Broodje Rookworst -- Dutch Sausage and Sauerkraut Sandwich

By
Karin Engelbrecht
Karin Engelbrecht
Magazine editor, restaurant reviewer, and food writer who focuses on Dutch cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/2/21
Dutch smoked sausage sandwich

The Spruce / Karin Engelbrecht

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
347 Calories
21g Fat
25g Carbs
6g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 347
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 9g 43%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 1600mg 70%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 6g 23%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 26mg 132%
Calcium 128mg 10%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 435mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Some would call broodje rookworst the Dutch answer to the American hot dog (with far superior sausage, that is), but this sandwich is not served at football stadiums or street vendor style. You'll find it sold seasonally alongside snert, broodje bal, mulled wine and chocolademelk at Dutch koek en zopie (refreshment) stands at ice skating rinks in the heart of winter, and there are few things more satisfying to warm one up on a bracing cold day. 

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups sauerkraut

  • 1 cup white wine

  • 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon  finely chopped fresh thyme

  • 1 bay leaf

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 2 tablespoons thick Dutch mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon Zaanse grain mustard, or another grainy mustard

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

  • 2 rookworsten (or Dutch smoked sausages)

  • 4 rolls

Steps to Make It

  1. Place the sauerkraut, wine, butter, thyme, and bay leaf in a saucepan and bring to the boil. 

  2. Turn the heat down and leave to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring every now and then.

  3. Season to taste with salt & pepper and allow to cool.

  4. Remove the bay leaf.

  5. Mix the mayonnaise, mustard, chives, and parsley together in a small bowl. Set aside until later.

  6. Heat the rookworsten (see Tips).

  7. Cut the sausages on a deep diagonal into thin, broad slices. Split the bread rolls and spread generously with the mustard-mayonnaise.

  8. Top with sauerkraut and the slices of rookworst. Serve immediately.

Tips

As with all simple foods, quality really counts here. If you live in the Netherlands, this is the time to buy quality artisan products: ambachtelijke rookworst from the butcher, old-fashioned sauerkraut from that fancy organic supermarket and good bread rolls from a baker. If you can't find rookworst where you live, why not try to order rookworst online?

Dutch smoked sausage (rookworst) is usually warmed in hot water or the microwave, often still in its vacuum-packed sleeve. If you're wary of BPA exposure or simply not a fan of cooking food in plastic, simply take them out of their packaging, cut off the metal bits at the end and warm them in a glass microwave-safe container, with the lid on for a few minutes. Make a meal of it with thick-cut oven fries and an ice-cold Dutch beer.

You will have some sauerkraut left over, but do not throw it out. Instead, use it to make traditional Dutch zuurkool stamppot, serve it alongside balkenbrij or enjoy it as part of choucroute garnie.

Did You Know?

Sauerkraut has long been seen as a vital source of vitamin C during freezing Dutch winters. It is also a good source of flu-fighting vitamin B-6 and iron. With the recent resurgence of everything fermented, this old favorite is certainly worth rediscovering.

Why are fermented foods naturally good for you? Like many lacto-fermented foods, sauerkraut is packed with gut-friendly probiotics, which promote a healthier digestive system. These foods are also said to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help to prevent certain types of cancer.