Kjøttkaker (Norwegian meat patties)
Kjøttkaker (in Norwegian) or meat cakes or meat patties, can be called meat balls too, even if it is another sort of meat. This is a traditional Norwegian dinner that a lot of Norwegians have eaten growing up as children in Norway. Every country has its own version of this dish since it is basically ground meat in a small piece.
In the old days, the meat was expensive, and people back then used to add mashed potatoes, potato starch, bread crumbs, or rusk to add more volume to the mixture for better food economy. Or they used other parts of the animal, like the more intestinal meat or from other animals like pork, deer, reindeer, or moose/elk.
And they are called different names depending on the country, as listed below:
- Norway: Kjøttkaker
- Sweden: Köttbullar
- Denmark: Frikadeller
- Finland: Lihapullat (literally “meatbuns”).
- England: Meatballs
- France: Boulettes de viande (or in Northern France) fricadelles.
- Germany: Frikadelle, Fleischküchle, Fleischpflanzerl, Bulette or Klopse.
- Belgium: Ballekes or buletten.
- Netherlands: Gehaktbal
- Austria: Fleischlaibchen or Fleischlaberl.
- Poland: Pulpety [pl] (singular pulpet, from the Italian name)
or klopsy (singular klops, from German Klopse),
and pulpeciki (“little pulpety”). - Spain: Albóndigas
- Portugal: Almôndegas
- Italy: Polpette
- Greece: Keftédes (κεφτέδες)
- Israel: Ktzitzot basar
- United States: Meatballs
- Mexico: Albóndigas
- China: Wanzi
- Japan: Tsukune (minced chicken) and tsumire (minced fish).
- Indonesia: Bakso
- In Norway, we have “kjøttkaker” and “kjøttboller,” and the difference is:
- Meat patties are their own dish, while meatballs are used as a part of other dishes.
- Meatballs are smaller in size than meat patties and are rounder in shape.
Served with potatoes in various shapes, such as whole, cut into boat shapes, or small cubes, or even mashed together. Also, carrots, whole or sliced or in small cubes, can be added. Along with green peas, whole or as a stew. Cabbage stew is also a good addition. Fried onion or stirred cranberries can be added. That is up to you. Also, add ketchup and mustard if you want.
Norwegian meat cake recipe, if you want to make it.
Photo from Flickr below.
YouTube video below.
Norwegian meat cake recipe, if you want to make it.