Delectable Meatballs and so Much More

Europe

Lithuania

Balandeliai or little pigeons is a Lithuanian cabbage roll dish. Minced beef or pork, cooked rice, raw eggs, garlic, and onions are seasoned with salt and pepper. Then the meat and rice mixture is wrapped into cabbage leaves and placed in a pot with tomato juice and simmered until tender.

Norway

Kjottboller are traditional Norwegian meatballs. They are prepared with minced beef seasoned with nutmeg and ginger and can be combined with eggs, onions, oats, and cornstarch, Then rolled into meatballs and pan-fried and served accompanied by a creamy sauce or thick gravy.

Sweden

Wallenbergare is a classic dish consisting of a ground meat patty. Ground veal is combined with egg yolks and cream, then made into patties and rolled in breadcrumbs. They are fried until golden. Once done the patties are served with green peas, carrots, mashed or boiled potatoes, and lingonberry jam.

Denmark

Millionbof the name of the dish translates to a million steaks. It is a kind of comfort food. Ground beef is stewed with onions and various spices. The ground meat must be broken up into tiny pieces as it cooks. It is served with a rich, dark gravy and accompanied by mashed or boiled potatoes and beets on the side.

Pariserbof is a tasty dish that is made with a thick beef patty placed on top of pan-fried bread. The dish is complemented with onions, capers, pickled beets, horseradish, and a raw egg yolk on top.

Belgium

Vitoulet is a Belgian dish that consists of fried meatballs. The combination of ground veal and ground pork is mixed with milk-soaked bread, egg yolks, parsley, salt, and pepper. The meat is shaped into elongated balls, rolled in breadcrumbs, and fried in melted butter until crispy on all sides. Another version mixes the ground veal and pork with bread, milk, eggs, shallots, and nutmeg before frying.

Boulets sauce lapin a la Liegeoise is a popular Belgian dish. It is made with ground beef or pork that is mixed with salt and pepper and then rolled into meatballs. Gravy is prepared with onions, flour, beef broth, and sirop de Liege (a Belgian jam or jelly-like fruit spread). Versions include sultanas added to the meatballs as well as cherries. The meatballs as cooked in the gravy until done. Other versions have the meatballs cooked in a tomato sauce with mushrooms and Madeira wine.

Netherlands

Gehaktballen are a Dutch comfort food. The meatballs are made with ground beef and pork, salt, pepper, nutmeg, onions, and mustard. Then formed into balls and slowly simmered in their own juices until done.

Germany

Berliner buletten are traditional German meat patties that originated in Berlin. The patties are prepared with ground beef and pork, soaked bread rolls, eggs, sauteed onions, garlic, butter, parsley, caraway, salt, pepper, and oil. The meat is shaped into patties and fried over high heat until browned on both sides. They are served with potatoes, salads, or creamy sauces.

Austria

Faschierte laibchen is a dish with a ground meat patty that is an Austrian specialty. Ground beef and pork are combined with milk-soaked bread, eggs, fried onions, fried garlic, and flavorings like parsley, salt, pepper, and spices such as marjoram, thyme, caraway, and nutmeg. Then the patties are fried until golden.

Croatia

Punjena paprika is a stuffed pepper dish. The ground meat is combined with onions, salt, pepper, and paprika, and cooked rice. Then stuffed in bell peppers and cooked in tomato sauce with some flour and garlic. They’re served with mashed potatoes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tuzlanski cevapi is a dish that originated in the city of Tuzla. Small meat logs are formed from a combination of ground beef, mutton, and lamb. The meat is mixed by hand and seasoned with salt and pepper. Once formed the cevapi are cooked on an oiled grill until done. They’re served on round flatbread known as lepina. It is accompanied by spring onions or raw chopped onions.

Czech Republic

Karbanatky is a universal term referring to a broad group of traditional Czech and Slovak patties. Minced beef, pork, or chicken is combined with onions, garlic, and various spices. Then shaped into thick round patties, breaded, and pan-fried until golden brown.

Azerbaijan

Tava kebab is a dish prepared with local herbs, vegetables, and eggs. Ground beef is mixed with finely chopped onions and garlic. Then formed into meatballs and pan-fried. Along with the meat onions, tomatoes, green chilies, cilantro, and mint are added to the pan. The eggs can be beaten and poured over all the ingredients or a sunny-side-up egg can be placed on top of the meat.

Turkey

Harput koftesi are traditional Turkish kofte meatballs. The meatballs are prepared with ground beef, basil, onions, bulgur, tomato paste, salt, paprika, black pepper, and parsley. Then the ingredients are combined and shaped into small balls. They are simmered in oil, water, and tomato paste.

Pathcanh kebap is a traditional kebab that originated in Turkey. One version is prepared with pieces of eggplant that have been soaked in salted water and placed on skewers alternating with flavored ground meatballs and grilled. Another version of an eggplant kebab is meat pieces wrapped in fried eggplant slices and joined together with toothpicks. Then placed in an oven and cooked until the meat is tender.

Beyti is a traditional kebab variety that originated in Istanbul. Ground beef or lamb is seasoned with spices, grilled on a skewer, and served wrapped in lavash, cut into pieces, and topped with tomato sauce and yogurt. The ground meat is mixed with onions, eggs, garlic, cumin, coriander, salt, breadcrumbs, paprika, and black pepper. The lavash or phyllo pastry is brushed with butter, then wrapped around the grilled kebabs on a roll. The roll is cut diagonally and topped with a sauce that includes tomatoes and butter. The yogurt is served in the center of the rolls or on the side.

Izmir kofte is a comfort food dish. It consists of meatballs, peppers, and potatoes in tomato sauce. Ground beef or lamb is mixed with onions, flour, stale bread, and eggs and flavored with red pepper flakes, cumin, black pepper, and mint. The meatballs can be cooked on the stove or baked in the oven.

Greece

Keftedakia are juicy and tender Greek meatballs. They are prepared with ground beef and pork mixed with eggs, stale bread or breadcrumbs, and seasonings like dill, pepper, parsley, and oregano. The meat mixture is shaped into small balls and fried in olive oil. They’re eaten as snacks or as an appetizer. The meatballs can be topped with some butter and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Italy

Polpette al sugo is a traditional Italian dish. Ground beef or veal is combined with eggs, milk-soaked bread, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. The meatballs are browned in a pan and then cooked in a sauce with onions, olive oil, tomatoes, and seasonings. The meatballs are cooked over low heat until they are fully cooked and the sauce has thickened.

Spain

Albondigas en salsa is a traditional dish and is usually eaten as a tapa. This appetizer consists of meatballs and tomato sauce. Small meatballs are made with a combination of beef, pork, veal, breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, flour, and seasonings. The tomato sauce consists of tomatoes, garlic, onions, red wine, olive oil, paprika, salt, and stock. The meatballs are browned on the stove and simmered in the sauce until ready and the sauce is thickened, They are served with crusty bread.

Asia

Afghanistan

Kofta challow is a traditional dish that consists of meatballs and white rice. The meatballs are made with a combination of ground beef or lamb, onions, garlic, eggs, coriander, and black pepper. After the meatballs are formed, they are cooked in a sauce with tomatoes and onions. When done the meatballs are served with white rice.

Iran

Kabab digi or kabab tabei is a traditional dish. It is made by combining ground meat, tomatoes, turmeric, onions, oil, salt, and pepper. The mixture is flattened in a pan and cooked in oil over medium heat. Then cut into lengthwise strips, turned over, and cooked with tomatoes until done. The dish is served with rice or bread on the side.

India

Shami kebab is a variety of kebabs that is prepared with minced beef, mutton, or lamb. The meat is mixed with split chickpeas, onions, chilies, ginger, garlic, and spices like cumin, red chili flakes, garam masala, and mint leaves. Once combined the mixture is shaped into round patties, coated with beaten eggs, and pan-fried until crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. They’re served with onions, lime, or lemon wedges, roti or naan bread, and different chutneys on the side.

Pakistan

Chapli kebab is a spicy meat patty. The minced beef or mutton is combined with dried coriander, pomegranate seeds, green chilies, and mint. The patties are formed and fried. They are served with yogurt sauce, salads, and naan bread.

Japan

Menchu katsu is a traditional dish. Ground beef, ground pork, onions, panko breadcrumbs, oil, eggs, milk, black pepper, and nutmeg are mixed together. Then the meat is shaped into patties and dredged in flour, beaten eggs, and panko breadcrumbs. The patties are fried in hot oil until golden and crispy.

Syria

Kubbah summaquiyah is a dish that consists of stuffed meatballs in a sumac-based sauce. The meatballs are called kibbeh and are made with ground beef or lamb, bulgur, and onions. The meat is mixed and filled with pine nuts. The stuffed meatballs are fried and either simmered or drizzled with tangy sumac sauce. The sauce consists of onions, eggplant, tomato paste, garlic, mint, spices, and seasonings.

Africa

Morocco

Kefta tagine is a classic Moroccan dish. It is made with small meatballs in a homemade tomato sauce. Ground beef is mixed with paprika, cumin, parsley, coriander, black pepper, and salt. Then rolled into meatballs the size of cherry tomatoes and cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. Eggs can be added to the sauce near the end of cooking and cooked until poached.

North America

The US

The meatball sandwich is an unforgettable American experience. The meatballs are mixed with ground beef, ground pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic, basil, parsley, and onions. They are simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce. Once done Italian-style rolls are filled with meatballs, red sauce, and grated cheese like mozzarella or provolone.

Sloppy Joe is an all-American sandwich. Ground beef is simmered in a pan with onions, seasoning, and tomato sauce until the meat is done and the flavors have combined. Then the mixture is served on hamburger buns.

Connecticut

Connecticut gives us the steamed burger. The ground beef burger is steamed as well as chunks of cheddar. The beef is placed in a special metal mold to steam and the cheese is placed in a separate container to steam. When done the burgers are placed on bread rolls and topped with melted cheese. Tomatoes and lettuce can be added.

Michigan

The state of Michigan gives us the olive burger. Ground beef is mixed with salt and pepper and the patties are fried. When the burgers are done, pitted green olives are combined with mayonnaise, and the mixture is placed on top of the burgers and then in a burger bun with no other condiments.

Ohio

Cincinnati chili is a popular dish. It is made with ground beef, stock, cinnamon, allspice, Worcestershire sauce, and chocolate or cocoa. The chili is cooked and served over pasta like spaghetti. It is topped with shredded Cheddar, fried beans, onions, and crushed oyster crackers.

Tennessee

From Memphis, Tennessee comes the deep-fried burger. Ground beef is formed into flattened patties and deep-fried in beef tallow. When done the burgers are placed on buns and topped with yellow mustard, sliced onions, sliced dill pickles, and American cheese. The meat should cook in a minute, deflecting most of the oil.

The Caribbean

Dominican Republic

Chimichurris is a hamburger that includes such spices as oregano, garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes. The burger is served on a bun topped with mayonnaise, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, and onions. It is usually not prepared at home but bought from street vendors.

South America

Brazil

For the ultimate burger experience, try the X-Tudo which originated in Brazil. Burger patties are prepared and placed on burger buns and then topped with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, ham, melted cheese, sausages, mayonnaise, and fried potato sticks or shoestring potatoes.