Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Belgian Fries

I was told that once you have tasted the fries in Belgium, you will never have them as good anywhere else in the world!

Thickly cut and fried twice in beef tallow, Belgian fries are super crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. They are typically sold in a paper cone, and with a plastic fork. The locals love their fries smothered with thick dollops of mayonnaise. Some vendors (friekot) offer up to 40 different kinds of sauces : Andalouse (mayo, tomato, and peppers), Samurai (harissa mayo),  curry sauce, bicky ketchup, Bearnaise ...

BELGIAN FRIES, FLEMISH FRIES OR JUST FRIES BUT NEVER FRENCH FRIES!

No one calls them French fries in Belgium and apparently, there is a longstanding culinary war over the rightful ownership of the fries. I was told that Belgians remain sensitive about their fries being referred to as French.

They may be known across the world as ‘French fries’, but there’s nothing French about them. The name ‘friet’ comes from patates frites, Belgian-French for ‘fried potatoes’. One possible explanation for the association could be that when American soldiers were introduced to ‘fried potatoes’ in Belgium during WWI, they thought they were in France because French was the language spoken in that region.

The Belgians blame the American soldiers  for having dubbed their national dish with the misnomer!


We had ours topped with pulled pork and chopped onions in a curry sauce. It was truly amazing!

And once you've tasted Belgian frites, there is no going back!
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35 comments:

  1. LinAugust 14, 2019 at 5:52 AM




    I am not so sure about all those toppings, but I would like to try the fries alone. they look fabulous!










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  2. An Apel a DayAugust 14, 2019 at 7:03 AM

    I could gobble that up in a heartbeat. It looks good!

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  3. eileeninmdAugust 14, 2019 at 7:38 AM

    Hello, the fired potatoes look and sound delicious. A spicy sauce would be yummy too. Wishing you a happy day!

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  4. Hootin AnniAugust 14, 2019 at 8:05 AM

    You have done it now! I am slobbering & drooling all over my keyboard. Wow!!

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  5. bettyAugust 14, 2019 at 9:36 AM

    Oh my goodness! That looks yummy! I watched the video of him making them! Such an art form in itself! Its a good thing I don't live in Belgium, LOL. That would be a hard habit to break!

    betty

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  6. Great-Granny GrandmaAugust 15, 2019 at 2:53 PM

    They sound delicious. I wouldn't even want a topper.
    Good thing I don't live in Belgium because I'd be an addict for sure.

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  7. Hena TayebAugust 19, 2019 at 7:35 AM

    Those look great.. I like my fries plain.. I have tried poutine and other topped fries but skinny and crunchy with a sprinkle of salt.. nom nom

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  8. stevebethereAugust 19, 2019 at 12:40 PM

    I want some immediately LOL

    Have a frytastic week :-)

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  9. Joanne August 19, 2019 at 12:41 PM

    Those sound good! I just love me some "French" fries.

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  10. NCSueAugust 19, 2019 at 3:22 PM

    I'm game to try these, but would likely skip the toppings.
    Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/08/faces-of-forrest.html

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  11. Carol @Comfort Spring StationAugust 20, 2019 at 3:18 AM

    Fascinating history and the fries sound so tasty!

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  12. TomAugust 20, 2019 at 6:43 AM

    ...I learned something new today, thank you!

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  13. MaschaAugust 20, 2019 at 8:50 AM

    Looks very yummy!
    Gretings from Germany

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  14. csuhpat1August 20, 2019 at 10:33 AM

    Thanks for all the info and those look so great. #globalblogging

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  15. NanaHoodAugust 20, 2019 at 11:50 AM

    Well, they are different! Not sure I want some but enjoyed reading about them. Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Lydia C. LeeAugust 20, 2019 at 1:41 PM

    We were big fans of the Flemish Stew too....

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  17. riitta kAugust 20, 2019 at 11:16 PM

    It was fun reading about the dispute between the French and Belgians! I'm not a great fan of fries, but you convinced me that the Belgian frites are worth tasting!

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  18. gluten Free A_Z BlogAugust 21, 2019 at 4:15 AM

    Wow! They do look amazing! Did you eat them all?

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  19. SandeeAugust 21, 2019 at 7:03 AM

    Oh yummy. I want one too.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥

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  20. MandyAugust 21, 2019 at 7:04 AM

    OMG! Those fries look AND sound amazing! Time to plan a trip to Belgium!

    Thanks for sharing the history of the name! I had no idea!

    With Love,
    Mandy

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  21. JanAugust 21, 2019 at 8:02 AM

    I would like some for my breakfast.

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  22. Dr Roshan RadhakrishnanAugust 21, 2019 at 9:34 AM

    Writing in from India and guess what - your post answered a lot of questions for me. In our movie theaters, we have a counter selling Belgian fries (which basically is what we consider french fries wrapped in a paper cone and having various toppings.

    did not know this history

    Godyears.net

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  23. RobinAugust 21, 2019 at 10:57 AM

    No mystery here. They're called French fries because they're French-fried. That is, fried quickly in deep oil, a process once called "French(-style) frying" in English. The word "fries" comes from that; otherwise it's meaningless. (Do we have "boils" or "bakes" or "poaches"?)

    When I was a kid, lots of things - not just potatoes - were referred to as French-fried. Anything deep-fried fast and crisp. I particularly remember French-fried apples.

    So the Belgians have nothing to complain about, and the French nothing to claim. But unfortunately, many anglophones also think backward on this topic, assuming French fries must be "fries (that nonexistent thing) that come from France."

    Compare the mysterious whereabouts of the original hamburger. Same principle: "hamburger" (a sandwich from Hamburg) was shortened to "'burger" (which doesn't mean anything), then relengthened into "beef burger", "chicken burger", "fish burger", "veggie burger"... and now people wonder when they stopped putting ham in hamburgers.

    Linguistics, eh?

    Thanks for the post! Boy, do I miss my moules-frites from my days in Belgium!

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  24. XmasDollyAugust 21, 2019 at 1:31 PM

    YUMMY! Am I invited for breakfast??? WOW... tHANKS FOR SHARING GIRLFRIEND... Gotta fly got doctors today, but couldn't miss my buddy's HELLO! SO HELLO ^& HUGS!!!!!

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  25. pilch92August 21, 2019 at 4:59 PM

    I would like to try those, but I will stick with ketchup on them.

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  26. betty-NZAugust 21, 2019 at 5:49 PM

    I don't know why I'm surprised that other countries eat them with toppings like pizza!!
    Thanks for expanding my horizons :)

    Your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week sure made my day!


    My Corner of the World

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  27. Meditations in MotionAugust 21, 2019 at 6:17 PM

    I absolutely agree - Belgian fries are the best in the world. Love their moules frites!

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  28. Keith's RamblingsAugust 22, 2019 at 5:57 AM

    All that's missing is a bucket of moules, a pile of waffles, some chocolates and a bottle of beer!

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  29. MellieAugust 22, 2019 at 11:24 AM

    French fries are one of my favorite foods. I'd love to try Belgian fries someday!

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  30. Dee | GrammysGrid.comAugust 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM

    Thanks so much for linking up your Belgian fries post at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 43. Shared.

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  31. JustinAugust 23, 2019 at 10:55 PM

    How have I gone through life without knowing about these? Its nearly 7am right now and I would happily tuck into a portion of these. Thanks for sharing.

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  32. AnneAugust 24, 2019 at 1:50 AM

    Just to add to the confusion...they look like chips to me. I've not tried Belgian frites, but they look a lot like our chips which we buy from the Chippy (chip shop) we eat ours mostly with fish and salt and vinegar, but also with curry sauce or mushy peas. Me and my brood are also fond of a battered sausage with ours. :)

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  33. The Writing GreyhoundAugust 24, 2019 at 8:02 AM

    Ooh these look delicious! And a good choice from you too - your toppings look great! #thatfridaylinky

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  34. Esha M DuttaAugust 26, 2019 at 9:57 PM

    The fries look so yum! Definitely worth a try, I say!!

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  35. La Vie en MayAugust 27, 2019 at 4:02 PM

    Yum!!! I don't know if I would enjoy the fresh chopped onions on top (not an onion fan), but the curry and pork sounds SO GOOD!

    May from La Vie en May

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