinces of the Netherlands (for example, Maallust Brewery, Witte Klavervier, and the Groningse Stadsbrouwerij, just to name a few).

As you can see, the church provided a beautiful backdrop for an evening of beer tasting.

The Martinitoren, with Martinikerk in the background

Interior of the Martinikerk

A beer cart parked in the Martinikerk

Representatives of Witte Klavervier brewery discuss the brews on tap for the bierfestival

The view of the bierfestival from the gallery above the chapel

You can also view a short video about the bierfestival by RTVNoord news channel at this YouTube link: http://youtu.be/fg5KYxT5KUs  If you know me and my husband, you might recognize us in the video near the 2-minute mark.