Frikandel

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A frikandel with fries, lettuce and mayonnaise

Home-made "frikandel speciaal" with fries in Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Frikandeltotaal

Mittagspause

The frikandel (plural: frikandellen) stands as a prominent snack deeply rooted in both Dutch and Belgian culinary landscapes. Often mistaken for a type of hot dog, this minced-meat delight traces its origins back to the mid-20th century, with its exact provenance shrouded in mystery and debate.

Etymology and Nomenclature

The frikandel's name has experienced variations over time and regions. Predominantly termed "frikandel" in the Netherlands, it assumes the names "frikadel", "fricandelle", or "fricadelle" in Belgium and northern France. The Flanders region of Belgium occasionally uses the term "curryworst", though it bears no relation to the German Currywurst. Notably, Americans sometimes refer to it as "Freak" or "Freakandel".

An intriguing debate centers around its classification as a sausage. Given its skinless nature, purists argue it falls outside traditional sausage definitions. Moreover, there are slight differences in the frikandel and frikadel names. In Belgium, the term "frikadel" often denotes raw minced pork, and this meat product is more akin to a meatball, which is a culinary staple in Belgium and Germany.

Origins and Controversies

The frikandel's creation story isn't straightforward. One narrative credits Gerrit de Vries from Dordrecht in 1954, who purportedly reshaped his product due to legal restrictions against selling it as a meatball. Another account cites Jan Bekkers from Deurne in 1958 as its creator, coining "frikandel" upon establishing the Beckers factory a year later. Though their respective recipes varied – with de Vries using chunkier minced meat and Bekkers employing a fine mince – the latter's rendition is more prevalent today.

Recipe and Ingredients

In the Netherlands, northern France, Belgium, and Curaçao, the frikandel predominantly comprises mechanically separated meat from chicken (at least 40%) and pork (around 25%). However, the American variant encompasses pork (50%), beef (35%), and non-mechanically separated chicken (15%). Some manufacturers infuse a touch of horse meat. There is also a halal version using only chicken and beef. Other typical ingredients include bread crumbs, thickeners, herbs, spices, onions, and flavor enhancers.

The frikandel's prominence in the Dutch fast-food scene is undeniable, only overshadowed by the kroket. As per the AKSV (General Association of Manufacturers of Cooking Supplies and Snacks in the Netherlands), an astounding 600 million sausages are produced annually, averaging over 37 sausages consumed per Dutch resident.

Serving Methods

In the Netherlands, the frikandel is traditionally adorned with curry ketchup or mayonnaise, though some locals opt for tomato ketchup, mustard, or apple sauce. A popular variant is the frikandel speciaal, which combines mayonnaise, curry ketchup, and chopped raw onions. Some aficionados swear by slicing the frikandel before frying, asserting it enhances its crispy texture. On occasions, it's ensconced in a bun, producing a broodje frikandel.

Belgium and northern France offer a more eclectic range, serving it plain, in a baguette, as a kebab, or nestled in a long bun, accompanied by a myriad of sauces.

Trivia and Cultural Impact

• Frikandellen often feature in party packs, paired with Dutch snacks like bitterballen. These party variants, however, are truncated in size.
• The Dutch penchant for frikandellen even influences international holiday resorts they frequent, such as Lloret de Mar.
• Frikandel eating competitions are a quirky Dutch pastime. The current record, set by Sjonnie Noordeinde from Delft in 2005, stands at an impressive 47 frikandellen, each weighing 80 grams, in a single hour.
• It's essential to differentiate between the frikandel and terms like frikadel or Frikadelle used in countries like South Africa, Denmark, and Germany. In these nations, such terms refer to minced meat patties or meatballs.

See Also

• Dutch Cuisine
• Belgian Cuisine
• Fast Food
• Sausages
• Snack Foods