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.
rabbitcancook says
Thank you for sharing this, agree with you that fried potato is a great food invention 🙂 Lovely pictures, bring back my memories of my trip to Holland many many years ago... too bad I miss the chance to taste the Viaamse Frites ... Now it will be in the list of my thing to eat in my future travel 😀
Healthy World Cuisine says
I always say there is a next time. It gives you a great reason to go back to Holland. However in the meantime, you can give my baked fries and homemade mayo a try. Take care, BAM
rabbitcancook says
Hahaha very true and yes...will do , I am sure they will taste as good as those in Holland, maybe even better 🙂 Cheers
Maya Oryan says
Your pictures make it look even yummier!! Luv it!
Healthy World Cuisine says
A little food and a little culture all wrapped up in one. Have a super day. BAM
sweetsimplestuff says
I just tried frites from a food truck ... what a treat! Potatoes fried twice ... heaven on earth! Love all your photos too 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. I know one would not list this food under diet or healthy but it is just so delightful. I was so tired, wet and cold in Amsterdam and these little frites just made my day. I was grinning from ear to ear.
Profiteroles & Ponytails says
Ohhhhhhh nooooooooooooo. As I was reading through the post, I realized the mayo was an emerging theme....then I started to wonder if you'd provide the recipe...then I worried that you'd provide the recipe... because I just HAVE to try it after that write-up. I love frites and mayo, but it doesn't love me. Okay, it loves my hips. But, it is soooo good. Thanks for making us feel like we were right there with you. (Maybe next time?)
Healthy World Cuisine says
I feel your pain. I feel like I gained a bit a weight over these holidays even though I walked miles every day. I am not used to eating lots of Westernized food or their serving sizes. Huge delicious serving sizes compared to Asia. I was amazed. I am glad you liked the little glimpse of Amsterdam. I have many more dishes and countries to share with you, so stay tuned. Take care, BAM
peachkins says
It's my first time here and I must say, those fries look amazing!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks for stopping by so that I could check out your site. Looking forward to keeping in touch. Take care, BAM
[email protected] Chef in disguise says
Homemade mayonnaise has been on my list forever and I can't wait to try your recipe Bam
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Sawson, you need to make sure that your eggs are pasteurized with the little guys in your family... Take care, bAM
Norma Chang says
How did you shoot that photo of the building with the red shutters? Were you lying on the road shooting up? Amazing photo. You sure had a grand trip.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Norma you are so funny and really not far off from what I needed to do to get that shot. Sometimes, Mr. Anonymous takes pictures of me taking pictures as he is amused by this activity. Especially when I have to stand on my chair in the restaurants to get the best shot of my culinary dish...just kidding but sometimes I want to... take care, BAM
gardenfreshtomatoes says
Mmmmm....fries. Not even 9 am here, and I want some!
Lots of people in New England douse theirs in malt vinegar. I can't do that....
Healthy World Cuisine says
I know. I know... Grease and salt is good any time of the day... I think the diverse types of topping for fries is what makes this such a fun food for everyone. However the fries are the star of the show.
[email protected] says
Wow! You're in Amsterdam? I'm so jealous! I"ve never had the chance to travel to that part of Europe and THOSE Frites look so delicious I could eat a whole bag myself right now totally what I call YUMMILICIOUS hehe ~
Healthy World Cuisine says
Completely Yummilicious! If your travels ever take you that direction, Amsterdam is a great layover city. As the city is easy to navigate around by walking and public bus and surrounded by loops of canals, it is really fun to visit. It also has the BEST Frites ever. Thanks for stopping by. Take care, BAM
[email protected] says
I'm definitely going to try and plan a trip to Amsterdam in the near future 🙂 I have heard so many good things about this country and now that you've introduced me to FRITES, I don't think I could stay away from long hehe ~
rsmacaalay says
Always loved my fries with mayo sometimes a ketchup and mayo mixture is good as well
Healthy World Cuisine says
I am all about trying new things. Ketchup-mayo swirl sounds yummy. People may start calling it Ray's ketchmayo. You might even start a new trend. Have a great day. BAM
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I heard about french fries with mayo and my Belgian who came to the US still eats like that. My friend is visiting Amsterdam and it's been really one of city I want to visit! Thanks for sharing your pictures so I could visit there virtually for now... 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
I am glad I could bring a little bit of Amsterdam's culture your way. I know that mayonnaise is also very big in Japan. I remember actually being quite shocked to see it in use. Do you know how mayonnaise ended up in Japan and what started the mayo craze? It would be interesting to know. Take care, BAM
cityhippyfarmgirl says
that was a happy memory for me while there as well. oh yum...now I'm thinking of a cone of frites and mayo, yes please.
Healthy World Cuisine says
A pure comfort food. Who would have ever thought I would actually like mayo on my frites. I guess that is where the old saying don't knock it until you try it comes into play. Glad I could bring back some memories. Take care, BAM
jothetartqueen says
Nothing like delicious salt and grease to cure a jetlag! You're right to say that the homemade mayo makes all the difference. The next time I make mayo, I'll add a dash of cayenne in as well. I would keep a look out for Vlaamse frites if i head to Amsterdam. love all the photos that you shared.
Healthy World Cuisine says
I know the clinician in me says that I need sunlight, exercise and to eat healthy to cure my jet lag but you only get to travel once, you can eat healthy any old day. The little dash of cayenne pepper does really make the difference. It is quite nice. I hope you like it. Take care, BAM
jothetartqueen says
yeah..totally..I always believe you should eat whatever you want when you are travelling. Worry about the health part when you get home. I'll most certainly try it with the cayenne pepper. it does sound good!
Kristy says
Now this is a kind of mayo I'd like to dip my fries in. Now I I could just get some of these Amsterdam fries. Looks like I need to put Amsterdam a little higher up on my wish list now. 😉 Those look so crispy and golden. I love a good fry - Viaamse or French! Love the pics from your trip too.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Frites or Fries are like one of our kids main food groups...right? Taste testing them in Amsterdam is a must see thing to do while you are there. Amsterdam is really a fun little city that you can get the feel for in about 24 hours. A great layover spot when visiting other destinations. Take care, BAM
Charlotte says
Living in Belgium now and happily living close to à "fritkot", thats how we call this sort of van where they make fries and all the sauces.my favorite:SamouraÏ (made with mayonnaise and harissa).lovely to see such à praise for fries on your blog! If you gt back to Belgium one day,try thé waffles and speculoos!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Charlotte, that is a very dangerous thing living so close to a “fritkot”. I am sure I would have to visit it every day and for certain will have to try the SamouraÏ, next time I visit. We simply ran out of time during our short visit but if I wanted to visit a traditional pancake house, where do you suggest? Take care, BAM
Charlotte says
Hey Bam, I haven't been to Amsterdam in a while, but I would say Pannekoekenhuis is a good spot for traditional pancakes, pannekoeken in dutch, which litterally means"cookies in the pan". And if you go to Brussels one day, THE spot for their traditional waffles and speculoos is the Dandoy tea room. Hope you'll have the occasion to discover both soon enough. Cheers,