Have a Rolling Good Dinner

Europe

Norway

Kjottboller are traditional Norwegian meatballs. They’re prepared with minced beef, eggs, onions, oats, and cornstarch. The meatballs are seasoned with nutmeg and ginger, Then they’re pan-fried and eaten with a creamy sauce or thick gravy.

Sweden

Kottbullar are meatballs with a crispy brown exterior and a tender interior. The meatballs are made with a combination of minced beef and pork or veal. They’re seasoned with onions, allspice, salt, and pepper. The meat is shaped into small, round, balls and browned in butter.

Finland

Finnish meatballs/Lihapullat are prepared with a mix of minced beef and pork. The meat is combined with breadcrumbs, eggs, and onions and seasoned with allspice. They’re topped with a creamy brown sauce.

Denmark

Frikadeller are popular meatballs prepared with minced pork and occasionally ground veal. They’re topped with a creamy sauce,

Bollrt i karry is a traditional Danish dish that first included curry powder. Pork meatballs are covered in a creamy curry sauce.

The Netherlands

Bitterballen are deep-fried, breadcrumbed, meatballs. The meatballs consist of minced beef, flour, beef broth, and seasonings. These meatballs can also be prepared with minced chicken, veal, or mushrooms.

Gehaktballen are meatballs made with minced beef and pork and seasoned with salt, pepper, nutmeg, onions, and mustard.

Belgium

Boulets begeoise are meatballs that consist of minced beef and pork. They’re simmered in a gravy prepared with onions, flour, beef broth, and sirop de Liege.

Germany

Königsberger klopse includes meatballs in a white sauce. The meatballs are made with minced veal, a bit of anchovies, sardines, or herring and topped with white sauce with capers.

Bulgaria

Kjufteta po Chirpanski are Bulgarian meatballs in a rich tomato sauce. The meatballs are prepared with minced beef, onions, eggs, cumin, salt, pepper, and flour. They’re simmered in a sauce with onions, tomatoes, celery, paprika, parsley, bell peppers, and garlic.

Romania

Chiftele are crispy, deep-fried meatballs made with minced pork or chicken, breadcrumbs, and mashed potatoes. They’re flavored with onions, garlic, lovage, and parsley.

Poland

Klopsiki are traditional meatballs prepared with minced pork or beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, or soaked bread and herbs and spices. The meatballs are shaped and pan-fried golden brown or braised in a flavorful broth.

Albania

Qofte ferguara are fried meatballs made with minced beef or lamb, feta cheese, garlic, onions, breadcrumbs, and mint leaves. They’re seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano, and cinnamon.

Greece

Keftedakia are meatballs prepared from minced pork and beef, eggs, stale bread, or breadcrumbs. They’re seasoned with dill, pepper, parsley, and oregano. They're made in a creamy, flavorful broth and when done avgolemono, a creamy egg and lemon sauce thickens the broth.

Italy

Polpette are meatballs made with minced beef or veal, parsley, egg, garlic, and mortadella or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Polpette al sugo is a traditional Italian dish. The meatballs are prepared with minced beef, bread soaked in milk, Parmegiano-Reggiano cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. After they’re shaped the meatballs are browned and simmered in a sauce made with onions, olive oil, tomatoes, and seasonings.

Spain

Albondigas en salsa is a traditional Spanish dish. It consists of meatballs in rich tomato sauce. The meatballs are prepared with minced beef, pork, and veal, breadcrumbs, parsley, eggs, garlic, flour, and seasoned with garlic, onions, tomatoes, red wine, olive oil, paprika, salt, and stock. The meatballs are browned and simmered in the sauce until it becomes thick.

Bocadillo de albondigas is a dish made with meatballs made with minced pork, veal, or beef, eggs, bread, onions, garlic, parsley, Manchego cheese, salt, and black pepper. The tomato sauce is flavored with smoked paprika and red wine. A loaf of bread is sliced in half filled with meatballs and topped with the rich tomato sauce.

Asia

Lebanon

Dawood basha is a delectable dish that consists of meatballs braised in tomato sauce. The meatballs are prepared with minced beef or a combination of minced beef and lamb, and seasoned with onions, parsley, cayenne pepper, salt, and allspice, The meatballs are pan-fried and added to the sauce made with onions, beef stock, tomato paste, and pan-fried pine nuts.

China

Lion’s head is a dish that consists of big minced pork meatballs stewed with noodles and vegetables like cabbage.

Japan

Tsukune is a dish prepared with ground chicken. The meat is seasoned and formed in oblong patties and skewered on bamboo sticks. The meat is seasoned with salt, a sweet combination of soy sauce, sake, and mirin,

Philippines

Bola-bola are meatballs made with minced beef or pork, garlic, onions, eggs, soy sauce, and various spices.

Vietnam

Bun cha is a pork and noodle dish. The dish combines three elements – grilled pork meatballs served in a cold broth, a plate of rice noodles, and a combination of fresh greens like perilla leaves, lettuce, coriander, and morning glory.

Banh mi xiu mai is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich. It is made with minced pork meatballs. The meatballs are made with minced pork, cornstarch, fish sauce, garlic, black pepper, scallions, and jicama. They’re cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, oil, sugar, and fish sauce. The meatballs are placed in a sliced banh mi roll with sauce.

Indonesia

Bakso is a popular Indonesian meatball soup. There are three main ingredients – broth, noodles, and meatballs.

Bakso goring is a dish with fried meatballs. The meatballs are prepared with minced beef, pepper, garlic, sesame oil, flour, eggs, starch, sugar, and salt, They’re deep-fried and served with hot chili sauce.