My grandma was originally from Leipzig and she absolutely loved to cook – especially her juicy meat patties, which were nothing short of legendary! These days, I make them almost every week, and every time I do, it feels like a little piece of childhood on my plate.

In our family, everyone loves meat dishes – whether it’s schnitzel, cutlets, or roasts. But these particular patties are the ones they ask for the most. They’re incredibly juicy and taste amazing whether it’s Christmas time or summer – and honestly, no one ever says no to them.

Ingredients:
– 2.2 lbs (1 kg) ground meat (pork, chicken, or a mix – whatever you like)
– 2 onions
– 3 slices of bread
– 1–2 cloves of garlic
– 2 teaspoons mustard
– ½–⅔ cup (100–150 ml) milk
– 2 eggs
– Seasonings and fresh herbs to taste

Instructions:
Just use whatever type of ground meat you prefer – a mix works great too. Start by prepping everything: peel and finely chop the onions. Heat a bit of oil in a pan and sauté the onions until golden brown. Meanwhile, soak the bread slices in milk, then squeeze out the excess liquid and add the bread to the ground meat. Now add the sautéed onions, finely minced garlic, eggs, mustard, herbs, and your choice of spices to the bowl. Mix everything thoroughly – hands work best. Then give the mixture a few firm slaps against the sides of the bowl (this helps make the patties tender) and let it rest in the fridge for about 15–20 minutes.

Once chilled, shape the mixture into patties and fry them slowly over medium heat – on both sides, with the lid on, to keep them juicy.

In the end, you’ll get beautifully golden-brown patties – crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside. Everyone loves them, whether it’s for a weekday meal or a festive occasion. My family is obsessed with them – and I’m sure yours will be too.