Kroketten and Bitterballen, the delectable Dutch creations, are some of the most popular snacks around – more than 700-million are sold in the Netherlands every year. But those who have tried to make these delicacies will know that the effort often results in great frustration and lamentation. They contain simplest ingredients but it is an art to produce the perfect taste, the ideal texture and consistency, the correct size just like Catherine and Arrie Pranger’s exemplary morsels of delight made in the traditional way.
For five years, Knysna residents have had the privilege of tasting these authentic bites. As soon as it became common knowledge that the Prangers sold these Dutch breaded bites, people streamed to the Knysna Montessori Friday Market, often introducing visitors and friends to the traditional food.
So, it was a terrible disappointment when kroket and bitterbal fans realised that their stall was closed. Catherine and Arrie had packed up their stall. The good news is that the business will go on. Catherine said she was very disturbed when her husband decided that the great effort and often having to brace inclement weather simply became too much for them. “But this is my business!” I told him. “The thought of disappointing all my regular customers (I know many by name) was just too much for me,” says Catherine.
Arrie reminded her that they were both a little over 80 and the time had come to stop. “Unacceptable!” said Catherine. "I met Claudia Perker, owner of Treasures4You, the German shop in Knysna, and she immediately offered us an outlet. “So, I’m back in business,” laughs Catherine, who can not imagine how she will fill with her days if there she had no filling or rolling or measuring to do. “Every one of my creations is made with love and attention. It fills my days but it also gives me great pleasure to know I’ve perfected something and I give joy to the people that support me.”
Asked to share some of her secrets, she sticks only with the ingredients. “To make good kroketten you have to use the best meat and spices. Then you need time … and patience and a little help from someone with strong arms.” For years, Arrie has been helping her to press out the perfectly shaped snacks. “And, yes, we still eat them. There is nothing like this little snack that can quickly become a meal and visitors always expect at least a taste."
Bitterballen are savoury, creamy meatballs that are served as snacks or with a pre-dinner drink. These tasty deep-fried morsels should be eaten hot, on a toothpick, dipped in mustard. Kroketten are golden brown, fried tidbits in the shape of a small sausage roll and can be eaten as a treat but also inserted in a bread roll, smothered in mustard and devoured as a tasty mini-sandwich. The fillings can be anything from only vegetables to prawns or even chicken. The … prefer the traditional beef variety. “I’ve been buying my meat at the same butcher since I started. The vegetables are picked by hand and the secret ingredients come directly from Holland.”
A sign of the Dutch people's love for this kind of fried food is the diffusion of outlets called Febo all over the Netherlands. Essentially, they are huge vending machines for fried foods allowing one to insert some change, open a little flap and take your hot snack. You can spot a Febo by the knot of people standing and eating fried food in front of it. It's a typical Dutch experience that visitors should not miss. “But,” says Catherine, “it can’t come close to the real thing.”. Catherine says it takes three days to complete the process of creating perfect kroketten and bitterballen. The bites need a certain amount of time to set in a freezer. She believes they should be cooked from frozen, but the temperature of the oil must be just right.
The good news is that the delectable snacks are still be available in Knysna. Since they are now pre-packed and ready to cook at home, one might miss the warmth and generous atmosphere at the original Dutch market kiosk, store but the taste remains the same.
The Dutch stall at the Knysna Montessori Friday Market will be sorely be missed, but fortunately the Prangers decided not to disappoint their customers and their kroketten and bitterballen will still be available at Treasures4You on Waterfront Drive in Knysna.
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