Maybe the memory of the pickled beetroots from my childhood has been putting me off, and I forgot completely that there are other things I can make, that I actually like. Mainly, the Lindstrom Patties (Lindströminpihvit), which are very popular in Finland (originally the recipe comes from Sweden). And beetroot/chocolate muffins are pretty great too!
Here they are, my beetroots from last summer, lined up to enjoy the sun and drying off, before being stored for the winter. When I was little my mum used to put all the carrots in the boxes with sand and that kept them good and safe from the moisture and cold (and rodents as well) for a long time. I think the same thing will work in this case, alors, sand it is for my beetroots!
So, off I was to the nearest hardware store, where I purchased two buckets and enquired the man at the checkout if it was possible to also fill them with sand and how much that would be. He looked at me curiously for a little while (to be sure, not many people ask this question apparently...) and nodded a hesitant approval, oui, it was possible. Few more glances to the left and right and he told me quietly that the sand would cost nothing. Maybe it was not worth counting how many cents such a tiny amount of sand would cost. He even came with me to fill the buckets and carried them after to my car. Oh, la la, super service for the little lady! Lucky me!
At home I spread the sand on the ground to dry off before storing the beetroots in the buckets filled with sand.
The Official Inspector is inspecting her derrière instead of the vegetables...Hallo, what happened to the quality control?
So, onwards to the recipe...first I steamed the beetroots to make them softer and easier to grate.
The I mixed the with minced meat and other ingredients. I like to fry the onion before mixing it but I suppose you can put it in raw if that is your preference. Then I shaped the patties and put them in the fridge to await the evening. I like to make them ready a bit in advance so when the evening comes, all that is left to do, is to fry them. You can prepare them in the oven as well, just like meatballs, but I prefere the frying pan.
Like so. Couple of minutes each side and they're ready. It helps to have a quite a firm texture so they don't brake in pieces in the pan. Been there, done that.
Voila! Bon appetit! Especially delicious with homemade chips.
And here's the recipe. Enjoy!
Lindstromin Pihvit
- 400 g minced meat
- 1 dl breadcrumbs
- 1 dl cream
- 1 egg
- 3-4 small beetroots
- (1 tbsp capers)
- 1 onion
- pepper
- salt
