Lihapallid — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Tender Estonian beef meatballs in a creamy gravy, flavored with allspice and served over mashed potatoes — hearty home cooking.

Ingredients

500g ground beef
1 egg
60g breadcrumbs
80ml milk
1 small onion, grated
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
400ml beef broth
100ml cream
Mashed potatoes for serving
Lingonberry jam

Instructions

1 Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 5 min.
2 Mix ground beef, egg, soaked breadcrumbs, grated onion, allspice, salt, and pepper. Shape into walnut-sized balls.
3 Brown meatballs in butter in a skillet on all sides, about 8 min. Remove and set aside.
4 In the same skillet, sprinkle flour over the drippings. Cook 1 min, stirring.
5 Gradually whisk in beef broth and cream. Simmer until thickened.
6 Return meatballs to the gravy, simmer 15 min until cooked through. Serve over mashed potatoes with lingonberry jam.

Did You Know?

The Estonian school lunch program has served lihapallid with gravy since the 1960s, making it one of the most nostalgic dishes for every Estonian generation.