How Easter tastes in Europe

 

Mr. Belter, good food is usually a big deal at Easter. What do you serve at Easter in Osnabrück?

Markus Belter: „For us, Easter holidays is a very traditional holiday, where we also like to cook something special. This year we have chosen lamb. The whole family likes it very much.“

Why is this your favorite Easter dish?

Markus Belter: „For me it is a typical Easter dish, because it is something special and festive besides, we cook lamb in our house very rarely.“

What makes it typical for your region?

Markus Belter: "Lamb at Easter is a classic. This is certainly due to the availability of freshly slaughtered meat. Also, it's a Christian tradition to eat lamb at Easter. It is eaten in memory of Jesus Christ."

When did you first eat your favorite Easter dish?

Markus Belter: "In our family, this has always been a really traditional dish for Easter. I think the first time I ate it was at my grandparents. My grandma always prepared it in an especially delicious way." 

Which ingredients of these are transported/stored by your company within the EFN?

Markus Belter: „Depending on how the vegetables are packed by the producer, all ingredients could theoretically have reached my local retailer through DACHSER or the European Food Network. For the fresh lamb in particular, we offer our customers handling in the +2°C to +4°C temperature range, so that it reaches the refrigerated counter 'ultra-freshly'.”

How do you celebrate Easter? What are the special traditions in your country?

Markus Belter: „Easter, just like Christmas, is a traditional family celebration with a Christian background. We actually celebrate in a festive setting with the family and also attend the church on Easter Sunday. Of course, looking for Easter eggs for the children is also part of it...

Do you have an amusing Easter experience to share?

Markus Belter: „Once, when the Easter bunny hid the Easter eggs too well, our children still found some in the garden again and again even in May.“

Markus Belter's favorite recipe to recreate for your Easter:

Lamb chops with wild garlic crust on ratatouille
(For 4 portions)

Preparation time:
25 min

Preparation / cooking time:
20 min

Baking time:
10 min

Total time:
55 min

Difficulty level:
Medium

Ingredients:
1 handful of wild garlic
1 handful of parsley
80 g breadcrumbs
60 g melted butter
1 egg yolk
salt
pepper, black, grounded
1 eggplant
2 sweet peppers, red
3 tomatoes
1 onion
1 clove of garlic
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp tomato paste
200 ml vegetable stock
100 g whipping cream
800 g lamb chops, 8 pieces
4 stalks thyme

Preparation:
Wash the wild garlic and parsley, shake dry, pluck off the stems and chop the leaves finely. Mix with breadcrumbs, melted butter and egg yolk and season it with salt and pepper. Form everything into a roll and wrap it in foil. Place it in the refrigerator.
For the ratatouille, wash, clean and dice the eggplant, peppers and tomatoes. Peel the onion and garlic, dice the onion and finely chop the garlic. Sauté everything in a pan with 1 tbsp hot oil until it is glazed. Add the eggplant and roast until lightly golden brown. Add the tomato paste, peppers and tomatoes and pour on the broth with the cream. Boil for about 10 minutes until creamy, season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 180 °C bottom and top heat.

Wash the lamb chops, pat dry and season with salt and pepper. Brown on both sides in a pan in the remaining hot oil, then place on a baking sheet. Cut the herb mixture from the refrigerator for the crust into 8 slices and place on top of the chops. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes until golden brown.
Arrange on plates with the ratatouille and pepper over. Sprinkle coarsely chopped thyme over the ratatouille. If desired, serve with gnocchi in brown butter.

The partners of the European Food Network offer a large range of services. Among other things, through temperature-controlled food logistics, groupage and part loads and value-added services, they ensure that the ingredients for your Easter dish are delivered safely and in time.

Information about the logistics services within the network can be found here ›