Königsberger Klops (German Meatballs)

Ingredients

• One 1-inch-thick slice bread
• Water, milk, or stock to cover
• 1 ½ pounds ground beef, veal, pork, or a combination
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, or 2 anchovies, minced
• (A small grating of nutmeg)
• 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• Hide ingredients for Basic Pan Gravy, using 10 tablespoons butter, ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, and all of the reserved stock 1 Basic Pan Gravy, using 10 tablespoons butter, ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, and all of the reserved stock (opens in new tab) Basic Pan Gravy, using 10 tablespoons butter, ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, and all of the reserved stock
  • Fat from the pan drippings or butter to make 2 tablespoons
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (the larger amount for a thicker sauce)
  • The degreased pan juices plus enough stock, wine, beer, cream, milk, or water to make 1 cup
  • Salt and black pepper
  • (Minced fresh or crumbled dried herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, or sage)
  • (Finely grated lemon zest or lemon juice)

  Sub-recipe steps

  1. Remove the meat or poultry from the pan, place it on a platter, and keep warm. Pour off all the pan juices, leaving behind or adding: Fat from the pan drippings or butter to make 2 tablespoons
  2. Place the pan over medium-low heat (melt the butter, if using). Gradually whisk in: 1 to 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (the larger amount for a thicker sauce)
  3. Cook, whisking constantly, until the roux is smooth and the flour is nutty and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in: The degreased pan juices plus enough stock, wine, beer, cream, milk, or water to make 1 cup
  4. Simmer gently until thickened, up to 10 minutes. Season to taste with: Salt and black pepper; (Minced fresh or crumbled dried herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, or sage); (Finely grated lemon zest or lemon juice)
  5. Strain the gravy, if desired, and reheat before serving.
• 2 tablespoons capers, chopped pickles, or sour cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• Hide ingredients for Cooked egg noodles or Spätzle 1 Cooked egg noodles or Spätzle (opens in new tab) Cooked egg noodles or Spätzle
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • Pinch of grated or ground nutmeg
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup water or milk
  • 6 cups salted water or chicken stock or broth
  • ¼ cup grated mild cheese, such as Swiss, Emmentaler, or Gouda

  Sub-recipe steps

  1. Combine in a bowl: 1½ cups all-purpose flour; ¾ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon baking powder; Pinch of grated or ground nutmeg
  2. Beat together in a small bowl: 2 large eggs; ½ cup water or milk
  3. Add to the flour mixture. Beat well with a wooden spoon to create a fairly elastic batter. Bring to a simmer in a large saucepan: 6 cups salted water or chicken stock or broth
  4. Drop small bits of the batter from a spoon into the bubbling liquid, or force the batter through a colander, potato ricer, or spätzle maker to produce strands of dough that will puff into irregular shapes. The spätzle are done when they float to the surface. They should be delicate, light, and slightly chewy. If the first few taste heavy and dense, add a few more drops of water or milk to the batter before continuing. Lift the cooked spätzle from the saucepan with a strainer or slotted spoon. Serve sprinkled with: Melted butter or ⅓ cup Browned or Buttered Bread Crumbs
  5. Or transfer to a shallow broilerproof baking dish and preheat the broiler. Top the spätzle with: ¼ cup grated mild cheese, such as Swiss, Emmentaler, or Gouda
  6. Broil until the cheese is melted, about 1 minute.
• Hide ingredients for Buttered Bread Crumbs 1 Buttered Bread Crumbs (opens in new tab) Buttered Bread Crumbs
  • 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, olive oil, or a combination
  • (1 or 2 garlic cloves, lightly smashed)
  • 1 cup dry bread crumbs or panko or 1 ½ cups soft bread crumbs
  • ½ teaspoon salt

  Sub-recipe steps

  1. Heat in a skillet over medium heat: 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, olive oil, or a combination
  2. If desired, reduce the heat to low, add, and cook for 5 minutes: (1 or 2 garlic cloves, lightly smashed)
  3. Remove the garlic from the pan. Increase the heat to medium and stir in: 1 cup dry bread crumbs or panko or 1 ½ cups soft bread crumbs; ½ teaspoon salt
  4. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the crumbs turn golden brown. If desired, mince the cooked garlic cloves and stir into the crumbs.