Just like Mom and Oma: Frikadellen

 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

Here is my recipe for Frikadellen (how I learned from my Oma and mom) - approximate measurements because I just eye ball it:

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!