A kaassoufflé (Dutch:[ˈkaːsuˌfleː]ⓘ; lit.'cheese soufflé') is a Dutch snack of melted cheese inside a thin dough-based wrap which has been breaded and then deep-fried. They are also popular in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium.
Overview
A kaassoufflé is thought to be influenced by Indonesian street food called gorengan (fritter).[1] It is either bought ready-made frozen and deep-fried at home, or ordered at snackbars in the Netherlands, where it is one of the few vegetarian fast-food snacks available.[2] At certain Dutch fastfood outlets, such as FEBO or Smullers, it is possible to purchase a kaassoufflé without having to order it at the counter; instead it can be had directly from an automatiek, a coin-operated vending machine.[3][4]Kaassoufflé is also a popular snack to be served at a borrel, an informal Dutch gathering with drinks and snacks (the word "borrel" originally referred to a small glass in which distilled beverages, usually jenever, is served).[citation needed]
Typically this snack comes in two different shapes: either as a large rectangle measuring approximately 10 cm by 5 cm (4" by 2"), or shaped like a half moon of about 10 cm (5") in length. Smaller versions, called mini-kaassoufflés, are usually sold for consumption at home, or for at the aforementioned borrel where they are usually eaten as part of a bittergarnituur, a selection of snacks to go with drinks.[5]Kaassoufflés are not limited to having only a Gouda-like cheese as a filling. Additional flavourings can be added to the cheese, such as ham and spinach, or it can also be made with different types of cheese.[6][7] Another variety of kaassoufflé is the oven-baked type. This is simply done by wrapping a slice of cheese, with or without additional spices, inside puff pastry and then baking it in an oven.[8]
Although the name of this snack contains the word "soufflé", it has very little in common with a real soufflé which, indeed, can contain cheese and can therefore also be called a kaassoufflé in the Dutch language.[9]
Consumption practices
A kaassoufflé is usually eaten on its own, with mustard, mayonnaise, regular ketchup, or curried ketchup. A broodje kaassoufflé is the snack served in a bun.[10]
