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Authentic German Frikadellen Recipe (German Hamburgers) Recipe

Authentic German Frikadellen Recipe (German Hamburgers) Recipe


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4.5 from 13 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Savor robust German Frikadellen, a hearty Hamburg classic brimming with rich ground meat and crisp herb flavors. Perfectly pan-fried patties bring German street food comfort directly to your kitchen, inviting culinary adventurers to explore traditional German cuisine.


Ingredients

Scale

Meat:

  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of ground beef and pork)

Aromatics and Binding Agents:

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 egg
  • 1 slice stale white bread (or 1/2 cup breadcrumbs)
  • 1/4 cup milk

Seasonings and Herbs:

  • 1 teaspoon mustard (Dijon or yellow mustard)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground marjoram (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

Cooking Fat:

  • 2 tablespoons oil or butter (for frying)

Instructions

  1. Transform the stale bread into a milky pulp by immersing it in milk for several minutes, then gently squeeze out the excess liquid and crumble it into fine fragments.
  2. Assemble the frikadellen mixture in a spacious mixing vessel, incorporating ground meat, bread crumbs, finely diced onion, minced garlic, whisked egg, tangy mustard, aromatic herbs, and robust seasonings. Blend the components with a delicate touch, ensuring minimal manipulation to preserve the meat’s delicate texture.
  3. Carefully partition the seasoned mixture into symmetrical portions, molding each into elegant, flattened oval patties approximately half an inch thick, creating uniform culinary sculptures.
  4. Activate a skillet with a lustrous coating of oil or butter, establishing a medium thermal environment for cooking. Carefully nestle the patties into the heated surface, allowing them to develop a rich golden crust.
  5. Monitor the frikadellen during cooking, gracefully flipping them after 4-5 minutes to ensure complete caramelization and thorough internal cooking, verifying doneness through color transformation and recommended temperature.
  6. Present the sizzling german hamburgers alongside traditional accompaniments like velvety potato salad, creamy mashed potatoes, or a hearty slice of rustic bread, inviting diners to savor the authentic german culinary experience.

Notes

  • Enhance meat texture by using a mix of ground beef and pork for more complex flavor depth.
  • Keep patties moist by avoiding overworking the meat mixture, which can make them tough and dense.
  • Achieve perfect browning by patting meat patties dry with paper towels before cooking to remove excess moisture.
  • Make gluten-free version by substituting bread with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: German

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 24g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 20g
  • Cholesterol: 90mg