Grandpas German Minced Meat Delight Recipe

Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight Recipe: A Cozy Family Favorite

Crafting a hearty grandpas german minced meat delight brings back memories of cozy kitchen moments and traditional flavors.

Warm aromas of seasoned beef will instantly transport you to a charming German countryside.

Generations have cherished this classic recipe, passing down secret techniques from one cook to another.

Rich, savory ingredients blend perfectly to create a comforting meal that speaks directly to the soul.

Tender meat combines with subtle spices, promising a delectable experience that connects you to culinary heritage.

Each bite tells a story of love, tradition, and simple yet incredible home cooking.

You won’t want to miss diving into this delightful dish that captures the essence of authentic German comfort food.

Why Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight Tastes Like Home

  • Savor Family Heritage: A delightful recipe passed down through generations, capturing the warmth of traditional German home cooking.
  • Quick and Simple Preparation: Minimal ingredients and straightforward steps make this dish perfect for busy home cooks seeking delicious meals without complex techniques.
  • Nutritious Veggie-Packed Delight: Loaded with grated potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and pickled vegetables, providing a balanced and wholesome meal that sneaks extra nutrients onto the plate.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: Versatile enough for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or family gatherings, this hearty dish satisfies diverse taste preferences and appeals to both adults and children.

What You’ll Toss Into Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight

Main Ingredients:
  • Minced Meat: A hearty protein base that provides the foundation for this delightful German dish.
  • Potatoes: Grated potatoes add texture and help bind the meat mixture together.
  • Carrots: Grated carrots bring natural sweetness and moisture to the meat mixture.
  • Red Bell Pepper: Adds a vibrant color and fresh vegetable flavor to the dish.
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Salt, Black Pepper, Red Paprika: Essential spices that create a robust and well-rounded flavor profile.
  • Dill, Parsley: Fresh herbs that provide a bright and aromatic touch to the meat mixture.
  • Garlic: Adds a deep, pungent flavor that complements the meat.
  • Eggs: Act as a binding agent to hold the meat mixture together.
Pickling and Sauce Ingredients:
  • Sugar, Vinegar, Olive Oil, Water: Combined to create a tangy and slightly sweet sauce that moistens the meat.
  • Red Onion: Adds a sharp and sweet flavor when sautéed.
  • Pickled Cabbage with Carrot: Provides a tangy and crunchy accompaniment to the baked meat.
  • Pickled Cucumbers: Offers an additional pickled element to the side dish.

How To Whip Up Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Turn on the oven and set the temperature to 180°C (356°F). This helps create the perfect baking environment for your delicious meat dish.

Step 2: Create Meat Mixture

In a large mixing bowl, combine all these tasty ingredients:
  • Ground meat
  • Grated potatoes
  • Grated carrot
  • Chopped onion
  • Chopped red bell pepper
  • Chopped dill
  • Chopped parsley
  • Minced garlic
  • Eggs
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Red paprika

Mix everything thoroughly until well blended.

Step 3: Spread The Mixture

Transfer the meat mixture into a baking tray, spreading it evenly to ensure consistent cooking.

Step 4: Prepare Flavor Liquid

In a separate small bowl, whisk together:
  • Sugar
  • Vinegar
  • Olive oil
  • Water

Pour this flavorful liquid over the meat mixture.

Step 5: Bake The Casserole

Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until the meat is cooked through and slightly golden.

Step 6: Sauté Vegetables

While the meat is baking, heat olive oil in a pan and sauté:
  • Sliced red onion
  • Sliced onion

Cook until the onions become soft and translucent.

Step 7: Add Pickled Vegetables

Add pickled cabbage with carrot and pickled cucumbers to the pan.

Season with black pepper and cook for a few more minutes.

Step 8: Rest And Serve

Remove the meat casserole from the oven and let it cool slightly.

Serve the baked meat with the pickled vegetable mixture on the side.

Tips For The Best Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight

  • Grate potatoes and carrots finely to ensure even distribution and prevent large chunks in the meat mixture.
  • Use fresh herbs like dill and parsley for a more vibrant flavor that enhances the overall taste of the dish.
  • Drain pickled vegetables thoroughly to prevent excess liquid from making the side dish watery.
  • Experiment with different types of minced meat like beef, pork, or a blend for varied flavor profiles.
  • Let the baked meat rest for a few minutes after cooking to help it retain moisture and make slicing easier.

Tweak It—Ways To Change Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight

  • Spicy Bavarian Blend: Replace red paprika with hot chili flakes and add smoked paprika for an intense German-inspired kick. Incorporate diced jalapeños for extra heat.
  • Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Swap dill and parsley with oregano, basil, and thyme. Include crumbled feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes for a Mediterranean profile.
  • Low-Carb German Skillet: Substitute grated potatoes with cauliflower rice. Use ground turkey instead of traditional minced meat for a lighter protein option. Add extra herbs for robust flavor.
  • Vegetarian German Comfort: Replace minced meat with lentils and mushrooms. Use plant-based eggs or flaxseed mixture. Keep original vegetable blend and seasoning for authentic taste.

What Matches With Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight

  • Pair Hearty German Ale: Rich, malty German beer like Oktoberfest or Märzen perfectly complements the robust meat flavors, cutting through the dish's richness with crisp carbonation.
  • Elevate with Tangy Sauerkraut Slaw: Create a zesty side salad using pickled cabbage, fresh herbs, and a light vinaigrette to balance the meat's heartiness and add refreshing acidity.
  • Match with Rustic Rye Bread: Serve thick slices of traditional German rye bread to soak up the meat's flavorful juices and provide a satisfying textural contrast.
  • Select Crisp White Wine: A dry Riesling with subtle acidity will cleanse the palate and harmonize with the dish's complex seasoning and vegetable notes.

How To Store Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight With Care

  • Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days, ensuring the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
  • Freeze: Wrap portions in freezer-safe plastic wrap or containers. Label with the date and store in the freezer for maximum 2-3 months. Avoid freezing dishes with pickled vegetables for best texture.
  • Reheating Oven: Preheat oven to 160°C (320°F). Place meat in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil to prevent drying, and warm for 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).
  • Microwave Option: Place portion on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel to retain moisture.

FAQs For Grandpa’s German Minced Meat Delight Lovers

  • What makes this German minced meat dish unique?

This recipe combines traditional German flavors with a mix of fresh and pickled vegetables, creating a hearty and flavorful meal that reflects classic home cooking techniques.

  • Is this recipe considered healthy?

The dish includes a balanced mix of proteins from meat, nutrients from vegetables like carrots and bell peppers, and offers a good source of essential vitamins and minerals.

  • Can I use different types of meat for this recipe?

While the original recipe uses standard minced meat, you can substitute with ground beef, pork, or a mix of meats to suit your preference and dietary needs.

  • How difficult is this recipe for home cooks?

This recipe is relatively easy to prepare, requiring basic chopping and mixing skills, making it suitable for home cooks with intermediate cooking experience.

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Grandpas German Minced Meat Delight Recipe

Grandpas German Minced Meat Delight Recipe


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4.7 from 37 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Grandpa’s German minced meat delight brings hearty Bavarian comfort straight to your dinner table. Savory ground beef, rich spices, and traditional techniques combine in this nostalgic recipe that connects generations through delicious home cooking.


Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Protein:

  • 1 kg (2.2 lb) minced meat
  • 2 eggs
  • 30 g (1 oz) garlic, minced

Vegetables and Herbs:

  • 200 g (7 oz) potatoes, grated
  • 150 g (5.3 oz) carrot, grated
  • 150 g (5.3 oz) onion, finely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 20 g (0.7 oz) dill and parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 250 g (8.8 oz) pickled cabbage with carrot, chopped
  • 3 pickled cucumbers, chopped

Seasonings and Liquids:

  • 10 g (0.35 oz) salt
  • 5 g (0.18 oz) black pepper
  • 5 g (0.18 oz) red paprika
  • 10 g (0.35 oz) sugar
  • 5 ml (1 teaspoon) vinegar
  • 60 ml (2 fluid ounces) olive oil, divided
  • 30 ml (1 fluid ounce) water

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, preparing a spacious baking tray for the meat mixture.
  2. Combine minced meat with grated potatoes, carrots, finely chopped onions, red bell peppers, dill, parsley, garlic, eggs, and spices in a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend all ingredients until well incorporated.
  3. Distribute the meat mixture evenly across the baking tray, ensuring a uniform layer for consistent cooking.
  4. Create a marinade by whisking together sugar, vinegar, olive oil, and water in a separate bowl.
  5. Pour the marinade evenly over the meat mixture, allowing the liquid to seep through and enhance flavor.
  6. Slide the tray into the preheated oven and bake for precisely 25 minutes until the meat is golden and cooked through.
  7. While the meat bakes, heat remaining olive oil in a skillet and sauté sliced red and white onions until they become translucent and soft.
  8. Introduce pickled cabbage and cucumbers to the onion mixture, seasoning with black pepper and cooking for an additional few minutes.
  9. Remove the baked meat from the oven and allow it to rest briefly for easier serving.
  10. Plate the baked minced meat alongside the warm pickled vegetable medley, creating a rustic and flavorful German-inspired dish.

Notes

  • Grate potatoes and carrots precisely to ensure even moisture distribution and consistent texture throughout the dish.
  • Mix meat and vegetables thoroughly to create balanced flavor profile and prevent dry spots in the baking tray.
  • Opt for high-quality ground meat with moderate fat content to maintain juiciness and rich taste without excessive greasiness.
  • Allow the dish to rest briefly after baking, enabling meat juices to redistribute and enhance overall succulence.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: German

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 410
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Fat: 30 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 25 g
  • Cholesterol: 100 mg
Truc Tran (Kris)

Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

  • Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
  • Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
  • Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.

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