Want to know more about Belgian food and cuisine? Belgium offers an interesting cuisine with influences from France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
It’s often said that Belgian food is served in the quantity of the German cuisine, but with the quality of French food. In other words, Belgian food is both delicious and filling.
Here are 12 traditional dishes from Belgium that you can for a local experience:
Table of Contents
Moules-frites
Moules-frites is one of Belgium’s most famous dishes. It’s made of mussels cooked in white wine sauce and served with fries.
My personal favorite is moules-frites with garlic flavor. It’s really good and a must to add to your Belgian food bucket list.
Photo: Shutterstock
Waterzooi
Waterzooi is a creamy soupy stew made with vegetables, cream, eggs, and chicken or fish.
It originates from the town of Ghent and dates back to the Middle Ages. It’s said that this was the Roman Emperor Carles V’s favorite dish.
Photo: Shutterstock
Belgian Frites
The Belgian fries are not like normal French fries. Thanks to the two-step frying process, these fries are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re simply delicious.
You can eat them as they are or as a side dish to several traditional Belgian meals.
Photo: Shutterstock
Toast Cannibale
This dish is similar to steak tartare and is made of raw beef seasoned with mayonnaise and onion, also known as Filet Americain.
Filet Americain is usually served on slices of white toast that are cut into triangles. Capers, pickled cornichons, and mini onions are common toppings on the Cannibale toast.
Filet Americain is usually served on a plate with salad and Belgian fries on the side.
Visa det här inlägget på Instagram
Croquettes aux crevettes grises
Crevettes grises are tiny gray shrimps that are caught in the North Sea. It’s a staple food in the Belgian cuisine and is included in several local dishes.
When in Belgium, make sure to taste Croquettes aux crevettes grises. It’s a classic food from Belgium that consisting of gray shrimps mixed with a rich sauce (usually béchamel). The shrimps are covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crispy.
It’s a delicious dish that you have to add to your Belgian food bucket list.
Photo: Shutterstock
Stoemp
Another classic Belgian food is the dish called Stoemp. It’s made from mashed potatoes mixed with different kinds of mashed vegetables.
Belgian endive, kale, onion, carrots, turnips, brussel sprouts, spinach, and greens are common vegetables to use in this recipe.
It’s a popular Belgian food to eat during the cold winter months together with some bacon, sausage, beef, or boudinblanc.
Photo: Shutterstock
Anguilles au Vert
If you want to try one of the more ”exotic” local dishes, then make sure to order the dish “Anguilles au Vert”.
Anguilles au Vert is made of eel served with a thick green herb sauce. It’s actually pretty good, so make sure to taste it.
Photo: Shutterstock
Sole Meunière
Sole Meunière is a classic fish dish to add to your Belgian food bucket list.
It’s made of pan-fried fish in butter, lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Sole Meunière is served with mashed or boiled potatoes.
Photo: Shutterstock
Sirop de Liège
Sirop de Liège is a fruit syrup made from apples, pears, and dates. It has a sweet taste and a brown color.
The locals eat this on pancakes, with cheese, and even add it to some local dishes. If you see “à la Liègeois” on the menu, that means that the dish contains this sweet syrup.
Visa det här inlägget på Instagram
Belgian meatballs
The Belgian meatballs, also known as boulettes, is a staple in the Belgian cuisine.
Around the country, there are several variations of these meatballs. They’re usually served with Belgian fries or mashed potatoes.
In the region of Flanders, these meatballs are usually covered in tomato sauce, or fried in butter with a Belgian cherry sauce. In the southern part of the country they’re served with a mixture of beef stock, sirop de Liege, and different kinds of spices.
Photo: Shutterstock
Chicon Au Gratin
Chicon Au Gratin is a common dish in Belgian households. It’s a Flemish specialty and is made of Belgian endive, ham, and cheese.
It’s made into a gratin and is usually served with mashed potatoes.
Photo: Shutterstock
Tomates aux Crevettes Grises
This is one of my favorite foods from Belgium. It’s consists of shrimps mixed with mayonnaise stuffed in tomatoes.
It’s a common appetizer in Belgium that is just as loved among the locals as tourists. It’s a fresh and healthy dish.
Visa det här inlägget på Instagram
More about Belgian food
The Belgian cuisine have regional variations of the traditional dishes, with big influence from both France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
There are several dishes in Belgium that are local to a specific area. The dish waterzooi comes from Ghent, the couque biscuit from the town of Dinant, and the tarte au riz originates from Verviers, just to name a few.
However, most of the traditional Belgian dishes can be enjoyed throughout the country.
What’s the national dish of Belgium?
Moules-Frites is considered to be the national dish of Belgium.
What is a traditional meal in Belgium?
A traditional Belgian meal is often made with ingredients like potatoes, leeks, grey shrimps, white asparagus, Belgian endives, and local beer.
Meat, cheese, and butter are also common to use in a traditional Belgian meal.
The locals typically eats three meals per day. They start with a light breakfast, medium lunch, and end the day with a big dinner.
Belgian desserts and sweets
- Mattentaart
- Belgian chocolate
- Belgian waffles
- La Dame Blanche
- Rum omelette
- Appelflap
- Stofé
- Couque de Dinant
- Snoep
- Oliebollen
- Koekjestaart
Photo: Shutterstock
Belgian drinks
- Cantillon beer (microbrewed)
- Trappist beer (monastery-brewed)
- Hoegaarden (white beer)
- Kriek (cherry flavored beer)
- Lambics and Gueuzes (oak-aged beer)
- Jenever
Photo: DanyL / Shutterstock.com
Christmas food in Belgium
A Belgian Christmas dinner usually consists of three courses. They start with some appetizers or a soup, followed by the main course. Turkey, chicken, or seafood along with potato croquettes is common to serve as a main dish.
For dessert, Yule log is a popular sweet.
Photo: Shutterstock
Do you have more questions about Belgian food and cuisine? Leave a comment below!
Leave A Comment