Zeeuws spek (pronounced ; "Zeelandic bacon") is a traditional Dutch
bacon
Bacon is a type of Curing (food preservation), salt-cured pork made from various cuts of meat, cuts, typically the pork belly, belly or less fatty parts of the back. It is eaten as a side dish (particularly in breakfasts), used as a central in ...
, originally a specialty from the province of
Zeeland
Zeeland (; ), historically known in English by the Endonym and exonym, exonym Zealand, is the westernmost and least populous province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the southwest of the country, borders North Brabant to the east ...
. Traditionally, it is seasoned with salt, pepper and herbs such as
bay leaf
The bay leaf is an aromatic leaf commonly used as a herb in cooking. It can be used whole, either dried or fresh, in which case it is removed from the dish before consumption, or less commonly used in ground form. The flavour that a bay lea ...
, and slow-cooked. Modern Zeeuws spek is marinated, and then grilled, broiled, or smoked.
Preparation
Zeeuws spek sold in butcher stores is prepared by marination in a spiced oil and
mustard
Mustard may refer to:
Food and plants
* Mustard (condiment), a paste or sauce made from mustard seeds used as a condiment
* Mustard plant, one of several plants, having seeds that are used for the condiment
** Mustard seed, small, round seeds of ...
mixture (with the addition of
soy sauce
Soy sauce (sometimes called soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of China, Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermentation (food), fermented paste of soybeans, roasted cereal, grain, brine, and ''Aspergillus oryzae'' or ''A ...
, pepper, and other aromatics) and then lightly grilled or broiled (or sometimes smoked). Its flavor is described as reminiscent of
barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque (often shortened to BBQ worldwide; barbie or barby in Australia and New Zealand) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that employ live fire and smoke to coo ...
. Recipes suggest a variety of flavoring ingredients.
Commercially available Zeeuws spek also contains additives such as
lactose
Lactose is a disaccharide composed of galactose and glucose and has the molecular formula C12H22O11. Lactose makes up around 2–8% of milk (by mass). The name comes from (Genitive case, gen. ), the Latin word for milk, plus the suffix ''-o ...
and
MSG.
Application
Traditionally, Zeeuws spek is eaten on
whole-grain
A whole grain is a grain of any cereal and pseudocereal that contains the endosperm, germ, and bran, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm.
As part of a general healthy diet, consumption of whole grains is associated wit ...
bread
Bread is a baked food product made from water, flour, and often yeast. It is a staple food across the world, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cu ...
with mustard; other uses include serving it as an
hors d'œuvre
An hors d'oeuvre ( ; ), appetiser, appetizer or starter is a small dish (food), dish served before a meal in European cuisine. Some hors d'oeuvres are served cold, others hot. Hors d'oeuvres may be served at the dinner table as a part of the ...
,
on a salad, or with
baked potato
A baked potato, known in the United Kingdom as a jacket potato, is a preparation of potato. After baking, it may be served with fillings, toppings or condiments, such as butter, cheese, sour cream, gravy, baked beans and tuna.
Some varieties of ...
es. A notable sandwich with Zeeuws spek is made in Vermaat restaurant, in
IJsselstein
IJsselstein () is a municipality and city in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. IJsselstein received city rights in 1331. IJsselstein owes its name to the river Hollandse IJssel which flows through the city. It is a major commuting su ...
; Ronald van der Kruk uses Zeeuws spek, bacon,
katenspek (bacon which is boiled before it is smoked), and
ontbijtspek ("breakfast bacon").
Zeeuws spek continues to be held in high regard as a Zeeland dish, though in Zeeland it is also used in fusion foods, such as the
Dutch/
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
n/
Chinese fusion dish ''babi panggang''.
National competition
The national organization of butchers, ''Slavakto'', organizes a competition to determine the best Zeeuws spek in the country. In 2007, the prize went to Jacco van Zoonen of
Nieuwe Niedorp. In 2008, the award went to Niek Kramer of
Anna Paulowna. In 2009, Gerard Haring of
Hengelo
Hengelo (; Tweants dialect, Tweants: ) is a city in the eastern part of the Netherlands, in the Twente region, in the province of Overijssel. It is part of a larger urban area that also includes Enschede, Borne, Overijssel, Borne, Almelo and Ol ...
was the winner.
See also
*
Dutch cuisine
Dutch cuisine is formed from the cooking traditions and practices of the Netherlands. The country's cuisine is shaped by its location on the fertile Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta at the North Sea, giving rise to fishing, farming, and overseas tra ...
References
External links
Homemade Zeeuws spek(additional photographs)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeeuws Spek
Bacon
Dutch cuisine