One of the most popular meals in Belgium is a potato-based side dish known as stoemp. It consists of mashed potatoes enhanced by the addition of other vegetables such as carrots and leeks. They are boiled or fried, mixed, and then puréed with mashed potatoes.

Optional ingredients include fried onions, shallots, bacon, or various herbs. Stoemp has been present in Belgian cuisine since the 19th century, and it is believed that it was developed during the times of hardship when meat was scarce, and leftover food was used to prepare new, tasty meals.

Today, stoemp can be found in numerous Belgian restaurants, but it is also traditionally made at home to complement the main dish. Belgians prefer to eat stoemp alongside sausages, but it is also often served as an accompaniment to chicken, pork, lamb, and even meatballs.