The Story of Kjøttkaker

With love from Tanta Kirsten M. Michaelson Walker

No Scandinavian home is without their favorite recipe for kjøttkaker, especially during the Holidays. No smörgåsbord is complete without their debut. There are many, many versions of this one recipe and each family has their favorite and swears theirs are the best! I am sure that it is the love and time that goes into making them that makes them so good and very popular at any pot-luck or dinner buffet. Most of the differences between the recipes are due to adjustments in the type of meat used and/or the amount of spices mixed in.

I learned how to make kjøttkaker from my mother Carol. She learned how to make them from her mother Elsie Mildred Pedersen Schevling who undoubtedly learned from her mother Anna Johanna Loeve Pedersen or Grandma Pedersen. My mother patiently showed me how to mix it all up, roll them to just the right size and shape and then how to brown them to perfection. I could not wait to eat a couple as my treat for helping.

Kjøttkaker should be small and bite-sized. My late step-father Vincenzo Joseph “Jim” Gaudio or Pa, would say as he teased my mother Carol or Bestemor, “They’re small because they are the ones the Italians threw away!”

The meat section at the grocery store will sometimes sell pre-packaged “Meatball Mix” and this is the blend that is needed. Or, just ask the butcher to make up a pound of each of the meats for you. If budget is a concern, use all ground chuck. Not as rich, but still good.

God jul og Godt Nyttår!

Love, Tanta

Ingredients

1 pound each of ground chuck, veal and pork (total 3 pounds)
1 c. unseasoned bread crumbs
1 c. cream or whole milk
2 whole eggs, beaten
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Ginger
½ tsp. Nutmeg
1 stick butter
2 c. flour
2 c. beef broth or 2 beef bouillon cubes dissolved in 2 cups boiling water
2 tbsp. onions, finely diced

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, soak the bread crumbs in the milk.
2. Add the 2 eggs, mix well.
3. Add salt, pepper and spices. Mix.
4. Mix in the 3 different meats with your hands or a wooden spoon. This is easier to do if the meat is chilled. I wear clean rubber gloves as I find that when I need to rinse them off hot water does the trick easily and I really don’t like touching the goopy meat mixture! If meat is a bit sticky, add a little bit more of the bread crumbs so they hold together.
5. Place large flat bottom skillet on medium heat and add 2 tbsp. butter.
6. Roll into balls (Ping-Pong or smaller size) and fry in butter in skillet, turning gently occasionally. Do not put too many in the pan at one time. As they brown up on each side move them to a shallow 2 ½ - 3 quart casserole or chafing dish.
7. Heat two cups of beef bouillon or beef broth in saucepan or microwave safe measuring cup.
8. When done frying, turn heat to low, scrape up beef bits off bottom of pan, add onions.
9. Add beef broth to scrapings and stir well to make gravy. If too thin, you can add a slurry of flour/water to it to make a bit more. Mix 1 cup water with 3 tbsp. of flour well and then add it to the drippings so you don’t get lumps.
10. Pour gravy over the kjøttkaker and keep warm until serving.

Makes approximately 75 meatballs
Serve hot as an appetizer with toothpicks or over broad buttered egg noodles.