Quintessentially Danish: Brown Gravy, Medisterpølse, and Beef Patties

Brown gravy, medisterpølse (pork sausage), and beef patties are among the most loved of the dishes that have been staples of ordinary Danish cuisine for centuries. While these are truly prime examples of ‘grandmother’s cooking,’ there is something more to them. Actually, they are fine illustrations of the intuitive search for umami that has been going on in Western kitchens for hundreds of years. And in light of our recent knowledge about the fifth taste, they can be made even better by tweaking the combination of ingredients that go into them.