Eat like a German - German Recipe:
Frikadellen (German Meat Balls)

Frikadellen
[ source: Flickr]

Serves: 4 persons

Prep time: n/a
Cook time: n/a
Total time: n/a

Try those German meat balls (Frikadellen), along with mashed potatoes ...

Frikadeller or Frikadellen (pronounced frek-ka-delluh) are flat, pan-fried dumplings of minced meat, often likened to the Danish version of meatballs. They are a popular dish in both Denmark and Germany. In Sweden, poached quenelles are called frikadeller and are usually served in soup.

Many variations of frikadeller exist but traditionally they are made of minced pork, veal or beef, chopped onions, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, flour, salt and pepper, formed into balls and flattened somewhat. They are then pan-fried in pork fat, or more commonly in modern times in butter, margarine or even vegetable oil.

As a main dish they are most often served with boiled white potatoes and gravy (brun sovs) accompanied by pickled beetroot or cooked red cabbage. Alternatively they can be served with creamed, white cabbage.

Frikadeller are also a popular choice on the German and Danish lunch buffet, eaten on rugbrod with red cabbage or pickle slices.

The combination of frikadeller and a cold potato salad is very popular at picnics or potluck dinners, due to the ease of transporting either component after cooking.

A common variant of frikadeller are fish frikadeller, made from a similar recipe with minced fish instead of pork or chicken.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians can also make vegetarfrikadeller with grated parsnip, beetroot and carrots as fake meat.

[ source: Wikipedia ]

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound of mixed ground meat (half beef, half pork)
• 1 small onion (finely minced)
• 1 clove of garlic (finely minced)
• pepper and salt
• some paprika powder
• 1 egg
• 1 slice of any bread (could be older bread - soak in water to soften it and then press out the liquid.)

Procedure:

• Put meat in a bowl, add onion, garlic, spices, egg and bread and mix well together.
• Form small meat balls (about tennis ball size, but flatten a bit, kids love them in golf size balls)
• Heat vegetable oil in a pan and cook meatballs until done. Enjoy with rice, potatoes, country potatoes etc.

Another Variation:

Irmgard Lee suggested another variation for Frikadellen. In her own words:

My husbands favorite food is my fricadelle. A Hamburger but spiced up the German way. I'm using Minced Meat Pork or Beef. For 1 Pound I'm using 3 eggs, Italian spiced bread crams or Rye bread, soaked in water and than wringed out, 1 onion, 1 Tomato, 1 slice of celeries. I little parsley or and Cilantro fresh. The vegetable I cut up very small. Than I mixed up everything with my bare hands. I make little portions and Frye them with a little olive oil for 10 minuets on each side till there done.