Kapucijners met Spek (Dutch Capuchin Peas with Bacon)
Local name: Kapucijners met spek
In short: Tender brown capuchin peas simmered until soft, served with crisp fried bacon, onion, boiled potatoes and mustard. A plain, filling Dutch home meal. It takes about 1 h 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 20 min
- Resting
- 12 h
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 555 kcal
Kapucijners met spek is a plain, filling Dutch dish of dried capuchin peas, simmered until soft but still whole, then served with crisp bacon cubes, fried onion and boiled potatoes. Mustard and pickles go on the side, and many families add a spoonful of syrup. The peas need an overnight soak, but after that the dish is nearly hands-off.
Instructions
- Cover the peas with plenty of cold water and soak for 12 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse.
- Put the soaked peas in a large pot with the bay leaf and enough fresh cold water to cover them by 3 cm (1 in). Bring to a boil, skim off any foam, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Cook, partly covered, for 60 to 75 minutes until the peas are tender but still hold their shape. Top up with hot water if the level drops below the peas.
- Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a pot with cold water and the salt, bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes until tender. Drain and keep warm.
- Fry the bacon in a dry pan over medium heat for 8 minutes until crisp and golden. Lift it out with a slotted spoon, then fry the onion in the bacon fat for 5 to 6 minutes until soft and golden.
- Drain the peas, discard the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper. Stir in half of the bacon, the onion and a spoonful of the bacon fat.
- Serve the peas with the potatoes and the remaining bacon, with mustard, pickles and syrup on the side.
Tips
- The peas are done when one can be crushed between your fingers but still keeps its shape. Older peas can take 90 minutes, so start checking at 60.
- If you forget to soak the peas, use jarred or canned cooked capuchin peas, drained and warmed through, and skip the first three steps.
Questions and answers
What are kapucijners?
Dried brown field peas, known as capuchin or maple peas in English. They keep their shape when cooked, unlike split peas, which break down.
Can I use split peas instead?
Not for this dish, because split peas fall apart into a mash. Use dried whole peas, or jarred capuchin peas if you can find them.
What is stroop and is it needed?
Stroop is a thick Dutch syrup made from sugar beet, or from apples and pears. A spoonful on the peas is a common touch in many households, but it is optional.
How long does it take to make Kapucijners met Spek (Dutch Capuchin Peas with Bacon)?
About 1 h 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kapucijners met Spek (Dutch Capuchin Peas with Bacon)?
About 555 kcal per serving, with 27 g of protein, 83 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 555 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 27 g |
| Carbohydrates | 83 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 22 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
