Kapsalon: Dutch fast-food sensation takes our tastebuds by storm

Kapsalon is a layered dish made of a few simple ingredients. It is especially popular in the Netherlands, where it was created. It comprises chips covered with gyros or shawarma, sprinkled with grated cheese, and baked. Once the cheese melts, kapsalon is topped with iceberg lettuce and drizzled with sauce. It's an ideal combination of flavours, resembling something between a gyros salad and a kebab.

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

Ingredients to prepare kapsalon

• 400 grams of chips (can be frozen)
• 2 chicken breasts
• 100 grams of yellow cheese
• 100 grams of Greek yoghurt
• 1 tomato
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1/2 head of iceberg lettuce
• Spices: sweet paprika, cumin, ground ginger, dried garlic, oregano, salt, pepper
• Oil for frying

Preparing the chips

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the chips 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 make the chips yourself from potatoes: peel them, cut them 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 cooked through.

Assembling the kapsalon

1. Place the baked chips at the bottom of the baking dish.
2. Place the fried chicken pieces on the chips.
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 yoghurt 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 yoghurt sauce.

Serving

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