Description
Swedish meatballs, a classic Nordic dish, combine ground beef and pork with aromatic spices. Creamy sauce and lingonberry jam complement the savory meatballs, offering you a taste of traditional Scandinavian comfort cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Other Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, blend ground beef, ground pork, finely diced onion, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until ingredients are evenly distributed and cohesive.
- Gently roll the meat mixture into uniform bite-sized spheres, approximately 1-inch in diameter, ensuring consistent shape for even cooking.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat (375°F), carefully place meatballs, and rotate every 2-3 minutes to achieve a golden-brown exterior on all sides, approximately 8-10 minutes total.
- Remove browned meatballs from skillet, leaving behind flavorful drippings, and set aside on a clean plate.
- In the same skillet, whisk flour into remaining butter, creating a smooth roux, then gradually incorporate beef broth, stirring continuously to prevent lumps.
- Pour heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce into the developing gravy, whisking constantly to maintain a silky texture.
- Reduce heat to low, simmer gravy for 5-7 minutes until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Return meatballs to the skillet, gently nestling them into the gravy, and simmer for an additional 5-6 minutes to ensure complete heating and flavor absorption.
- Transfer meatballs and gravy to a serving platter, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Swap ground pork with turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option that keeps the moist, tender texture.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg to enhance the traditional Swedish flavor profile and create deeper, more complex taste notes.
- For gluten-free version, replace wheat breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to maintain binding consistency.
- Chill the meat mixture for 30 minutes before shaping meatballs to help them hold together better and prevent crumbling during cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg