Dutch Slavinken With Milk Gravy (Ground Pork Cylinders)

Here is a different way to prepare ground beef. Most of the year this recipe is referred to as Slavinken, except in the spring when It is referred to as "Salad Birds," on menus in hotels in the Netherlands.

• Ready In: 27 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• SLAVINKEN

• 2  slices  black bread or 2  slices  white bread
• 1⁄4 cup milk or 1⁄4 cup  flat beer
• 1  lb ground pork
•  salt and pepper
• 1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon allspice
• 1  small onion, finely chopped
• 6  slices  thin bacon
• 1  teaspoon butter

• MILK GRAVY

• 1  tablespoon flour
•  pan dripping, from slavinken
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup  light cream
•  parsley

Directions

1. FOR THE SLAVINKEN: Crumble bread, pour milk or beer on top and let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Squeeze bread to remove excess liquid, if any.
3. Place in a bowl.
4. Add ground pork, salt, pepper, nutmeg, allspice and onion.
5. Knead mixture until well blended.
6. Form into 6 cylinders and wrap a slice of bacon around each one.
7. Secure with a wooden pick.
8. Melt butter in a cast-iron frying pan.
9. Fry the slavinken over medium heat, 6 minutes on each side.
10. Remove to a hot platter as they become cooked, and keep warm.
11. Serves 6.
12. FOR THE MILK GRAVY: Stir flour into the remaining fat in the pan used to make the slavinken and cook over medium heat until it becomes a caramel colour.
13. Add milk and light cream.
14. Stir until creamy.
15. Add parsley and season to taste.
16. Pour over meat or serve separately.
17. World of Food.