
Inspired by an extra cucumber in the veg drawer. A lovely meal for mid-week with crusty bread.
Wine Suggestion: Wines from the hills in South Western France are very underrated, especially when made by insightful provocative winemakers. The Domaine Coustarret Jurançon Sec is 100% Gros Manseng and has a great balance between a sappy, salty backbone overlayed with orange zest and fresh stonefruit flavours. Well worth seeking out.
Scandi baked meatballs with pickled cucumber salad – serves 4
- 400g pork mince
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ tsp allspice
- 100g breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, grated
- a handful of dill, finely chopped, plus extra to serve
- 1 tsp freshly ground white pepper
- 4 tbsp sour cream, seasoned
- crusty bread, to serve
FOR THE PICKLED CUCUMBER SALAD:
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- ½ cucumber, peeled and cut into half moons
- 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
- a handful of parsley, chopped
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
Start with the pickled cucumber salad. Put the vinegar and sugar into a small saucepan and heat until the sugar has dissolved, then set aside to cool. Put the cucumber into a bowl, then pour over the cooled vinegar and add the mustard seeds. Stir and set aside.
Put the pork mince, egg yolk, allspice, breadcrumbs, grated onion, dill and white pepper, into a bowl. Season well, then mix with your hands until well combined. Form into 20 meatballs and set them into a large baking dish.
Put the meatballs into the hot oven for 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Drizzle with the sour cream and scatter over the reserved dill. Serve with the cucumber salad and crusty bread.
(Original recipe by Janine Ratcliffe in Olive Magazine, April 2017.)

