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1 Dutch Croquettes (kroket / bitterballen)

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Dutch Croquettes (kroket / bitterballen)

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Ingredients

20 portion(s)

MEAT BASE

  • 800 grams gravy beef
  • Nutmeg
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 whole cloves
  • beef stock, approx 500ml

ROUX (sauce)

  • 90 grams Butter
  • 90 grams plain flour
  • reserved gravy from "meat base"
  • extra beef stock, to make up to 600ml

THE REST

  • 1/2 bunch parsley
  • plain flour, (about a cup)
  • 3-5 eggs, (lightly beaten)
  • bread crumbs, (about 2 cups)
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Recipe's preparation

    MEAT BASE (stove top method)

  1. I like to cook the meat on the stove top for a longer period of time as I feel you get much more flavour this way so even though this "appears" to take long, it's super easy to do and requires no effort at all.  Definitely worth the wait!  I also feel that cooking this in the Thermomix would make it harder to separate the gravy from the meat.

  2. Fry the onion until transparent in a heavy based saucepan. Meanwhile sprinkle beef with a small amount of nutmeg, salt and pepper and brown each side in a frying pan. Add the meat to the onion. Pierce bay leaves with cloves and add to the meat mix.

  3. Top with enough beef stock to just cover the meat. Simmer gently on the stove top, covered for 2-3 hours, until the meat is tender and falling apart. (I have a gas stove and use a heat diffuser to help lower the temperature and keep it more consistent for long term simmering). Discard the bay leaves and cloves. Remove meat, reserving the gravy, and allow both to cool.  You need to have 600ml of liquid to make the roux so top the gravy up with extra beef stock if required.

    4. SHREDDING THE MEAT

  4. Place parsley in the Thermomix bowl and chop on Sp 7 for 5 seconds.

    Add meat and shred for 5-10 seconds / Sp 4 / or until you are happy with the texture... it should appear stringy and textured... you don't want to turn it into a paste! 


    Place the shredded meat & parsley into a large bowl and set it aside.

    5. MAKING THE ROUX (sauce) & RAGOUT (ragu)

  5. Very easy step in the Thermomix!

    Add butter to the Thermomix bowl and heat at 100° / 3 mins / Sp 2 (make sure butter is completely melted and hot).

    Add flour and mix on 100° / 3-4 mins / Sp 4 (cooking it for this long removes the floury taste). 

     

  6. Now with the MC off and the blades turning at 100° / 10 mins / Sp 3 slowly add the combined gravy and stock (about 1/2 a cup at a time) until the roux looks thick and smooth (you may not use all the stock!) and then continue to cook until the timer is finished.

  7. Add 150g of shredded meat & parsley to the roux and mix on Sp 4 / 1 min. It will now look like a very smooth mixture with a slight brown colour.

    Pour this mixture into the bowl containing the remaining shredded meat. Stir by hand to combine and season to taste with salt & pepper and refrigerate (covered in plastic wrap) for 2 hours before rolling.   This is now called the "ragout / ragu".

    8. ROLLING THE CROQUETTES OR BITTERBALLS

  8. Now comes the messy part and unfortunately there are no short cuts – you have to get your hands in and start rolling! 

    Get yourself 3 large, shallow bowls and fill one with the flour, one with beaten egg and the last one with breadcrumbs.  You will also need a plate lined with baking paper for the finished product.

  9. Using your hands, form either sticks (10cm x 3cm, about 60g - croquettes) or balls (3cm diameter, about 20-25g - bitterballs) from the ragout mix.  Coat them all in flour, ready for the egg and crumbs.

  10. Now, one by one, dip the floured croquette or bitterball in egg (using your LEFT hand only!) and then bread crumbs (using only your RIGHT hand!); then returned to the egg (with your left hand) and finally into the bread crumbs once again (with your right hand).  Your hands will stay a lot cleaner and lighter if you remember to use the correct hands in each bowl.  Your croquettes or bitterballs should be returned to the refrigerator for 30 minutes prior to cooking or alternatively you could freeze them (with baking paper in between layers to make it easier to separate later) at this stage to cook at some time in the future.

  11. TO COOK:
    Preheat the deep fryer to 180°C. Deep fry the croquettes or bitterballs for 4-6 minutes until golden brown.  Cooking time will be slightly longer if using frozen croquettes (no need to thaw first). Drain on paper towels.  Serve with mustard and soft bread rolls with french fries and mayo, if desired.  Eet smakelijk!

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Tip

Croquettes can be made from any meat (chicken and veal work well too and ham or prawn are also popular) and were traditionally made using left over meat.

Note: The name "bitterballen" literally means bitter balls but does not mean that they are bitter.  Traditionally they were made as an accompaniment to a "bitterje" (a small glass of Dutch Jenever, similar to gin). The only difference between krokets and bitterballs is the shape!

While these aren't hard to make, they are a bit time consuming but I'm hoping that once you try the Thermomix method, you'll see that they're a great success and loved by all!  Let me know what you think! Enjoy...

This recipe was provided to you by a Thermomix ® customer and has not been tested by Vorwerk Thermomix ® or Thermomix ® in Australia and New Zealand.
Vorwerk Thermomix ® and Thermomix ® in Australia and New Zealand assume no liability, particularly in terms of ingredient quantities used and success of the recipes.
Please observe the safety instructions in the Thermomix ® instruction manual at all times.

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  • This is now my go to recipe for croquettes. Being...

    Submitted by Marj0le1nTM on 6. December 2019 - 17:43.

    This is now my go to recipe for croquettes. Being Dutch I have our family traditional recipe. This recipe tastes exactly the same. Our family and friends love, love, love them.

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  • Super recipe, thank you. Got the thumbs up from my...

    Submitted by RixyRix on 28. October 2017 - 20:18.

    Super recipe, thank you. Got the thumbs up from my Dutch Mother-In-Law so what can I say. Winner Winner Croquette Dinner! Now I just have to keep it secret as to how less labour intensive it is with the Thermo tmrc_emoticons.) A few of them did burst a bit in the oil so maybe had it too hot, never really deep fried anything before so next time I'll bring them out a bit sooner. Thanks again

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  • I have made croquettes several times...some OK...

    Submitted by Flaggies on 27. June 2017 - 16:09.

    I have made croquettes several times...some OK others not so...this would have to be the best recipe, still quite time consuming but easy and just delicious, a very definite KEEPER!
    Thank you for sharing.

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  • And so finally.... I got

    Submitted by Rottiegirl on 7. May 2016 - 11:47.

    And so finally.... I got around to making these. Oh my stars! Yum Yum. I used my slowcooker for the meat. Used meat with bone and added (TM) meat stock, water and bay leaves etc. and just let it simmer in the slowcooker for the day. Then shred in Thermie (without the bone obviously) and followed recipe. My son who's born in NZ, has tasted these when we were in Holland last time and thinks these homemade ones are even better! I agree tmrc_emoticons.-) Thanks so much for sharing!

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  • Thanks for a great recipe. I

    Submitted by glenwendy on 14. February 2016 - 08:43.

    Thanks for a great recipe. I made these last night for a Dutch friend as part of her surprise birthday dinner and they were the favourite thing served for the night! Can't get enough!! Thanks again!

    Come follow me on Facebook at 'A Farm, A Kitchen & Kids'. Smile

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  • Fantastic recipe! Have made

    Submitted by Cobie on 14. December 2015 - 13:13.

    Fantastic recipe!

    Have made this recipe twice now and both times my Croquettes were a great success with the family.

    I have fond memories of Dad stirring this mixture on the stove and my mother adding the flour until

    the consistancy was right. Sometimes when Dad was out, we would have turns in stirring and adding the flour.

    Then when it cooled we would have to help her to shape the mixture into egg shapes and one would dip whilst the other crumbed them.  

    If mum was alive she would be overjoyed at how easy they are making them using the TM.

    Thank you Carola Cocacola for making this recipe so easy and the "memories"

     

    cobie

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  • Grub81, you can buy a "heat

    Submitted by Carola Cocacola on 17. April 2015 - 20:13.

    Grub81, you can buy a "heat diffuser" from a kitchenware shop that will reduce the heat of the gas flames on the stove top so you'll be able to simmer things nice and slow in the future. Either way, I'm glad you had success and enjoyed my recipe. Thanks for your comments. tmrc_emoticons.)

     

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  • just delicious! i cooked this

    Submitted by Grub81 on 4. January 2015 - 00:36.

    just delicious!

    i cooked this tonigh. I also added wostershire sauce in with the stock and cooked diced, browned rump steak in heavy iron pot in the oven for 2 hours at 160deg as my stove is not very good on simmer. 

    This recipe was just like grandma used to make, I loved not hurting my arm by using the thermomix to do the hardest part! thanks heaps!

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  • I'm SO keen to give these a

    Submitted by Rottiegirl on 31. December 2014 - 07:48.

    I'm SO keen to give these a go.... , i have also such great memories of my Oma having ragout on pastry... I bet I can use this recipe for that as well! Will keep you posted and thanks for sharing! As for today.... I'm going to try your oliebollen! Gelukkig nieuw jar vanuit Auckland, NZ!!

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  • No, I never did get around to

    Submitted by Carola Cocacola on 29. December 2014 - 17:56.

    No, I never did get around to trying it and by the sounds of it, it's not worth trying... what a shame! Mind you, there's nothing like a deep fried kroket!!!! LOL  Thanks for updating me. x

     

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  • Not sure if you ended up

    Submitted by Jes79 on 24. December 2014 - 23:45.

    Not sure if you ended up attempting these in the oven, if you did - how did it go? Mine didn't work out as well, they really need that flash fry, hot and fast. Mine split in the oven - i had them on 190c for around 20 minutes.

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  • No worries!  I still haven't

    Submitted by beck14 on 5. October 2014 - 20:21.

    No worries!  I still haven't made them yet - was only just planning to make them later on this week.  So if you beat me to it, I'd love to hear how it goes!

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  • Sorry for the delayed reply

    Submitted by Carola Cocacola on 5. October 2014 - 14:36.

    Sorry for the delayed reply beck14... I never received a notification that you'd commented. I have no idea if they would work in the oven. It would be worth a try because that would be a lot healthier. Maybe I'll try one in the oven with the next batch I make (might even be today or tomorrow! tmrc_emoticons.)

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  • Ahh... I can't wait to try

    Submitted by beck14 on 13. September 2014 - 07:20.

    Ahh... I can't wait to try these!!  I don't have a deep fryer... do you think it's possible to make them in the oven??

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  • I'm so excited that someone

    Submitted by rochelleb on 21. February 2014 - 15:06.

    I'm so excited that someone has put this recipe in the recipe community. Can't wait to try this recipe! Mmmm croquettes with mustard! YUM!

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  • Thank you for allowing me to

    Submitted by vast.household on 1. January 2014 - 21:55.

    Thank you for allowing me to relive my New Year since my nanna passed on many years ago.  tmrc_emoticons.;)

    Cooking 7

    Vanessa & Stephen Hughes

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  • Thank you for allowing me to

    Submitted by vast.household on 1. January 2014 - 17:04.

    Thank you for allowing me to relive my New Year since my nanna passed on many years ago.  tmrc_emoticons.;)

    Cooking 7

    Vanessa & Stephen Hughes

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  • thanks for converting! the

    Submitted by Laura Beard on 2. October 2013 - 14:24.

    thanks for converting! the way my nan has always made these is very similar... the only difference would be 2 Tablespoons of each soy and worcestershire sauce before adding the shreaded meat to the gravy. Im going to give some to Nan and my Dutch Pop and hopefully they pass the test! thanks again!!

    Laura  

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  • Super glad to hear it, Katez!

    Submitted by Carola Cocacola on 14. September 2013 - 14:06.

    Super glad to hear it, Katez!  Eet smakelijk! tmrc_emoticons.;-)

     

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  • this recipe is great, my

    Submitted by katez on 14. September 2013 - 13:37.

    this recipe is great, my dutch husband made them for the first time and they tasted delicious, just lik the bought ones if not better, one happy dutchy in this house!! Thankyou for sharing.

     

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  • Thanks Corry, I find that the

    Submitted by Carola Cocacola on 29. August 2013 - 13:12.

    Thanks Corry, I find that the mixture gets stickier as it warms up to room temp so maybe you just need to put it in the fridge again.  I seem to be noticing differences in texture and am not sure what is causing this between different people's batches.  I actually weigh each bit of ragout on scales and roll quickly to the right shape before coating in flour.  Coating them all in flour before continuing with the egg and breadcrumbs, if that makes sense.  That way the shapes are formed while it's at its coldest.  tmrc_emoticons.)

     

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  • Thank you for this, first

    Submitted by Corry Breugem on 26. July 2013 - 21:00.

    Thank you for this, first attempt today, taste is great, have to work on the shape!. How do you get a nice looking kroket shape, the stuff is so sticky!tmrc_emoticons.)

     

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  • sounds delish! have to try

    Submitted by meischke on 19. July 2013 - 08:02.

    sounds delish! have to try making my own after I finish the frozen bought ones from the dutch shop! tmrc_emoticons.;)

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  • Thank you Jenna2jb... it

    Submitted by Carola Cocacola on 14. July 2013 - 19:19.

    Thank you Jenna2jb... it wasn't easy to convert and does taste slightly different to my handmade method but I'll keep tweaking until it's perfect!

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  • So good to have this recipe a

    Submitted by jenna2jb on 6. July 2013 - 11:12.

    So good to have this recipe a favourite of mine from my Oma. Never really got a recipe used to just wing it. Thank you for going to the effort of converting it.

    Jenna2jb

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