What is an eierbal?
What is a Groningen eierbal?
An eierbal is a typical Groningen snack with a boiled egg at its centre, surrounded by a layer of seasoned ragout and coated with breadcrumbs. It is then deep-fried, creating a crisp outside with a soft, savoury centre.
Eierbal or aaierbal?
Eierbal and aaierbal refer to the same Groningen snack. In Groningen you will often hear the local pronunciation and spelling aaierbal. At Eierbal.nl we generally use ‘eierbal’ as the standard term, but both names refer to the same snack.
What is an eierbal made of?
- A boiled egg at the centre
- A layer of seasoned ragout or roux
- A breadcrumb coating
- A crisp crust after frying
The exact recipe and seasoning varies between snack bars, cafeterias and individual makers.
Why is the eierbal associated with Groningen?
The eierbal is closely connected to the city and province of Groningen and has been made and eaten there for generations. Since March 2017, the Groningen eierbal tradition has been included in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Netherlands. This is a Dutch national inventory and is not the same as a UNESCO list.
Read more on our history of the eierbal page.
Is an eierbal the same as a Scotch egg?
No. Both snacks have an egg at the centre, but their structure is different. A Groningen eierbal surrounds the egg with ragout, while a traditional Scotch egg surrounds it with sausage meat. The eierbal therefore has its own distinct Groningen identity and preparation.
Can you order Groningen eierballen online?
Yes. At Eierbal.nl you can order Groningen eierballen. Our tray contains 6 fresh, unfried eierballen that are shipped chilled within the Netherlands. You fry them at home.
For shelf life and storage, see our storing eierballen and shelf life page. For chilled shipping, allergens and larger orders, see our frequently asked questions about eierballen.
More about the Groningen eierbal
Read more about its history and see how the eierbal appeared in the media.