Swedish Meatballs

Swedish Meatballs

Delicious homemade Swedish meatballs with egg noodles.

Spiced meat with gravy and jelly was typically reserved for turkey with cranberry sauce. But this Scandinavian meal has become a new favourite comfort food in our home, perfect for weeknights or a casual family dinner.

You can easily double or triple the recipe, to feed a crowd or freeze some for up to 3 months.

Prep time: 25 min

Cooking time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS – MEATBALLS

2 Cups of Bread, crusts removed/cut into small pieces (about 3 slices)

⅓ Cup milk

1 Egg

225 g Ground beef

225 g Ground pork

1 Tbsp Butter

½ Spanish onion, grated

½ tsp Nutmeg (ground)

½ tsp Cardamom (ground)

½ tsp Pepper

½ tsp Salt

½ Tbsp Oil (Vegetable or Canola)

INGREDIENTS – SAUCE

⅓ Cup Butter

⅓ Cup Flour

1 Beef bouillon cube + 2 Cups cold water / Or 2 Cups Beef stock

⅓ Cup Cream

3 Tbsp Jelly (Traditionally, this is served with Lingonberry jelly, but Saskatoon berry, raspberry or cranberry are all terrific!) *Optional

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Soak bread in milk for 8-10 minutes, then give it a brief spin in a food processor. (Alternatively, crumble it with your hands.)
  3. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg and cardamom to the bread mixture.
  4. Saute the grated onion in a pan with butter on medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
  5. Whisk the egg, then add both types of meat, bread/milk mixture, onions and egg. Mix well using your hands. Then form meatballs 1 ¼” in diameter.
  6. In a large frying pan, using a bit of oil, brown the meatballs on all sides.
  7. Place on a pan or dish in the oven for 10-12 minutes to finish.
  8. Make a sauce using the brown bits left on the frying pan. Add butter and reduce heat.
  9. Once the butter is melted, add flour a little at a time, using a whisk constantly. (It might get a bit foamy). Cook on medium heat until a medium brown colour.
  10. Add the cold bouillon a little at a time. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  11. Remove meatballs when finished, add the sauce and serve with egg noodles or rice, with jelly on the side.