Potetball (also known as ball, klubb, kumle, komle, kompe, raspeball) is a traditional Norwegian potato dumpling.[1] A similar German dish is called Kartoffelklöße.
Komle dinner with lamb and sausage. Here, the single komle at the top right is a side ingredient. In the western region, the kompe is often times the main ingredient.
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| Alternative names | Ball, klubb, kumle, komle, kompe, potetball |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Norway |
| Main ingredients | Potatoes, flour, butter, meat |
The main ingredient is peeled potatoes, which are grated or ground up and mixed with flour, usually Barley or wheat, to make the balls stick together. Depending on the proportion of potato pulp and different types of flour, the product will have a different taste and texture.[2]
The dish is more common in the southern region (Sørlandet) where "kompe" is the most common name, western region (Vestlandet) where the terms "raspeball", "komle", and "potetball" are the most used and middle region (Trøndelag) where it is nearly always called "klubb". In Vestlandet, this dish is traditionally consumed on Thursdays, when it often makes an appearance as "dish of the day" at cafes and restaurants specializing in local cuisine, commonly known as "Komle-torsdag".[3][4][5]
There are a great variety of regional variations to the dish and the condiments vary locally. They may include salted and boiled pork or lamb meat, bacon, sausages, melted butter, boiled carrots, mashed or cooked rutabaga, sour cream, kefirorsoured milk, cured meat, brown cheese sauce and even boiled potatoes. A variety of raspeballer is the fiskeball (also called blandaball/blandetball), where minced fish, fresh or salted, is added to the potato dough.[6][7]
