Stoemp
Belgian mash with vegetables crushed through it rather than blended in, so it stays coarse and flecked. A side dish that eats like a main with a sausage on top.
Photograph credit: Carbonnade flamande accompagnée de stoemp by avlxyz · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · this resized copy is shared under the same licence
Method
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Put the potatoes and carrots in a large pan, cover with cold water, add the tablespoon of salt, and bring to a boil.
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Simmer 12 minutes, then add the leeks and cook a further 8 to 10 minutes, until everything is completely tender.
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Drain thoroughly and return the pan to a low heat for 1 minute, shaking, to steam off the surface water.
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Add the butter and let it melt into the hot vegetables.
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Now crush everything with a potato masher, using about a dozen firm strokes. Stop while it is still visibly uneven, with recognisable pieces of carrot and leek — this is stoemp, not purée.
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Fold in the warm cream, salt, white pepper and nutmeg with a spoon rather than the masher.
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Fold through the parsley and serve, with a fried sausage on top if you like.
Chef’s Tips
- A masher, and not many strokes. Over-mashed stoemp is just mashed potato with bits in it.
- Warm the cream. Cold cream chills the pot and you end up overworking it to bring it back.
- It takes any vegetable — sprouts, spinach, celeriac — on the same timing principle.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- Double cream won't whip if you swap it, but for the cooking itself, full-fat crème fraîche or a lower-fat single cream works in its place.
Pairing Suggestions
- A grilled sausage
- Belgian beer
- A sharp mustard
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat in a pan with a splash of milk, or fry slices in butter.
Common questions
How long does Stoemp take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 20 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Stoemp?
A masher, and not many strokes. Over-mashed stoemp is just mashed potato with bits in it. Warm the cream. Cold cream chills the pot and you end up overworking it to bring it back. It takes any vegetable — sprouts, spinach, celeriac — on the same timing principle.
What should I serve with Stoemp?
A grilled sausage; Belgian beer; A sharp mustard.
How should Stoemp be stored?
Refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat in a pan with a splash of milk, or fry slices in butter.
Is Stoemp suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Stoemp?
About 446 kcal per serving, with 8 g protein, 46 g carbohydrate and 26 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.