Danish Meatballs

Classic Danish Meatballs with creamed green cabbage.

Danish meatballs or frikadeller as they are called, are a popular dish in Denmark. It might even be the national dish at one point. According my mom the traditional meatballs are made with half pork and half veal, but you can make them with most ground meats. I always use rolled oats in meatballs, even though my mom used all-purpose flour. I think the meatballs become more compact using flour. This recipe is the basic recipe for Danish meatballs, and the taste fantastic. But you can spice them up by adding different spices like garlic, rosemary, thyme or any other spice you like. 

There are many different ways of serving these simple meatballs. You can serve meatballs with:

• boiled potatoes, brown pan-gravy and pickled red cabbage.

• creamed green cabbage or pointed cabbage

• a cold potato salad

• or served on rye bread as a open-faced sandwich

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 750 g (about 1⅔ pounds) ground pork

• 750 g (about 1⅔ pounds) ground veal

• about 50 g (about ½ cup) rolled quick oats

• 2 eggs

• 2 medium onions, finely chopped or grated

• ⅓ cup milk

• 1½ teaspoons salt

• pepper

• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Mix the meat with salt.  Divide the meat in quarters, lift one quarter up unto the other quarters. Fill the missing quarter with rolled oats (about 50 g or ½ cup). Put in finely chopped or grated onions, the eggs, milk and pepper and mix until you have a cohesive meat mixture.  Place a skillet over medium-high heat. Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in the skillet.

How to make the meatballs taken from my lamb meatball post.

Forming the meatballs dip a tablespoon in the oil and scoop up a good spoonful meat. Use the hand and the spoon to form the meatball.  The meatball should be oval an the size of a small egg. Placed the meatball in the skillet, repeat until you have a full skillet. Be careful not to let the meatballs touch each other.

Fry the meatball for about 3 to 5 minutes on each side until they are well-browned and no longer pink in the center. Depending how big the meatballs are and how hot your pan is the time may varies.  When done remove the meatballs and set aside.

If you have a more meat mixture in the bowl, clean the skillet with a kitchen towel and add new butter and fry another batch.

Serve the warm meatballs. 

Enjoy!

Creamed Cabbage

Creamed Cabbage

Creamed cabbage is for the mostly served with Danish meatballs. The creamy white sauce is not made with cream, but with the water from boiling the cabbage and some milk. This make this side a lot lighter than if using cream. Taste-wise I don't think you miss much, well I have never had it with cream, so what do I know???

Even though the creamed cabbage is a very simple dish, the way you eat it is different depending on traditions and geography inside Denmark. My dad (from Jutland) sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on top. My mom (from Copenhagen) sprinkled cracked black pepper on top, while I sprinkle nutmeg on top. 

So my Danish friends and others what do you favor on top of the creamed cabbage??

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

1 large green cabbage 

Sauce:

• 25 g butter 
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (1 dl) water (from boiling the cabbage)
• about ½ cup (about 1 dl)  milk
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Remove outer leaves of cabbage, and cut cabbage into quarters and remove the hard core.  Slice the cabbage across the quarters width-wise. To get uniform slices I use a mandolin.

Boil the cabbage in salted water until tender 5-8 minutes. Drain the water from the cabbage, saving some of the water for the sauce.

Sauce:

Melt butter over medium heat in a sauce pan. Add the flour and a sprinkle of salt, stirring constantly, until all the flour is incorporated with the butter. You don't want it to get a golden.  Whisk in a little at a time of the hot water (from the boiling of the cabbage), making sure to not to have any lumps left, then whisk in the milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens and gets a bit shiny, 2 to 3 minutes. Add more milk if the sauce is too thick. You want a thick sauce, because it will get some water from the drained cabbage. 

Add the cabbage and season the creamed cabbage with salt and pepper.

Serve the creamed cabbage immediately.

Enjoy! 

Salmon Burger

Salmon Burger

A lighter and more summerly take on a regular burger. 

Normally when I think burger, I think of a bun with a beef patty, but of cause there are many other possibilities. This combination is perfect for a summer-night dinner.

Serves 4-5

Ingredients:

Salmon patty:

• 500 g (about 1 pound) fresh salmon
• 1 egg
• ½ jalapeño, minced
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• ½ lime, the juice from
• 1½ dl (½ cup) panko breadcrumbs 
• ½ teaspoon salt

Guacamole:

• 3 avocados, pitted, peeled, and diced
• 1 jalapeño, finely diced
• 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 lime, the juice from
• 1 handful fresh coriander, chopped
• salt to taste

And:

• hamburger buns
• arugula 
• red onion rings

Directions:

Guacamole:

In a large bowl, gently fold the avocados, cilantro, lime juice, jalapenos, garlic, and cumin together. Season to taste with salt. The more you mix, the creamier and less chunky the guacamole get.

Salmon patties:

Remove skin and bones from the salmon. Chop the salmon with a knife, so you get a chunky paste. Add salmon and the rest of the ingredients to a bowl mix it well. 

Form 4-5 patties, and place them on squares of parchment paper. This will make it easier to transfer to the grill.

Heat you grill or grill pan, and grease it with some olive oil. Cook the patties for about 4 minutes on each side. 

Toast the hamburger buns. 

Place arugula on the bottom of the burger bun, place the patty with a big tablespoon guacamole and onion rings on top. 

Enjoy!

Warm Asian-Style Slaw

I love a crunchy slaw. Normally I use napa cabbage and a spicy asian-style dressing, like I used in the angry tacos. But adding the peanut butter to this warm slaw, gives the slaw a nice creaminess. 

This slaw will be perfect for a weekend BBQ, or served with tacos with an asian twist.

Serves 3-4.

Ingredients:

Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons grated Serrano pepper
• 4 tablespoons creamy peanutbutter

Slaw:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 carrots, julienned
• ½ small red cabbage
• ¼ green cabbage
• ½ english cucumber, julienned
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• some fresh coriander, chopped
• season with salt

Directions:

Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing, set aside.

Heat the oil in a wok. Sauté carrots while stirring for about a minute,  add the cabbage and keep stirring, while cooking for about 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the rest of the ingredients and dressing, tossing well to coat.

Serve immediately. 

Enjoy!

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

I have been experimenting with stuffing chicken breasts for years. I wanted to stuff cheese and some kind of vegetables. Most cheeses will melt and disappear during the cooking process, but somehow goat cheese works perfectly, and the flavors from the scallions and bell peppers pair well with the chicken and sage.

Serves 2.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 3 tablespoons goat cheese
• 5 scallions, finely sliced
• ¼ red bell pepper, diced
• 1 teaspoon water
• 2-4 sage leaves
• 6 slices prosciutto
• 100 ml white wine
• a splash cream, optional

Directions:

 Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200℃).

Mix the goat cheese with scallions, bell pepper and water, so you have a paste. Place a chicken breast on the cutting board. Cut a pocket into the breast horizontally from the side. Place half the cheese mixture into the pocket you just made. Place a sage leave on top of the chicken breast. Wrap 2-3 slices prosciutto round the chicken breast, to lock the mixture inside. Place chicken breast in an ovenproof dish. Repeat with the other chicken breast.

Pour the wine and cream into the dish, and cook the chicken in the oven for 40-45 minutes. 

Serve the chicken with pasta and a nice salad.

Enjoy!