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Pinnekjøtt
Steamed salted lamb ribs
Pinnekjøtt: western Norwegian salted, dried lamb ribs steamed over birch sticks
Pinnekjøtt, 'stick meat', is the Christmas Eve dinner of western Norway: lamb ribs that have been salted and dried, sometimes smoked, soaked in water for a day, then steamed for hours over a lattice of birch sticks until tender and juicy. It is served with kålrabistappe, boiled potatoes and the cooking juices. The ribs are bought ready-cured in Norwegian shops in December. A common mistake is letting the pot boil dry; check the water every half hour. Chef's tip: finish the steamed ribs under a hot grill for a few minutes to crisp the fat.
- Total time
- 195 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the ribs
- 3 ⅓ lb pinnekjøtt (salted, dried lamb ribs)cut into single ribs
- 16 ¾ cups cold waterfor soaking
- 1 bundle birch sticks, bark removedor a steamer rack
- 4 ¼ cups waterfor steaming
To serve
- 1 ¾ lb kålrabistappe (mashed swede)
- 1 ¾ lb potatoesboiled
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Soak 3 ⅓ lb pinnekjøtt (salted, dried lamb ribs) in 16 ¾ cups cold water in the fridge for 24–30 hours, changing the water once, to draw out the salt.
Step 2: Lay 1 bundle birch sticks, bark removed in a crisscross over the base of a large pot and pour in 4 ¼ cups water so it just covers the sticks. Put the ribs on top.
Step 3: Cover and steam over a low heat for 2½–3 hours, topping up with boiling water so it never runs dry, until the meat comes away from the bone. Common mistake: letting it boil dry.
180 minStep 4: Optionally grill for 3–5 minutes until crisp. Serve with 1 ¾ lb kålrabistappe (mashed swede), 1 ¾ lb potatoes and the cooking juices.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 680 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 52 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pinnekjøtt take?
- About 195 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 180 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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