Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar)

Köttbullar are one of the most famous and popular Swedish dishes. They are very tender and flavorful meatballs, traditionally served with a thick creamy sauce and lingonberry jam. Mashed potatoes are a perfect side dish, but you can also substitute them with cooked rice if desired.

Details

  • Preparation Time: 20 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 30 minutes
  • Difficulty: 1
  • Spiciness: 0
  • Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 100 g Breadcrumbs, dried

  • 250 g Meat, pork, ground

  • 500 g Meat, beef, ground

  • 1 piece Onion, raw

  • 0.25 teaspoons Spices, nutmeg, ground

  • 1.5 teaspoons Salt, table

  • 0.25 teaspoons Spices, pepper, white

  • 200 ml Sweet cream

  • 100 g Butter, unsalted

  • 40 g Wheat flour, white, multi-purpose

  • 250 ml Soup base, beef, cube

  • 4 spoon Marmalade, orange

Potato puree

  • 800 g Potatoes, white

  • 50 g Butter, unsalted

  • 250 ml Milk, whole milk

  • pieces Salt, table

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. In a large bowl, add breadcrumbs and pour two or three tablespoons of cream over them. Mix and let sit for a few minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb the cream. Meanwhile, peel the onion and finely chop or grate it.

  2. Add the ground meat, onion, and spices to the bowl with the breadcrumbs. Mix and knead the ingredients with clean hands until well combined and evenly distributed, forming a uniform meat mixture. With wet hands, shape the mixture into walnut-sized meatballs. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Add a little water to the baking sheet, then place it in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

  3. While the meatballs are baking, peel the potatoes, wash them, and cut them into pieces. Cook them in lightly salted water. The potatoes are done when they can be easily pierced with a thin knife.

  4. In a large pan, melt half of the butter. Add the meatballs and quickly brown them on the heated fat, shaking the pan occasionally. Once they are nicely browned on all sides, remove them from the pan and keep them warm on a plate. Add the remaining butter to the pan, and once melted, sprinkle in the flour. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, then pour in the broth. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spoon to release any caramelized bits that formed during browning. Once the broth comes to a boil, let it simmer for 2 minutes, then add the remaining cream. Mix the sauce well and season with pepper and salt to taste. Let it cook for a few minutes until it thickens slightly.

  5. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain them well, then return them to the pot and cook over the lowest heat for 1 minute to evaporate any excess liquid. Be careful not to burn them. Remove from heat, add butter and milk, and mash everything together until smooth. Season the mashed potatoes to taste.

  6. On plates, first serve the meatballs and pour a little sauce over them. Add a scoop of mashed potatoes and a spoonful of lingonberry jam, then serve the dish immediately.

Nutrition Information (Per 100g)

  • Calories: 213.2 kcal
  • Fat: 13.51 g
    • Saturated Fat: 6.27 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.38 g
    • Sugars: 3.79 g
  • Protein: 7.34 g
  • Fiber: 1.02 g

Advice

If youre worried that the meatballs might fall apart while cooking, mix one large egg into the meat mixture.