Today I had time to cook and be domestic! It isn't often I cook a big meal, but my family is always happy when I do!
On the menu today, Frikadellen and Bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes).
FRIKADELLEN are German meat patties. There are quite a variety of them - some are all beef like mine; some add ground pork. I bread mine after dipping the patty in egg white (but you don't have to) and fry them in margarine (like my Oma did).
They are almost like mini meat loaves. I like mine with ketchup; my husband likes mustard on his, and my son wants gravy! Frikadellen pair well with potatoes (I prefer fried because that's what my family did.).
Bratkartofflen
Ground beef, about 1 1/2 pounds (for 5-6 patties)
ADD:
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 - 1/2 cup bread crumbs (or stale bread, hydrate with water & then squeeze out well - crumble into meat)
2 eggs (separate! Put yolks in the meat and use whites if breading before frying)
a squirt of ketchup to taste
a squirt of mustard to taste
diced onion (about 1/2 an onion) or dried, minced onion
You have to get your hands in there to mix this!! Take your rings off and have at it!
Form into patties (hamburger size).
IF BREADING: dip each patty in bowl with egg white and then bowl with more bread crumbs.
I use margarine (but you can do oil or butter to preference)
Heat a frying pan and melt margarine. Add patties and let bottoms brown (at med-high heat).
Flip and let other side brown.
Then lower stove temperature and cover the pan. Let meat cook through for 8-12 minutes (or til middle is not pink).
I also serve a vegetable to add some nutrition - ha! My family likes red cabbage or cucumber salad on the side. Today we actually had a tomato salad (olive oil/red wine vinegar, s&p, and feta cheese).
As we say in Germany before eating a meal together: GUTEN APPETIT!
