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Stoemp with leeks and spinach

Brussels stoemp: buttery mash with leeks and spinach, topped with a fried egg

Stoemp (from the Brussels dialect word for 'to mash') is what Brussels brasseries such as those around the Marolles serve on cold days: potatoes crushed together with whatever vegetable is in season, rich with butter and nutmeg. Unlike Dutch stamppot, the vegetables are usually cooked separately and softened in butter first, which gives a sweeter, silkier mash. Leek and spinach is one of the most popular versions in Brussels, and a fried egg with a runny yolk on top turns it into supper. The meat versions come with sausages; this is meat-free. Chef's tip: cook the leeks slowly in butter until they almost melt; quick-fried leeks stay stringy and squeaky in the mash.
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4
  • 2 ¼ lb potatoesfloury, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • 2 ⅛ oz butter
  • 3 leekshalved lengthways, washed and sliced
  • 7 oz spinachwashed, roughly chopped
  • ½ cup whole milkwarm
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (6)

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Method

0/7 done
  1. Step 1: Put 2 ¼ lb potatoes in cold water with half of ¾ tsp salt, bring to the boil over a high heat and simmer for 18–20 minutes, until completely tender.

    20 min
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile melt half of 1 oz butter in a wide pan over a medium-low heat. Add 3 leeks with a pinch of salt and cook gently, stirring often, for 15 minutes until very soft and sweet but not brown.

    15 min
  3. Step 3: Add 7 oz spinach and stir for 2 minutes until it collapses. Tip into a sieve and press out the excess liquid.

    2 min
  4. Step 4: Drain the potatoes and let them steam dry for a minute. Add the rest of 1 oz butter and ½ cup whole milk and crush them roughly. Stoemp should stay a little rustic, not smooth like a purée.

  5. Step 5: Fold in the leeks and spinach with ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, ½ tsp black pepper and the remaining salt. Keep warm over a very low heat.

  6. Step 6: Heat 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry 4 eggs for 3–4 minutes, until the whites are set and the edges are crisp and lacy but the yolks still wobble.

    4 min
  7. Step 7: Serve the stoemp in mounds with an egg on top, so the yolk runs into the mash.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
390 kcal
Protein
14 g
Carbs
42 g
Fat
19 g
Fibre
6 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does stoemp with leeks and spinach take?
About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of potatoes?
Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
What can I use instead of butter?
The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).

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