Discovering kapsalon: Dutch delight takes US by storm

Kapsalon is a layered dish composed of a few simple ingredients. It's particularly popular in the Netherlands, where it originated. The dish consists of fries covered with gyros or shawarma, sprinkled with grated cheese, and baked. After the cheese melts, kapsalon is topped with Napa cabbage and drizzled with sauce. It's an ideal combination of flavors that resembles something between a gyros salad and a kebab.

The name "kapsalon" in Dutch literally means "barbershop." There are various stories about the creation of this dish, but it is most often said that its originator was Nathaniël Gomes, a barber from Rotterdam. Gomes decided to combine his favorite ingredients into one dish, and a nearby restaurant serving shawarma baked it in the oven. Thus, in 2003, kapsalon was created and quickly gained popularity.

Ingredients to prepare kapsalon

• 14 oz of fries (can be frozen)
• 2 chicken breasts
• 3.5 oz of yellow cheese
• 3.5 oz of Greek yogurt
• 1 tomato
• 1/2 greenhouse cucumber
• 1/2 head of iceberg lettuce
• Spices: sweet paprika, cumin, ground ginger, dried garlic, oregano, salt, pepper
• Oil for frying

Preparing the fries

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the fries in a baking dish, sprinkle with salt, dried garlic, and oregano, and then bake according to the package instructions (about 25 minutes).
2. You can also prepare the fries yourself from potatoes: peel them, cut into thin strips, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with spices, and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes.

Preparing the chicken

1. Wash, dry, and dice the chicken breasts.
2. In a bowl, mix the meat with oil and spices: 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of dried garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
3. Heat oil in a pan and fry the chicken over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until it is thoroughly cooked.

Assembling the kapsalon

1. Place the baked fries at the bottom of the baking dish.
2. Put the fried pieces of chicken on top of the fries.
3. Sprinkle the entire dish with grated yellow cheese.
4. Put the baking dish in the oven for about 5 minutes, until the cheese melts.

Preparing the sauce and vegetables

1. In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt with dried garlic, salt, and pepper.
2. Slice the tomato and cucumber, and chop the iceberg lettuce.

Final step

1. After removing the baking dish from the oven, place the vegetables: tomato, cucumber, and iceberg lettuce on the melted cheese.
2. Drizzle with the prepared yogurt sauce.

Serving

Kapsalon is best enjoyed hot. You can serve it in the baking dishes or transfer it to plates. It's the perfect dish for winter afternoons or an evening with friends.