Get ready to embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Swedish cuisine with our comprehensive guide to creating the ultimate "secret Swedish meatballs." These tender, flavorful orbs of minced meat, steeped in a rich, creamy sauce, have captivated taste buds worldwide and are now a beloved dish far beyond the borders of Sweden. We'll unveil the secrets behind this iconic dish, providing you with a step-by-step roadmap to achieve meatballs that are moist on the inside, perfectly browned on the outside, and swimming in a velvety sauce that will leave you craving more. So, gather your ingredients, sharpen your knives, and prepare to elevate your meatballs game to new heights as we delve into the art of making "secret Swedish meatballs."
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
SWEDISH MEATBALLS RECIPE
Recipe for Swedish Meatballs. Juicy and tender meatballs with a rich gravy sauce. Serve the meatballs over mashed potatoes, pure comfort food. This recipe makes 24 meatballs.
Provided by Valentina Ablaev
Categories Easy/Medium
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a bowl combine the panko crumbs with milk. Add remaining ingredients for the meatballs and mix well. Shape into 24 meatballs.
- Add 2 Tbsp oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, cook meatballs in 2 batches until golden brown and cooked through (6-7 minutes), turning as needed. Add more oil as needed. Remove from the skillet and cover to keep warm.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter. Quickly whisk in the flour and cook until golden.
- Stir in the broth, heavy whipping cream, Dijon and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook it thickens.
- Add back the meatballs and toss in the gravy sauce. Cook until meatballs are heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 458 kcal, Carbohydrate 7 g, Protein 25 g, Fat 36 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Cholesterol 153 mg, Sodium 595 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, ServingSize 1 serving
ALMOST-FAMOUS SWEDISH MEATBALLS
Some people drive for hours to get to an Ikea store, and we know they aren't making the trek just for the $9.99 chairs. They're going for the Swedish meatballs. The dish has been a main attraction at Ikea Restaurants since an in-store chef developed the recipe in Switzerland in 1985. Although Ikea's Real Swedish Food Book, published in 2000, included a meatball recipe, reps confirmed that it is not the one served at their restaurants. Ikea is keeping that baby a secret, so chefs in Food Network Kitchens hit a nearby store for a tasting, then created this spot-on copy.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 50m
Yield About 45 meatballs
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Make the meatballs: Put the breadcrumbs in a large bowl. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, allspice, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the milk and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Pour the milk mixture over the breadcrumbs and stir to make a thick paste; let cool. Add the beef, pork, egg and egg white to the bowl and mix until combined.
- Brush a baking sheet with vegetable oil. Roll the meat into 1-inch balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake the meatballs until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
- Make the gravy: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth. Whisk in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Add the cream and meatballs. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Transfer to a serving dish; sprinkle with the parsley and serve with lingonberry jam, if desired.
CRAVE-WORTHY SWEDISH MEATBALLS
This Swedish meatballs recipe makes juicy and flavorful meatballs with a creamy, rich, and crave-worthy sauce. If you prefer, you can serve the meatballs without the gravy. We love serving these with mashed potatoes (or mashed cauliflower), buttered noodles, and roasted vegetables are excellent options. We also highly recommend a spoonful of lingonberry jam. For the gravy, we add a few unconventional ingredients. Soy sauce seasons, mustard adds a little zing, and lemon zest brightens up the flavors of the dish.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield Makes about 30 meatballs or 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- In a small bowl, tear or chop the bread into small pieces then cover with the milk. Set aside.
- Melt one tablespoon of butter in a wide skillet. Add the onions and cook until soft, but not brown; 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the black pepper, allspice, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, and the mustard. Cook, stirring everything around the pan for 30 seconds. Transfer to a bowl to cool, and then wipe the skillet mostly clean with a paper towel so that it is ready for cooking the meatballs.
- Combine the beef, pork, bread and milk mixture, and the egg in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large food processor). When the onions are warm, not hot, add them to the bowl as well.
- Evenly sprinkle the salt over the top of the mixture then beat for about 30 seconds, scrape the sides of the bowl, then beat another 30 seconds to a minute until the mixture looks very well blended. (If you are using a food processor, you may need to stop the processor one more time to move the mixture around a bit.)
- Form the mixture into meatballs; we like using a medium cookie scoop that holds about 1 1/2 tablespoons - you should get around 30 meatballs. Move onto cooking or cover and refrigerate up to a day or freeze them (see notes section for our tips).
- Heat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment. (It's likely you will cook the meatballs in batches. A warm oven helps to keep cooked meatballs hot while you finish cooking all of the meatballs.)
- Melt half a tablespoon of butter in the pan used to cook the onions over medium-low heat. Add meatballs and cook, turning every few minutes, until brown on all sides and cooked through; 8 to 10 minutes. It's unlikely all of the meatballs will fit so you will need to do this in batches (or use two pans). Add more butter to the pan as needed.
- Transfer cooked meatballs to the baking sheet and place into the warm oven.
- After cooking the meatballs, make the gravy in the same pan. Depending on how much fat is left in the pan after cooking the meatballs, you may need to remove some or add a little bit of butter. You will need about three tablespoons of fat in the pan.
- Decrease the heat to low then scatter the flour over the fat in the pan and whisk until medium blonde in color, about 2 minutes. While whisking, slowly add the broth. Continue to whisk until the gravy begins to thicken. Add the cream and continue to cook until the sauce thickens enough to coat the meatballs, another minute or so.
- Whisk in the soy sauce, mustard, and lemon zest. Taste then adjust with salt and pepper, as needed. Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the gravy. Serve with parsley scattered on top.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 5 meatballs with gravy, Calories 351, Fat 20.8g, SaturatedFat 9.8g, Cholesterol 127.3mg, Sodium 500.9mg, Carbohydrate 12.3g, Fiber 0.7g, Sugar 1.6g, Protein 27.4g
SWEDISH MEATBALLS
Cook pork mince meatballs and serve with classic lingonberry or cranberry sauce and spring greens for a healthy, low-calorie family meal
Provided by Esther Clark
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Put 1 tbsp rapeseed oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and fry for 10 mins or until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min. Leave to cool.
- Mix the cooled onions, pork mince, egg yolk, a good grating of nutmeg and the breadcrumbs in a bowl with your hands until well combined. Form into 12 balls and chill for 15 mins.
- Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs for 5 mins over a medium heat, turning often until golden. Pour over the stock and bubble for 8-10 mins or until it has reduced a little. Stir through the mustard and yogurt.
- Steam the greens for 5 mins or until tender. Serve the meatballs with the greens and a dollop of the sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 323 calories, Fat 18 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 13 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 6 grams sugar, Fiber 6 grams fiber, Protein 24 grams protein, Sodium 1.04 milligram of sodium
SWEDISH MEATBALLS WITH SECRET INGREDIENT
When I was growing up there was a chain of Swedish Smorgasbord restaurants in the area which I lived. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that I met the original owner of that chain at a private party in the last remaining restaurant in the chain. He cooked the foods for this party himself with his son who at that time was the manager of that one remaining establishment. One of the dishes that he served, personally to the 20+ persons invited, was his Swedish Meatballs. They were the absolute best tasting meatballs I ever ate. I took him aside and asked him quietly..."is the wonderful taste in these meatballs the fennel seeds in the sauce?" He smiled and whispered back..."yes that is my secret for making the best Swedish meatballs". I came upon a recipe for Swedish Meatballs at Group Recipes.com that sounded so similar to that recipe so I wanted to post this version for the ZWT #6 2010 Scandinavian Region.
Provided by CarrolJ
Categories < 4 Hours
Time 1h30m
Yield 30-40 small meatballs, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Put eggs, spices and minced onion in a bowl, mix it all together.
- Add meat, mix well so everything is nicely blended.
- Shape small meatballs and brown them on all sides.
- Cook over medium heat until liquids run clear of blood.
- Add the beef stock, kitchen bouquet, salt and pepper, and fennel seeds and simmer on low heat about 20 minutes.
- In a small bowl mix the 1/4 cup of water and the flour well for a thickner.
- Add the thickner to the meat stirring constantly.
- Cook until the the sauce thickens.
- Add the cream and just heat until the cream is blended well and hot.
- Be careful not to let it boil or it will curdle the cream.
CLASSIC SWEDISH MEATBALLS
Now you can recreate the meatballs you've enjoyed on furniture shopping trips at home...
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a bowl, mix the mince with the egg, onion, breadcrumbs, dill and seasoning. Form into small meatballs about the size of walnuts - you should get about 20.
- Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan and brown the meatballs. You may have to do this in 2 batches. Remove from pan, melt the butter, then sprinkle over the flour and stir well. Cook for 2 mins, then slowly whisk in the stock. Keep whisking until it is a thick gravy, then return the meatballs to the pan and heat through. Sprinkle with dill and serve with cranberry jelly, greens and mash.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 301 calories, Fat 13 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 22 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 26 grams protein, Sodium 1.73 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Choose the right beef and pork. Use a combination of ground beef and ground pork for the best flavor and texture. Look for beef that is 80% lean and pork that is 70% lean.
- Use panko breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and airier than regular breadcrumbs, which will help keep the meatballs moist and tender.
- Don't overmix the meatball mixture. Overmixing will make the meatballs tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Brown the meatballs before simmering them. Browning the meatballs will help to seal in the flavor and give them a nice crust.
- Use a flavorful sauce. The sauce is what really makes these meatballs shine. Use a sauce that is rich and flavorful, such as a tomato sauce or a cream sauce.
- Serve the meatballs over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles. Swedish meatballs are traditionally served over mashed potatoes, but they can also be served over rice or noodles.
Conclusion:
Swedish meatballs are a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. With a few tips, you can make Swedish meatballs that are even better than the ones you get at your favorite restaurant. So next time you're in the mood for something comforting and delicious, give Swedish meatballs a try. You won't be disappointed!
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