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Königsberger Klopse (Meatballs in Caper Sauce)
Königsberger Klopse (Meatballs in Caper Sauce) reads umami 6.4, salinity 5.5 and richness 4.7 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a German main, about 35 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 7.7 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 2.6 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 5.9 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.2 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 4.8 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.0 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 6.4 · Salinity 5.5 · Richness 4.7 · Citrus 4.5 · Sourness 4.4 · Funk & Ferment 4.3 · Marine & Briny 3.4 · Allium 2.7 · Fruity 2.3 · Floral 1.4 · Warm Spice 1.2 · Sweetness 1.2 · Herbaceous 1.1 · Earthy 1.1 · Bitterness 1.0 · Heat 0.6
What's in it (15)
- 1 lb ground pork and beef, mixed
- 2 stale bread rolls
- 1 egg
- 2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, grated
- 2 tbsp capers
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
Time & effort: about 35 min · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 200.2 kcal, 11.8 g protein, 10.7 g fat, 13.8 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Soak bread rolls in water, squeeze dry, and mix with the ground meat, egg, finely chopped anchovy, onion, some capers, salt, pepper, and allspice.
- Shape into smooth balls and poach gently in seasoned beef broth for 20 minutes.
- Make a white roux with butter and flour, thin with the cooking broth and sour cream, then add capers and a squeeze of lemon to make the signature tangy sauce.
- Serve the meatballs in the sauce over boiled potatoes or rice.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Vitello Tonnato — Italian
- Thai Fried Rice (Khao Pad) — Thai
- Lemon-Garlic Greek Salmon — Greek
- Garlic Chili Anchovy Breadcrumb Pasta — Italian
- Creamy Chicken Caesar Pasta Skillet — American
Keep reading: what umami, salinity, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.