Bintje Potato—Top of Her Class

The Bintje (pronounced “ben-jee”) is a lovely petite potato. Although almost all potatoes stem from South America, the potato’s introduction to Europe produced many wonderful heirloom off-shoots. The Bintje is of Dutch origin—a country that boasts hundreds of varieties that are routinely sold at local farmer’s markets and shops.

The Bintje is the creation of botanist and school teacher Kornelis Friesland. Friesland used potatoes for his genetics in botany lesson. He named his successive experiments after each of his nine children in turn. By the tenth experiment, a successful crossbreeding of the Munstersen and Fransen potatoes, he had run out of children—so he christened the perfect little potato after his star pupil, Bintje Jansma.

Bintje potatoes are really stand-out performers among potatoes. Featuring yellow flesh, silky skin, a creamy texture, and a slightly nutty flavor, they have high moisture content and low starch content, making them very versatile potatoes. They have a great consistency mashed and are able to hold their shape fried. They are also the potato used in the famous Dutch french fries—potat or pomme frites—which are customarily served with mayonnaise, ketchup, and raw onions.

Another Dutch comfort food fave is stamppot, a simple dish consisting of mashed potatoes with different ingredients, such as carrots (wortel stamppot), kale (boerenkook stamppot), or endive (andijvie stamppot). However you cook the Bintje, there are many ways to enjoy this star of the potato class.

Storage

Potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark place.

Preparation

1. Boil the potatoes in their skins.
2. Let them cool.
3. Peel them and use them in salads or glaze them in butter.

FAQs

1. Can I use Bintje potatoes for mashed potatoes?

Ans. Yes, Bintje potatoes are excellent for mashed potatoes due to their creamy texture. However, you might need to adjust your recipe to include less liquid because of the Bintje’s higher moisture content.

2. Are Bintje potatoes considered a sustainable option?

Ans. Organic or regeneratively farmed Bintje potatoes are a more sustainable alternative to conventionally farmed potatoes. Look for the USDA Organic seal or Regenerative Organic Certified label while you shop.

3. What is stamppot?

Ans. Stamppot is a Dutch comfort food featuring mashed Bintje potatoes and various vegetables.

Pro Tip: Bintje potatoes are also excellent quartered and roasted with their skins on and a dash of salt and herbs on top.