Gerecht

Gerecht is a Dutch term that refers to a prepared edible dish or course served as part of a meal. It can denote a single dish or a complete course in a sequence, such as a starter, a main course, or a dessert. The word is widely used in everyday language as well as in professional kitchens in the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium (Flanders).

Meals are commonly described in terms of gerechten: voorgerecht for starters, hoofdgerecht for main courses, and nagerecht for desserts. A gerecht may be vegetarian or include meat or fish, and it is often accompanied by side dishes (bijgerechten) or sauces. On a menu, each item is presented as a distinct gerecht with a name and description.

Examples of typical Dutch gerechten include erwtensoep as a starter or light main in winter, stamppot as a hearty main course, and hachee or stoofpot as stews. Fish dishes such as zalmfilet or kop van jut are also common, as are salads, vegetable dishes, and pasta or rice-based gerechten in more international cuisine. The term also appears in culinary contexts describing seasonal or regional specialties, or when choosing a dish for a dinner party.

Gerecht is a flexible term in culinary contexts, used across traditional Dutch dishes and modern gastronomy to classify and describe foods served to diners. It also appears in phrases such as seizoensgerecht (seasonal dish) or vegetarisch gerecht (vegetarian dish).