A cozy Dutch classic of mashed potatoes folded together with ribbons of fresh kale and served alongside a fat sausage simmered in broth. The mash is finished with butter and warm milk for an extra-creamy, rustic texture that is the ultimate Dutch comfort food on a cold night.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Total Time50 mins
Servings4
Yield4 servings
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (estimated)
- 580 kcalCalories
- 32 gFat
- 13 gSaturated Fat
- 50 gCarbs
- 7 gFiber
- 4 gSugar
- 28 gProtein
- 1100 mgSodium
- 1250 mgPotassium
- 150 mgCalcium
- 4 mgIron
- 75 mgVitamin C
- 380 mcgVitamin A
Ingredients
For the Kale and Potato Mash
- 2 lbs (900 g) russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 12 oz (340 g) fresh curly kale, stems removed, leaves shredded
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
- 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
For the Smoked Sausage and Serving
- 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) rookworst or smoked pork sausage
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 whole black peppercorns
- 1 small onion, chopped (optional for gravy)
- 2 tbsp whole grain mustard, for serving
- 4 pickled gherkins, halved lengthwise
- 1 tbsp butter, for the onion gravy
Directions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cubed potatoes and cook for 8 minutes, then add the kale and chopped onion on top and boil for another 6 to 8 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender and the kale is silky bright green.
- Meanwhile, place the smoked sausage in a wide saucepan with the bay leaf and peppercorns. Cover with water, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, just to heat the sausage through without bursting the casing.
- Drain the potato and kale mixture thoroughly and return it to the hot pot. Place it back over the very low heat for 1 minute to drive off excess moisture, then mash with a potato masher until the kale is evenly streaked through the potatoes.
- Mash in the butter first so it melts into the hot potatoes, then pour in the warm milk and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the texture is thick, creamy, and a bit loose rather than gluey.
- While the mash rests, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a small skillet over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion for the gravy for 6 to 8 minutes until deep golden. Stir in a ladle (about 1/3 cup) of the sausage cooking liquid and let it bubble down for 2 minutes.
- Lift the sausage from its pan and slice into thick rounds on the bias. Pile the green-flecked mash onto warmed plates, lay the sausage slices alongside, and spoon over the golden onion gravy.
- Serve immediately with the whole grain mustard for dipping the sausage and the pickled gherkins on the side for a sharp, briny contrast to the rich mash.
Cook’s Notes
- Use starchy russets (or Yukon Golds) for the fluffiest mash; waxy potatoes turn gluey and dense.
- Warming the milk before adding it keeps the mash smooth and prevents it from seizing into lumps.
- Add the kale in the last few minutes of boiling so it keeps its vivid green color and a touch of pleasant bite.
- Swap the kale for sauerkraut, endive, or spinach-and-onion to make other classic regional stamppots (zuurkool, andijvie, or spinazie).
- Leftover mash fries beautifully the next day: press patties of it into a hot buttered skillet and brown on both sides for a crispy-edged treat called 'stamppot leftovers'.
- Ask for the Dutch-style smoked rookworst at a butcher; if unavailable, any coarse-textured smoked pork or kielbasa-style sausage makes a fine stand-in.








