Good Old-Fashioned Aussie Rissoles 🇦🇺
A quick Google search tells me they’re actually of French origin — but regardless, most Aussie kids grew up eating them, and they’re almost always on the menu when I visit Mum. Her rissoles are simple, made with just a few basic ingredients, but they’re full of flavour. You can easily make them your own by adding extra ingredients or spices if you like.
Now that I’m based in Florence and Mum’s a good 24-hour flight away, this was actually my first time making them myself. I know H loves them, and they’re perfect for batch cooking — I can freeze the extras for quick meals later on.
After I posted a pic on Instagram, I got loads of messages asking for the recipe — so here it is!
To make them: just mix the mince, grated carrot, egg, onion, herbs, sauce, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Shape into rissoles, coat them in flour, and cook in a medium pan until golden brown and cooked through — around 10 minutes. That’s it! Serve with gravy, mashed potatoes, and peas… or however you like.
Another of my mum’s recipes that feature on this blog are her salmon patties, another simple recipe that uses tin salmon and potato. I am yet to find tinned red salmon here in Italy so I haven’t made them recently but I’m sure cooked fresh salmon would also work.
Speaking of Italy I haven’t posted here in so long as we have been making the most of the summer vacation. We have been to some beautiful places in this most beautiful country. I have shared just a few favourites below.
Mum’s Rissoles
Ingredients
- 500 grams beef mince (not too lean)
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 large carrot grated
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp dried mixed herbs (I also added fresh herbs but mum uses dried herbs only)
- 1 tbsp smokey bbq sauce (or you could use Worcestershire sauce, or even tomato)
- plain flour to coat the rissoles
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Add all ingredietnts to a large bowl (excluding the flour) and combine – your hands work best. Form into balls (whatever size you prefer) and then flatten a little with your hands.
- Coat rissoles in flour. Add enough oil to a frying pan to coat the surface, cook over medium heat until cooked through. About 10 minutes.
Fattoria Di Maiano is only a short taxi ride from the city centre of Florence. There are beautiful grounds and a botanical garden, kids can feed the animals and there is a hillside full of olive trees where you can sit and have a picnic. There are also apartments if you wish to the stay.
The above pictures are from a wonderful few days in Cinque Terre. We stayed in Vernazza which is the prettiest and most perfect of the 5 villages for children. The last pic is of Monterosso and we hiked from Vernazza on ‘The Azure Trail’ to reach it. It is a 2 hour hike (3.5 km) around the mountain and it is well worth doing. The views are spectacular.
Another must see when you are in Tuscany is Sentierelsa in the Colle di Val d’Elsa area. The trail along the river is approx 4 km and it’s a very easy walk. The waterfalls and swimming spots feel like something from a fairy tail. It is one of the most stunning swimming spot I have seen. To reach the trail you will need a car and it is a 45 minute drive from the centre of Florence.
If you make my mum’s rissoles, be sure to take a picture and upload to Instagram with the hashtag #littlebigh. I’d love to see your creation. xx
These look so tasty! Pinning this for later!
The rissoles look incredible. I’ve not heard of them before, but can’t wait to try them. Italy looks so pretty.
Thank you Katherine, oh I’m happy that you have discovered something new to try. And yes I agree – isn’t it so stunning…
These look so delicious and tasty! I can’t wait to make these!
Thank you Beth, let me know how you go xx
These rissoles look delicious and so easy to make too. Perfect for kids.
Thank you Amanda, they are perfect for kids. My little guy loves them.
These rissoles look so good! Packed with tons of flavor and easy to make, my kind of meal.
Thank you Sharon, so happy that you like them. Thanks for the feedback.