Viaamse Frites and Zesty Mayo are a must try treat if you visit Amsterdam. Learn how to make your own homemade Zesty Mayo.
Viaamse Frites and Zesty Mayo
A couple hundred years ago, some brilliant person decided to slice up a few potatoes and fry them in hot oil. Absolutely ingenious and delicious! Served with a topping of homemade mayonnaise, it is like heaven on earth. In the Netherlands and Belgium, they call these fried things of beauty “Vlaamse frites” and they are on every street corner in Amsterdam. Vlaamse frites literally means “Flemish fries,” as the name originated in northern Belgium region of Flanders.
When you are jet lagged, cold, wet from the rain and tired, a combination of the salt and grease from this delicious Vlaamse frites (sometimes seen as Viaamse Frites) comfort food is sure to cure-all of your woes.
15 minutes later after walking by some beautiful gingerbread houses (that look identical to the little bottles they hand out during your KLM flight into Amsterdam) "coffee shops", swans in the canal and several other odd shops in the red light district. We came upon a Frites (French Fries) shop that was sure to cure my craving.
I stood in front of the little take away restaurant and pondered looking at over 18 unique condiments. I was ready to put my order and then I was stopped abruptly by Mr. Anonymous, who reassured me, that I must try the traditional Viaamse Frites and Zesty Mayo.
I watched in amazement as this one man show, "doubled" fried my frites then took them off the fryer to drain and season. He then placed a whopping serving of Vlaamse Frites in the paper dome, drizzled the top with mayo and served it to me piping hot with a little miniature fork.
Please do heed the warning, careful as they are hot. I almost lost complete sensation of my tongue and all surrounding sense organs on my rush to try this yummy treat. Vlaamse Frites have a gorgeously crunch on the outside and are nice and delicate on the inside with a great seasoning. However, it was the mayo that was the star. I had never tasted mayonnaise this good ever. It was not from a bottle, it was homemade and it was zesty and fresh. It was just amazing.
The next day for lunch I ordered Viaamse Frites and mayo again at a different restaurant. No homemade zessty mayo and a real disappointment. Its their special mayonnaise that it the secret.
Amsterdam Mayonnaise
I was on a mission to find out how to make mayonnaise taste like "Amsterdam" mayonnaise. So off to our test kitchen we go...
I started with the usual ingredients in Mayo such as pasteurized eggs, oil, mustard, salt and lemon juice. It was okay but lacked that sparkle so I added more lemon juice, a little better, but still missing something. I tried some wine vinegar and I was closer but it still needed something to make it zesty...cayenne pepper? Now here is the recipe all with just a dash of this and a dash of that but it was pretty close to the Mayo recipe in Amsterdam.
A few months back I posted by recipe for some great some great frites so please take a look at Baked Pommes Frites Chips and French Fries. Now keep reading along to find out to make some authentic Amsterdam homemade mayo to accompany your Viaamse Frites...
Viaamse Frites and Zesty Mayo
Ingredients
- 1 whole egg pasteurized
- 1 egg yolk
pasteurized - 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 cup olive oil
- cayenne pepper
pinch to taste
Instructions
- With a whisk and very strong muscles or a blender, combine egg, egg yolk, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, salt and cayenne. Process until well blended.
- Now slowly pour in olive oil in steady stream until mixture thickens while whisking or blending.
- Serve homemade Amsterdam Mayonnaise with Viaamse (Vlaamse) Frites and enjoy! Recipe for our Baked Frites.
Ken says
Are these VIaames or VLaames? I see you use both spellings in your post
Rachel @ The Pescetarian and the Pig says
You are so lucky with all of these adventures and the traveling you do! Where do you even find the time to blog? Incredible!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I am glad you enjoy following along on the travel. It has been very busy with family, work and obligations and sometimes with even my best intentions it is difficult to keep up with all of you and post. However I love to cook so there is always action in my kitchen. Take care, BAM
Charles says
Oh sweet Lord those fries look good! (What is it about fries which is so darn incredible?!) and mayonnaise... oh yes! Two of my favourites (so sad they're not really the healthiest things, lol!). Did you notice, as well as the wooden post thing, that the tops of the houses lean out slightly from the bottom? That's to facilitate the lifting of things up on that pole which sticks out apparently.
Healthy World Cuisine says
I did notice that most house are tilting, but not always to the front but in every which way. I just assumed it was due the settling of the the ground because everything is built on stilts. Have a great day. BAM
Promenade Claire says
I'm so happy you had a great time in one of my favourite cities (my best friend lives in Amsterdam). I remembe rvisiting for the first time as a student on a field trip and having chips and mayo and thinking WOW!! I've never been a fan of ketchup but mayo - YES PLEASE!! And I just love the idea of adding a touch of cayenne, so clever! And now I really think I should book myself a flight 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
This was my first visit to the Netherlands. Short and sweet visit but so fun and of course delicious. Frites in one hand and falafel in the other. I was one happy camper touring the little city with gingerbread looking houses. Book yourself a flight before the snow flies. Take care, BAM
Karen says
Frites and mayo was so yummy...I had them in Belgium a couple of years ago.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Are you back home yet from your travels? I have been enjoying following you along on your trip. Take care, BAM
dutchgoesitalian says
I feel at home 😀 Love Vlaamse friet!!! First thing I eat when I'm back home in the Netherlands....have to wait until December for it 🙁 My favourite is 'patatje oorlog' with mayonnaise and satay sauce...so good!
The Squishy Monster says
I wholeheartedly agree that this is one superb cure-all! I'm a believer =)
createeng says
Great choice of food! Those frites look like the poutine I ate on my visit to Montreal. 🙂
Kristi@My San Francisco Kitchen says
Ohhh my, these look sooo good and addicting!!! Lovely photos 🙂
Geni - Sweet and Crumby says
I definitely need a trip like this and THOSE FRITES! 🙂 Perhaps was there garlic in the mayo? Your take on it sounds delectable!
Kathleen Richardson says
OMG, Bam, the frites and mayo look so-o good! I've got to pin this one so I can find it immediately. That mayo sounds like it would go beautifully on many foods.
janinka1 says
What a fantastic post!! Makes me feel to visit Amsterdam again with your eyes 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you very much. I think it is really unique how everyone looks at the world differently from the view of their camera lens. I am glad I could bring a little of Amsterdam your way but to really experience it with all of your senses you need a hands on visit and for sure stop and get some frites on the way... Take Care, BAM
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas says
I really loved this post. I may be going to Amsterdam and Belgium in a couple weeks (haven't decided between those places and Germany yet) and it looks like I have a lot to look forward to!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Good for you! Everything is an experience so enjoy it to the fullest. Each country has something interesting to offer. Europe is such a small place that you can hop on a train, drive or even consider something like the Ryan air company for very inexpensive flight around Europe and go from place to place. Take Care and safe travel. BAM
dianeskitchentable says
Outstanding photos - I really love the house with the red shutters. Now I can finally 'come out' though & I have you to thank for it! My mother always made homemade fries and I grew up dipping them in mayo only to find out that around here everyone drenches them in ketchup. In all my years, I never ran across anyone else who dipped in mayo. I'll have to try this recipe for the mayo though because it sounds just about perfect to me.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Diane, I had so much fun taking these photos and actually took more photos in Amsterdam than in in of the other countries I visited on this trip; Germany, France, Italy. I think it is because the architecture is so interesting. I also have to admit I used to always, always dip my frites in ketchup but after this trip I am open to all other ideas and mayo is sure one of them. Have a super week and take care, BAM