Bitterballen Dutch Beef Croquettes
Crisp golden balls with a rich, creamy beef ragout centre, the classic Dutch pub snack served with mustard.
- Time5 hr 30
- LevelHard
- Costabout £1.30 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Put the beef, onion, carrot, bay and water in a pan with a pinch of salt. Cover and simmer gently for 1 hour 30 minutes until the beef shreds easily.
90 min - 2
Lift out the beef and shred it finely with two forks, discarding any gristle. Strain the stock and keep 350 ml.
- 3
Melt the butter in a pan, stir in the 70 g flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the warm stock a little at a time until you have a very thick sauce, then simmer for 3 minutes.
5 min - 4
Stir in the beef, nutmeg, salt and parsley. Spread in a shallow dish, cool, cover and chill for at least 3 hours until completely firm.
180 min - 5
Roll the mixture into 24 walnut sized balls with floured hands. Coat each in the 3 tbsp flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, then egg and breadcrumbs again for a thick crust.
- 6
Heat the oil in a deep heavy pan to 180 C, checking with a thermometer. Fry in batches of 6 for 3 minutes until deep golden. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot with the mustard.
3 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.