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These are the BEST Frikadellen I've had! They’re German hamburgers, which are also called Buletten or even Danish Frikadelle, and are German-style meat patties that are pan-fried and often served hot or cold on a crusty bun as street food in Germany. Frikadellen are how the American hamburger came to be. While they look a little like hamburgers, they're not like the American hamburger at all.
What are Frikadellen
Frikadellen are German hamburgers (and also go by Buletten where I grew up), yet they're not hamburgers at all. The American hamburger typically uses only ground beef and not much else, whereas the Frikadellen flavor is much more complex and includes spices, bread and herbs.
Ingredients
Frikadellen are made from a mix of the following:
- ground beef and pork
- bread
- sautéed onions
- herbs and spices
- and some egg to hold it all together
They are then pan-fried in some oil to get them nice and crispy on the outside. I love dipping mine with mustard (or ketchup)!
Everybody loves them and in Germany, they are one of the most popular street foods next to Döner Kebab and Currywurst.
German vs American hamburger
Frikadellen are often served without a bun or roll unless you pick them up at a German food truck. There you will get one 'auf die Hand' (in the hand) in a cut-open, crusty roll.
If you do like sides with your Frikadellen, I highly recommend German fried potatoes (Bratkartoffeln) or mashed potatoes as a side.
In America, burgers always come on a soft bun, unless you believe in lettuce wrap burgers. Americans love their soft buns for Bratwurst, too, which is also not typically served on a Brötchen (crusty roll) in Germany unless you're on the go.
Can you eat them cold?
Frikadellen or Buletten are enjoyed either warm or cold, which is another major difference from the American hamburger. An American hamburger served cold will always be sent back to the kitchen. German Frikadellen can be eaten on their own with some mustard and/or ketchup, and a side ofpotato salador on a Brötchen, a crusty bun.
Some Germans also like a rustic mushroom sauce to go with their German hamburger (like this Jägersoße I serve with my Schnitzel). I prefer mine warm, but cold has its moments as well!
I often make a bunch of (cold) Frikadellen as mini versions for parties. I love serving them on skewers with a pickle slice and some mustard and they're always very popular. Don't forget to make some authentic German homemade pretzels for your party, too.
Who invented hamburgers?
I have always wondered. Did hamburgers originate in the German city of Hamburg? Hamburgers and not made of ham after all, so I think it's a legit question! I did a bit of research on this topic, and it looks that there are many theories about where the hamburger came from.
One states that thehamburger could have been invented in the German city of Hamburgand that the name originated from Hamburger steak, which was later shortened to hamburger.
Others mention the burger wasinvented in the American city of Hamburg in the state of New York.
Either way, I will keep eating them (the German and American versions) and just enjoy them without asking too many questions.
Video
Need a little more help? Watch this short video showing you how Frikadellen are made. On a side note, my pregnancy brain forgot to sautee the onions before adding them into the Frikadellen dough, but they still turned out great.
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Frikadellen (German Hamburgers)
Author: Sophie Sadler
These are the BEST Frikadellen or Buletten as they’re also called are German style meat patties that are pan fried and often served on a bun. Frikadellen are American hamburger imposters, but they’re not like the American hamburger at all.
4.95 from 18 votes
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Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Lunch, Snack
Cuisine German
Servings 4
Calories 394 kcal
Ingredients
- 500 grams mixed ground meat half pork and half beef
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 hard roll you can use whatever leftover bread you have!
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon German mustard or any other mustard of your choice
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon paprika powder I used half sweet paprika and half half-sharp paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder I used ancho chili powder
- 3 Tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- oil for frying sunflower seed or avocado oil
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Instructions
Soak the roll in water for about 10 minutes, then squeeze out all the water. Peel and fine dice the onion, sauté until translucent and lightly browned, then put into a bowl.
1 yellow onion, 1 hard roll
Add ground meat, spices, chopped parsley, garlic, and egg to the bowl and knead until combined (best to use your hands, but you can also use a fork).
500 grams mixed ground meat, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon German mustard, 1 teaspoon dried marjoram, 1 teaspoon paprika powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 3 Tablespoons fresh parsley, 3 garlic cloves
Add the drained roll to the meat mixture and knead until combined.
1 hard roll
Shape your Frikadellen patties and lay them onto a floured surface, so they won’t stick.Heat some oil in a pan or on a griddle over medium-high, then add in enough Frikadellen to cover the pan (see note about Test Frikadelle).
oil for frying
Fry for a few minutes without turning until thoroughly browned, turn and repeat, then reduce heat to medium low and continue frying for 10 more minutes or until cooked through. Transfer Frikadellen to a plate lined with paper towel to rest for a few minutes before serving (see note about Leftovers).
Video
Notes
Helpful Tips:
- Test Frikadelle: To ensure your seasoning is on point, make a small test Frikadelle and fry it to see if you need to add more seasoning.
- Leftovers: Frikadellen are great for leftovers! You can either heat them up or enjoy them cold as I do. I love thesereusable silicone bagsfor storing your leftovers.
Nutrition
Calories: 394kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 25gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 784mgPotassium: 457mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 710IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 4mg
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