Moules-frites

Moules-frites

Moules, served in the pan, with fries.
Alternative names	Mosselen-friet (Dutch)
Course	Main course
Place of origin	Belgium
Main ingredients	Potatoes, Mussels

Moules-frites or moules et frites (French pronunciation: ​[mul.fʁit]]; Dutch: mosselen-friet) is a popular main dish of mussels and fries originating in Belgium. It is also popular in France and in the rest of Northern Europe. The title of the dish is French, Moules meaning mussels and frites fries, with the Dutch name for the dish meaning the same. It is sometimes considered the national dish of Belgium.

The portion of moules in Belgian restaurants tends to be one and a half kilograms per person, which can be prepared in several different ways.

Although moules-frites are popular in France and around the world, it is thought that the dish originated in Belgium. It is likely that it was originally created by combining mussels, a popular and cheap foodstuff eaten around the Flemish coast, and fried potatoes which were commonly eaten around the country in winter when no fish or other food was available. On their own, french fries are also closely associated with Belgian cuisine by many Europeans. Although Belgium claims to be the birthplace of french fries, their origin is uncertain and several other countries also claim the title.

The ways in which the mussels are cooked in the dish can vary significantly. Some variants commonly seen are:

Less commonly, fusion variants are seen in which the stock may be flavoured with non-local ingredients such as Espelette pepper or Pernod liqure. They can also be served with "Mosselsaus", a sauce that is made with mayonnaise, mustard and vinegar. In Belgium, the moules used are generally farmed in nearby Zeeland in the Netherlands.