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Mititei or mici
(Romanian for little or small ones) is a traditional Romanian dish,
grilled minced-meat rolls made from beef (usually mixed with mutton and pork),
which contain garlic, black pepper, thyme, coriander, anise, savory and
sometimes a touch of paprika. Sodium bicarbonate (and sometimes broth or water)
is also added to the mixture. |
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Left: Mititei on the
grill. |
It is best served accompanied by mustard and beer.
Ideally the mustard should not contain too much vinegar, because the sour taste
does not fit with the Mititei. The mititei are very popular in Romania.
Legend has it that mititei were invented one evening at an inn in Bucharest, well-known for its sausages, when the
kitchen ran out of casings.
Nowadays, it is very popular sold as fast-food or in restaurants close to
traffic. They are also sold as processed food in supermarkets.
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Recipe Ingredients |
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One
third each ground pork, lamb and beef for a
total of 2-2.5 lbs meat (if you have access
to a butcher, double grind the meat and ask
the butcher to include fattier pieces or mix
in some pork fat in the mixture - this will
melt off on the grill, but it keeps the meat
rolls moist and tender)
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1
tablespoon baking soda
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2
tablespoons salt
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1
tablespoon pepper
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1/2
tablespoon coriander
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1/2
tablespoon cumin
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1/2
tablespoon dried thyme
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10
cloves garlic
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1/4 cup
water or vegetable/beef stock
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Serves:
six persons. |
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Recipe Cooking and Preparation
Method |
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Mix well all the ingredients
together
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Beat either water or
vegetable/beef stock into the mixture
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Leave mixture in fridge to set
for a couple of hours or ideally overnight - this is an
important step that aids the meat in coming out tender
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Form into little 3-4 inch
sausage shapes
NOTE: Keep a bowl of water handy to wet hands
(this prevents the meat from sticking to fingers).
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Grill on very hot grill, turn
once
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Serve with bread rolls and
mustard
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Food Serving Suggestion |
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Romanians eat mici with
mustard inside a bread roll - add a cold beer and a lazy summer evening
and you are in heaven. |
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