Bitky Russian Minced Meat Patties Food

KOTLETY (RUSSIAN/UKRAINIAN MEAT PATTIES)

Steps:

• Add beef and pork to a large mixing bowl.
• Place bread in small bowl and pour milk or water on top and let bread soak for 2-3 minutes. After time is up, mash up bread and milk with fingers until it's all wet and smashed up into a thick paste.
• Mix garlic, paprika, salt and pepper together in a small ramekin.
• Add bread mixture, grated onion, eggs and spices large mixing bowl with meat.
• Mix meat mixture well (fingers work best) until fully combined.
• Preheat your cooking device: cast iron skillet or griddle to Medium/ Medium low and once warm add enough oil just to coat bottom. (If using panini press preheat it now) I do like to use a cast iron skillet sometimes to make these as well, but you need to watch the heat on the cast iron more closely to not burn the kotlety.
• Form patties with meat mixture, I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup and make them about 1" thick (round or oval, your preference)

BITKY (RUSSIAN MINCED MEAT PATTIES)

Steps:

• Soak the bread in the milk for 30 minutes and then squeeze out the excess milk: Mix the bread with the ground beef, finely chopped onion, egg, salt & pepper until all is well blended together. Form the mixture into small balls. Push a bit of butter into the center of each ball and press each into round, flat cakes. Roll each small cake in bread crumbs and fry in butter over low heat in a covered pan for 5 minutes on each side. When the Bitky are all fried, remove them from the pan and pour the sour cream into the pan, mixing it in well. Heat this up for 5 minutes or so, pour over the Bitky and serve.

BITOKES - RUSSIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in frying pan. Add onions, fry until clear and tender. Remove onions.
• In large bowl mix hamburger, 2 Tbs butter, salt, pepper, thyme, 1 egg and sautéed onion. Mix and form into balls or patties. Pan fry patties and put them in large casserole dish.
• Pour fat from pan. Add beef broth and boil until only 1/2 remains. Add cream. Boil 1 to 2 minute Season with nutmeg, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Remove from heat, add butter and pour over meat. Sauce will be thin. Let sit overnight. Reheating it brings out the flavor. Serve over white rice or alone.