We know that Flemish people are big fans of frikandel or curry sausages: more than one in three people prefer to order a curry sausage or a long hamburger at a chip shop. But what is actually in this frikandel? According to some, only animal droppings, eyes or bones. Is this correct? What about vegetable fricandale? Our journalist Marek van Balen asked from the well-known manufacturer Mora.
What's in Freakhandle?
According to many, there is also a dark side behind the success of Flanders' most popular fry meal: the snack is said to consist of offal such as pigs' eyes or tails. “The frikandel actually contains meat,” Marieke van Balen refutes this statement. “The fricandel is made up largely of chicken. In this case it's about mechanically separated meat. These are small scraps that remain on the bones after chicken fillets, breasts and other large pieces of chicken are cut. This meat is also used to make chicken nuggets. It usually ends up in a basket.” Trash, but we've managed to make a quality product with it.
In addition to chicken, pork is also added to the frikandel. “For us, it is bacon, and again real meat. Finally, we finish everything with all kinds of flavors, herbs, spices and binders. This is to make sure that the fricandel is firm enough and has a good structure.
This ratio applies to most frikandels in the Netherlands and Belgium. “In Germany they still add beef, but their Frekandel looks more like our classic meatballs.” In the United States, a typical fricandel is 50 percent pork, 35 percent beef, and 15 percent chicken. Anywhere in the world you order a frikandel: you won't eat the bones or the eyes.
In Germany, frikandel are similar to classic meatballs. In the United States, a typical fricandel consists of varying proportions of meat.
Are vegan fricandels healthier?
One Mora Frekandel Classic (70 g) contains 153 calories. If we compare that to other popular snacks like chicken corn (244 calories) or goulash croquettes (222 calories), it's not that bad. Do you prefer not to eat meat? Then you can also choose vegetarian frikandel. “It is made from a mixture of plant proteins, such as soy and wheat. We reduce these proteins and mix them with all kinds of flavours, herbs, spices and binders, just like a meat fricandel. Unfortunately, the number of calories remains the same.
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