Bitterballen – Dutch Meatball Hors d’Oeuvre are delicious bread crumbed meatballs that have been deep fried. Everything about that sentence sounds tasty. These morsels can be served as a starter and as a canape with a small dish of dipping sauce. My favourite has to be either a salsa dip or a mustard and mango dip.
Bitterballen – Dutch Meatball Hors d’Oeuvre
A tasty recipe from Holland that is simple yet produces superb meatballs. Serve with a mustard sauce for a treat.
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Servings: 12 meatballs
Calories: 150kcal
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 lb ground beef or veal
- 1/4 cup carrot diced
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1 cup beef broth or milk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice fresh
- 2 tbsp parsley finely chopped
- 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tsp eggs free range beaten with 5 ml water
- 1 grate nutmeg
- oil deep frying
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat one tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over moderate heat and cook the meat, carrots, and onions until the meat is browned and the carrots are tender.1/2 lb ground beef, 1/4 cup carrot, 1/2 cup onion, 4 tbsp butter
- Drain the meat in a colander, then place in a mixing bowl.
- Add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, lemon juice, and parsley and stir to combine.1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 grate nutmeg, salt, ground black pepper, 2 tbsp parsley
- Set the meat mixture aside.
- Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of butter in a saucepan over moderate heat and stir in the flour to make a roux.4 tbsp butter, 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
- Cook this for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the beef broth or milk.1 cup beef broth
- Continue heating, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and becomes quite thick.
- Combine the sauce with the meat mixture, stirring to combine them thoroughly, and chill this mixture for at least two hours in the refrigerator, until it has become solid.
- When the mixture has solidified, roll it into balls about 1 inches (2.5 cm) in diameter, using your hands.
- Roll the balls in the bread crumbs, then in the egg and water mixture, then in the bread crumbs again.1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1 tsp eggs
- Fry a few at a time in a deep fryer with at least 2 inches (5 cm) of oil at 375F (190C) until golden (about 2 to 3 minutes).oil
- Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
Notes
I serve these with a simple mustard dipping sauce for which that recipe is also on this site. Try it and you will love it.
Nutrition
Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 159mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g