What Kind Of Frozen Meatballs Should You Use
Again, its very important to use unseasoned, original meatballs. Avoid using Italian-style meatballs if you can. Its not a total deal breaker, but this Swedish sauce will taste better on plain meatballs vs. seasoned ones and will be more authentic.
You can even use vegetarian meatballs or meatballs made with ground turkey if youre looking for a lighter option. I find that the medium to higher priced meatballs do have better flavor but in this case, the Swedish sauce will overpower the flavor of the meatballs themselves more so than meatballs with red sauce. So you dont have to worry too much about the taste of the meatballs other than checking the ingredient list and nutrition facts.
The Meat Of Swedish Meatballs
One meat wont do it. For the best texture and flavor, and to keep things in the vein of tradition, pork and beef it is. This recipe calls for flavorful and fatty ground chuck, ground pork, and a bit of bacon for depth. Together the three meats keep the meatballs tender and produce enough drippings to make a truly outstanding gravy. As with any meatball, a light hand when shaping helps keep them from being too dense.
Inspired By The Classic Dish Swedish Meatball
This recipe is not meant to be an authentic recipe for Swedish meatballs. But but inspired by the signature dish, made easy.
Traditional Swedish meatballs are made from beef and pork blend and are spice with all spice and nutmeg. They are homemade. Were not doing all that here. You can. Totally do it if you want. But the following recipe is for a quick and easy version of this delicious dish.
Tip: If you want to add a bit more authentic flavor to this dish, make sure you use plain meatballs and add all allspice and nutmeg to taste.
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How To Store Swedish Meatballs
You can store Swedish Meatballs in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. The meatballs themselves will freeze beautifully, but as for the sauce — not so much.
Because of the fat content in Swedish Meatball Sauce, the sauce would likely separate if frozen and later reheated. It’s best to make the sauce just before serving. The good news is, it only takes 15 minutes to make, start-to-finish.
A Note On Lingonberry
The lingonberry is a Scandinavian berry, tart and sweet, that is closer in taste to a cranberry and is the size of a currant. Lingonberry preserves are the classic accompaniment to Swedish meatballs. Like mozzarella and tomatoes, or gefilte fish and horseradish, some aficionados contend that you simply cant have Swedish meatballs without their partner. Lingonberry jelly or preserves are widely available online or at specialty or gourmet shops.
Soak the bread:
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Recipe Tips And Suggestions
Here are some great tips and tricks to making these meatballs
PRE COOKED MEATBALLS? When youre not in the mood for making homemade meatballs, or maybe you just dont have the time using frozen, store bought meatballs will work too! Just defrost/microwave the meatballs prior to adding to the gravy.
FREEZER INSTRUCTIONS: You can also pre-cook the Swedish meatballs, let them cool, then freeze them for up to 3 months. This makes it super easy to whip this dinner up on a busy weeknight!
NO SOUR CREAM? If you dont have sour cream for the gravy, you can also use plain Greek yogurt.
How To Make The Best Swedish Meatballs:
In terms of flavor were using onions and a few spices. Keepin it simple yet flavorful. To make sure the onions dont add too much additional moisture to the meatballs, were sautéing them in a little bit of butter to cook off some of that liquid. The spices used for my swedish meatballs are just a hint of nutmeg, allspice, salt and pepper. Nutmeg and all spice are the heart and soul of a good swedish meatball recipe.
Now for that texture and moisture. Im using an age-old trick to keep these meatballs nice and tender. This is something I learned from my mom and she from hers. You can never go wrong with a tip thats been passed for generations. All you need is a couple slices of bread soaked in a 3 tablespoons of milk for a few minutes and friends, im telling you, not a dry meatball in sight. The onions that we sautéed also add moisture but just enough.
Too much moisture in a meatball is a BAD thing.
I dont like to use too much binder in my meatball recipes because it takes away from the actual MEAT-ball. You know? Just enough to get the job done. A couple slices of bread soaked in milk, an egg, onions, and a few spices.
Once we mix up the meatballs, were going to sear them in a skillet until all the sides brown up nicely. This helps hold all the juices inside the meatball while gently browning up the outside. Dont worry if they dont cook all the way through, were going to simmer them in the sauce a little later.
Its kinda better.
It kinda does.
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What Makes Meatballs Swedish
Swedish meatballs are like the meatballs you know and love, but better. Theyre made with beef, pork, onions, warm spices and a classic Swedish meatball sauce. These meatballs are super popular in Sweden and became popular in the states thanks to IKEA. Now you can make them at home!
Looking for more meatball recipes? Try these homemade Italian Meatballs!
Tips For Perfect Swedish Meatballs
- Refrigerate Meatballs Before Cooking: If you have time, throw your meatballs in the fridge for 30 minutes before you fry them. This will keep them from falling apart or flattening while they cook.
- Dont Make Meatballs Too Large: If you make your meatballs thicker than 1 1/2 inches, it will be difficult to cook them evenly.
- Avoid Crowding the Pan: Its a good idea to separate your meatballs into batches. They wont cook right if you stuff them all into your skillet at once.
- Turn Meatballs as They Cook: In order to get your meatballs nice and brown all around, make sure you turn them constantly as you fry them.
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How Long Do You Cook Meatballs In The Sauce
Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring until thickened and smooth. if gravy has lumps you can pour through a strainer but no need to. Add meatballs to sauce and heat to serving temp. which is about 8 min. or cool and reheat later. Psst.can be frozen for later too! Serve over noodles or rice. Makes 6 8 servings.
If you want to jazz up your Swedish Meatballs you can always add onions or fresh parsley or green onions sprinkled on top of your meatballs. Im all about color when I eat so I like to add little goodies. You dont have to though!
The Swedish Meatball Gravy
Do you need a gravy to go with these meatballs? No, but need is a strong word. Do you want a gravy with these meatballs? To that question, we can answer a resounding yes especially when the gravy is as simple as adding flour, butter, and most importantly, tangy sour cream to the pan. Some might argue that its not a worthwhile gravy if there isnt sour cream, and we couldnt agree more. Theres nothing like it draped over a plate of meatballs and mashed potatoes.
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What Do You Serve With Swedish Meatballs
What you serve with Swedish Meatballs depends on what you are serving them for.
If you are serving Swedish Meatballs as a dinnertime entree, serve them over egg noodles or on top of mashed potatoes and top with your creamy Swedish Meatball Sauce. If you’re serving Swedish Meatballs as a party appetizer, serve them alongside other classic finger foods like Deviled Eggs or Pigs In a Blanket.
How To Make Classic Swedish Meatballs With Sour Cream Gravy
What is a Swedish meatball? Köttbullar, like all traditional recipes, have thousands of variations, but what nearly all Swedish meatballs have in common is that they are made of ground pork and beef, use bread and milk as a binder, are covered with a rich gravy, and are served with lingonberry jam.
With this recipe were sticking with tradition and delivering meatballs spiced, fried, and sauced to perfection. The next time the craving for classic Swedish meatballs hits, nix the trip to IKEA and makes these instead.
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Easy Swedish Meatballs With Sour Cream Sauce
Homemade Swedish Meatballs swimming in sour cream gravy, made with Dijon mustard and dried cranberries, all served with mashed potato and tenderstem broccoli! An easy filling and hearty dinner that is simply perfect for a cold night in!
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So, apparently, IKEA Swedish Meatballs are famous! How have I lived over thirty years of my life not realising that I am not sure? We have only been to Ikea a handful of times, but every time we went, Seb was desperate to have some of their meatballs. Me, on the other hand, I always go for their Almond Cake.
Whilst I did like the Ikea meatballs when I got a little taste from Sebs plate, I have to admit that I do our own recipe a lot more. Creamy, with a hint of Dijon mustard and sweetness of the cranberries, this dish has everything I like in my comfort food. Unlike traditional meatballs, ours are served without lingonberry sauce, but we make up for it by introducing some cranberries into our easy Swedish meatball sauce.
My Swedish Meatballs Recipe Is Easy To Make
and theyre also possibly the best thing to come out of my kitchen, ever. Thats not saying I dont love most of the food I share with you here on LSJ. It just means that this kinda recipe holds a big place in my heart. Perfectly browned little nuggets that are tender and juicy on the inside. Isnt it amazing how many different ways there are to serve up meatballs? Id have to say, my favorite is when theyre snuggled in a tangy, creamy and rich gravy thats so good youll wanna bathe in it.
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Easy Swedish Meatballs With Sauce
This meatball recipe uses traditional Swedish spices and the creamiest homemade gravy sauce ever. It makes a great holiday party appetizer or weeknight dinner for your family. The breadcrumbs in these meatballs keep them moist and tender, and they taste so good over freshly mashed potatoes!
Serve with a little cranberry or loganberry jam to make your own IKEA dinner at home! Its one of our favorites for an easy family dinner idea. Everyone cleans their plates!
What Is A Swedish Meatball
Swedish Meatballs are typically made from a 50/50 ground pork/beef combo and contain a signature spice combo of nutmeg and allspice. That being said, there is really nothing more signature about a Swedish Meatball than the Swedish Meatball Sauce itself.
The sauce is a creamy, white sauce similar to the consistency of White Gravy, but with a little more tang and spice thanks to a hefty addition of Worcestershire sauce, as well as a sprinkle of nutmeg and allspice.
Swedish Meatballs are usually smaller in size than those you would find in an Italian-American rendition of Spaghetti and Meatballs, making Swedish Meatballs perfectly bite-sized and an ideal party appetizer!
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How To Make Swedish Meatball Sauce
MAKE A ROUX Just like any typical gravy recipe, youll start by melting butter in a hot pan , and then whisk in the flour. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes to really deepen the flavor of the gravy.
ADD BROTH Once the flour has cooked gradually whisk in the beef broth, making sure to stir out any clumps that may form. Then add in the sour cream and season with salt and pepper.
HEAT MEATBALLS IN SAUCE Return the seared meatballs to the sauce and let them get heated through. The sauce should thicken as it continues to cook.
Swedish Meatballs With Cream Of Mushroom Soup
April 21, 2018 by victor
There is something special about Swedish meatballs with cream of mushroom soup. The depth and richness of mushroom soup takes meatballs to the next level that cant be replicated by other ingredients. Whenever possible, I make my own cream of mushroom soup, but a can of store-bought soup will do the trick. A cup of the soup is enough for this recipe but you can easily add another half a cup if you like.
To introduce some color and acidity, and more flavor, I like adding a tablespoon or two of Worcestershire to the mushroom sauce, but thats totally optional in this recipe.
The trick to making the Swedish meatballs more flavorful is to roast bread crumbs before mixing them with ground meat. Very few recipes that Ive seen recommend doing and thats a big omission. Seriously, follow this tip and you will understand what I am talking about. It only takes a few extra minutes.
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Swedish Meatball Sauce Ingredients:
To make this Swedish meatball sauce recipe, you will need:
- Butter: Use unsalted butter because the beef broth is pretty salty
- Flour: Combines with the butter to make a roux that will thicken the sauce
- Beef broth: You can use low sodium if you wish
- Brown Sugar: Just a couple teaspoons
- Heavy cream: We like to use all heavy cream instead of sour cream
- Black pepper: Freshly cracked is best but use what you have
How To Store Swedish Meatball Sauce:
Refrigerate Cool for 1 hour then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat over low heat and add a little cream if the sauce is too thick.
Freeze Cool for 2 hours then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat over low heat and add a little cream if the sauce is too thick.
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How To Make Swedish Meatball Sauce:
To make this homemade Swedish meatball sauce, simply
How To Make These Meatballs
Step one
Make zoodles with your spiralizer.
Step two
Gather the beef, egg, herbs and spices.
Step three
In a medium mixing bowl, place grass-fed ground beef, an egg, Worcestershire sauce, all the herbs, spices and salt.
Step four
Use your hands to mix the beef mixture. Roll into medium sized meatballs.
Step five
Heat a sauté pan on medium and add olive oil and once that heats up, place the meatballs in the pan and sauté them for 10 12 minutes, turning them every once in a while.
Time to work on the sour cream sauce. If Im going to use white flour, as I do in this recipe, I always use this brand.
Step six
Gather 3 tablespoons of flour and butter.
Step seven
Heat up a sauce pan on medium low and add 3 tablespoons of butter. Once it melts, add 3 tablespoons of flour and whisk together for at least a minute. It will turn into a paste.
Step eight
Add chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, nutmeg, salt and parsley. Stand there and whisk the mixture until it thickens a little. If you want more detailed photos of how to make the sauce, go here.
Step nine
Turn the heat off under the sauce pan and let it cool for 5 minutes before adding the sour cream . Stir it all together.
Step ten
Turn the heat under the meatballs to medium and pour the sour cream sauce on top and heat for 5 minutes before sprinkling dried parsley on top.
Lets look at this dish from above.
Time to serve them.
Yum.
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
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How To Make Swedish Meatballs
I grew up eating Swedish Meatballs that my grandma would make with this creamy, sour cream based gravy. The Ikea meatballs are different than what I remember my grandma making, but they are a bit of a cultural phenomenon here in the US, so I knew I had to find a way to recreate them in my own kitch. They are super easy to makethe gravy is probably the hardest part and its easy too. Pinky promise.
I have a few meatball recipes on the site and I love to make them because they are super yummy and easy. For Swedish Meatballs, I use two different kinds of meat , and add some allspice. Thats what gives these meatballs a completely different flavor than traditional the Italian style. They have a warmth to them that is incredibly homey.
Cook the meatballs over medium heat for about 4 or 5 minutes and transfer them to a paper towel lined plate to drain the grease. Then make the gravy using the remaining grease thats left in the pan to make a roux with flour, then add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and half and half. Stirring in the sour cream is the last step to make this creamy and rich Swedish Meatball Sauce.
How To Roll Meatballs
Rolling meatballs is super easy. Best way is to use a cookie scoop with a lever, an ice cream scoop is too big, these meatballs should be golf ball size. Start by scooping out all the meatballs and placing them on a baking sheet or cutting board. After you scooped them all, roll them each between your hands so theyre perfectly round.
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