Frikadeller Scandinavian Meatballs With Rich Gravy Recipes

FRIKADELLER (DANISH MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Combine beef, pork and onion. Add breadcrumbs, flour, eggs, salt, pepper, nutmeg, garlic, and sage leaves (it works best if you mix it with your hands).
• Slowly add half & half for consistency (you want them to be slightly sticky, you shouldn't be able to form them into a perfect ball). Coat large skillet well with butter. Drop clumps of mixture (a heaping tablespoon-size) onto the skillet.
• Fry on medium to medium low heat until brown (press the meat down a lightly with a fork so it flattens out a little.. it should look like a fat hamburger.. see picture below), then flip (approx 3-5 minutes per side). Add more butter with each batch.
• Serve with gravy (see below). **Don't wash the skillet-- you will want the brown bits and drippings for the gravy**
• Add the flour to the drippings to form a roux (add butter if needed). Slowly add cream (or milk) until mixture reaches gravy consistency. Add beef bouillon, salt & pepper to taste.

FRIKADELLER (DANISH MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Mix the veal and pork together in a bowl, and stir in the milk, onion, and egg. Mix the bread crumbs into the meat. Sprinkle in the flour, and knead well to mix. Stir in the seltzer water, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix well. The mixture should be very moist, but not dripping.
• Chill the meat mixture for 15 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator, to make the meatballs easier to form.
• Heat the margarine in a large skillet over medium heat.
• To form meatballs, scoop up about 2 1/2 tablespoons of meat mixture with a large spoon, and form the mixture into a slightly flattened, oval meatball about the size of a small egg. Place the meatballs into the heated skillet, and fry for about 15 minutes per side, until the meatballs are well-browned and no longer pink in the center.

FRIKADELLER (DANISH MEATBALLS AND GRAVY)

Steps:

• Mix meat and onions together. Add egg and mix again. Add flour and remaining ingredients.
• Using a melon baller or small spoon, form into melon ball sized balls. Place on waxed paper and slightly squish each ball so it is flattened slightly.
• Melt butter in frying pan and cook balls for 10 min on each side at medium heat. While frying the balls on the last side to be browned, make the gravy.
• Melt butter over low heat in a medium saucepan. Add flour and stir until smooth. Add half of the meat stock slowly while constantly stirring. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Add rest of the stock along with the vinegar and boil for 3 minutes, while constantly stirring. Add pepper and salt. Add sherry and dill, if using, at the very end, just before removing from heat. Remove from heat, allow gravy to cool for 4-5 minutes, while stirring constantly.

FRIKADELLER (SCANDINAVIAN MEATBALLS) WITH RICH GRAVY

Steps:

• To make the meatballs, mix together the onion, meat, thyme, breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl, and season well. Using a dessertspoon and one hand dipped in cold water (to stop it sticking), shape about 20 slightly oval balls out of the meat mixture. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper, cover with plastic wrap and chill for 10 minutes, or overnight if time permits.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Heat the olive oil and butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the meatballs, in batches if necessary, and brown until golden all over. Transfer to an ovenproof dish and place in the oven for 10 minutes until cooked through.
• While the meatballs are in the oven, take the frying pan in which you cooked them and place it over a medium heat. Whisk in the flour, add the tomato paste and whisk again for 1-2 minutes, then add the red wine. Turn the heat up to high and bubble for a few minutes. Whisk in the broth and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Season to taste with the Worcestershire sauce, salt and black pepper, then stir in a splash of cream and the redcurrant jelly.
• (If freezing: Allow everything to cool, then tip the meatballs into a freezer bag and cover completely with the sauce. Freeze for up to 1 month.
• Defrost completely and reheat in a saucepan until piping hot throughout.)Serve 3-4 meatballs per person with lots of sauce, spiced red cabbage and mash.