LIMBURGSE VLAAI WITH PLUMS

GRANDMA

Jeanne

COUNTRY

Dutch Belgium

ORIGIN

Limburg

INGREDIENTS

• 200 gr flour
• 15 gr butter
• a pinch of salt
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 dl milk
• 2 tsp sugar
• 20 gr yeast
• Plums
• Extra sugar and cinnamon

HISTORY

“Take out the Vlaai”. This is a Dutch saying that means “gather together around the table, drink a cup of coffee, eat cake and have a cosy afternoon”. The pie contains a very flat dough made of yeast and a filling of fresh fruit. Apples, plums, apricots, pears and even vanilla pudding are all possible fillings. You should eat the pie as fresh as possible.The origin of the “Vlaai” takes us back to the German tribes. They made big flat breads and spread fresh honey or fruit juice on them. These breads were called “Vladel”. Thanks to Maria Hubertina Hendrix with her “Weerter Vlaaitjes”, the pie is now very famous in Dutch and Flemish Limburg. Maria sold her little pies at a railway station in a small Dutch Village called Weert. Travellers took her little desserts with them on the train and the Vlaai became famous.It’s not difficult to understand why this pie is so popular. You don’t need a lot of ingredients, it’s not a lot of work and you can find the filling in your own garden. If you have an apple tree, of course….