When Ikea just won’t do, make these delicious homemade Swedish meatballs and impress everyone.
My first experience with Swedish meatballs came in the form of room service at a hotel in Stockholm.
That first night, I ordered the only thing on the menu that looked familiar: meatballs.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
They were so good, I think I licked the plate clean.
I stayed in and ordered Swedish meatballs every night for the rest of the trip!
What has resulted is one of our most popular recipes around the holidays: Swedish meatballs.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
If you like the Swedish meatballs atIKEA, be prepared; these are a hundred times better!
For the record, it’s not strictly traditional to serve sauce with Swedish meatballs in Sweden.
And thank goodness; it’s terrific!
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
How to Serve Swedish Meatballs
Lingonberry jelly is traditionally served with Swedish meatballs.
It’s a delicious jelly, but can be hard to find.
Feel free to substitute with red currant jelly or raspberry jam.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Cool and refrigerate the meatballs and sauce separately.
Just be sure to defrost the meatballs in the refrigerator at least a day or two beforehand.
Then, place in a zip-top bag or airtight container.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Cooked meatballs will last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Alternately, you could freeze cooked meatballs in a freezer-safe, zip-top bag.
Be sure to remove as much air as possible to keep them fresher longer.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
you’re able to easily double (or triple) this recipe for a party.
Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a saute pan on medium-high heat.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Stir in the grated onion and cook until translucent and softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let cool for a minute.
Stir the cooled onions into the milk bread mixture.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Add the egg, ground beef and pork, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cardamom.
Use your (clean) hands to mix everything together until well combined.
This recipe should make about 40 meatballs.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Note that the meatballs will be a bit on the wet side.
Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a large saute pan on medium heat.
When the butter is melted and foamy, start adding some meatballs to the pan.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Working in batches as to not crowd the pan, slowly brown the meatballs on all sides.
Use a wooden spoon or tongs to turn them.
Handle the meatballs gently so they do not break apart as you turn them.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
You’ll warm the meatballs in the sauce later.
Add 3 tablespoons of fresh butter to the pan.
Heat the butter in the pan on medium heat until it melts and starts to bubble.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Slowly whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour.
Eventually the sauce will loosen and become silky.
Remove the pan from heat and stir in the sour cream.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
If you are including jelly, either stir it in now or serve it on the side.
Taste for seasonings and add more salt and pepper to taste.
(I use about 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.)
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
