Swedish meatballs

Name: Swedish meatballs
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 500 g ground beef; 250 g ground pork; 1 onion; 1 clove garlic; 100 g breadcrumbs; 1 egg; 5 tbsp whole milk; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; Salt and pepper; Oil or butter, for frying; 800 g potatoes; 50 g butter; 1.5 dl whole milk; Salt and pepper; 40 g butter; 40 g all-purpose flour; 3 dl beef stock; 1.5 dl half-and-half, or double cream; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; Pickled cucumber; Lingonberry jam

A homemade version of the classic IKEA-style Swedish meatballs, inspired by IKEA’s own recipe. Juicy meatballs in a creamy brown sauce, served with fluffy mashed potatoes and sweet-tart lingonberry jam. A well-loved Scandinavian comfort dish that works just as well for a cozy weekend dinner as for a proper weeknight family meal.

Medium

60 min – 3h

Ingredients

portions

Meatballs:

500gground beef
250gground pork
1onion
1clovegarlic
100gbreadcrumbs
1egg
5tbspwhole milk
1/4tspnutmeg
Salt and pepper
Oil or butter, for frying

Mashed potatoes:

800gpotatoes
50gbutter
1 1/2dlwhole milk
Salt and pepper

Cream sauce:

40gbutter
40gall-purpose flour
3dlbeef stock
1 1/2dlhalf-and-half, or double cream
1tbspsoy sauce
1tspDijon mustard

To serve:

Pickled cucumber
Lingonberry jam

per serving

Energy (kcal)920

Fat (g)53

Protein (g)52

Carbs (g)58

Directions

Finely dice the onion and garlic. Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix gently until just combined. Shape into tablespoon-sized balls and place on a tray. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours.

Heat butter or oil in a pan over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides until nicely golden.

Transfer the meatballs to an oven-safe dish with a lid and bake at 180°C / 350°F for about 30 minutes, until fully cooked through.

Meanwhile, peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Place in a pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, then drain well.

Mash the potatoes until smooth. Stir in butter and milk, then season with salt and pepper to taste.

For the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the beef stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Add cream, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Simmer until thickened.

Serve the meatballs with mashed potatoes, generous spoonfuls of cream sauce, pickled cucumber, and lingonberry jam on the side.

Swedish meatballs with creamy brown sauce, mashed potatoes, pickled cucumber and lingonberry jam on a white plate.

A sprinkle of chopped parsley is optional but always nice.