Bitterballen, bite-sized veal croquettes. These are usually eaten when Dutch people go to a bar and served with a drink. I quess you could call it Dutch 'Tapas' !
Ingredients
- 200 g veal shoulder, cubed
- 1 bouquet garni
- 400 ml beef stock
- 30 g butter
- 30 g flour
- salt and pepper
- nutmeg
- 2 eggs
- 100 g breadcrumbs
- sunflower oil (for frying)
- French mustard
Directions
- In a pan put meat, bouquet garni and beef stock slowly to the boil and simmer for about 1 hour until meat is tender.
- Strain off 200 ml stock into a measuring jug.
- Slice the cooked meat very thinly.
- Melt the butter in a pan and stir in the flour.
- Add the stock, while stirring, and continue stirring until the sauce is thick and smooth.
- Leave the sauce to cook gently for about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the meat and add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.
- Pour the ragout onto a flat plate and refrigerate until firm. (Best to make this one day in advance)
- In a deep plate beat the eggs with one tablespoon of water.
- Shape the ragout into 24 balls (Little bit smaller than golfball) and roll in the breadcrumbs.
- Then roll in the beaten eggs and breadcrumbs again.
- Repeat until well coated.
- Heat oil in a deep fat fryer to 180°C.
- Deep fry croquettes 6 at the time for 3 – 4 minutes until brown and crisp.
- Drain on paper towel.
- Serve the warm bitterballen on a plate with a serving of mustard next to it.