Traditional Swedish Meatball Recipes That Scream Awesome!

The Swedish meatball recipe has been around since the 1920s. Learn here, how to make it the traditional way, and some easy and interesting variations of the Swedish meatball recipe.

Meatballs in Sweden, were traditionally considered a luxury item, and generally are served on festive occasions. The Swedish meatball recipe was brought to America by the Scandinavians and has undergone a variety of changes over time. They were most popular in the 20th century, and continue to remain so. For those of you wondering how to make Swedish meatballs, read on for the traditional and popular Swedish meatball recipe, and also find some delectable variations in the recipe.

Traditional Recipe

Ingredients
For the Meatballs

• 3 tbsp finely chopped Onion
• ¾ cup Light Cream
• 5 tbsp Butter or Margarine
• 2 Eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tbsp Salt
• ¼ tsp Pepper
• ¼ tsp Allspice
• A dash of Cloves
• ¾ cup Water
• ¾ cup dried Breadcrumbs
• 1½ lb ground Chuck
• ½ lb ground Pork

For the Sauce

• ½ cup Light Cream
• 2 tbsp Flour
• 1½ cup Water
• ½ tsp bottled Gravy Seasoning
• 1 tsp Salt
• A dash of Pepper
• Parsley sprigs to garnish

Procedure

1. In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter, add the onions, and saute for 3 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.
2. Mix the water, breadcrumbs and cream in a large bowl. Add in the sauteed onions, the meat, eggs, and all the spices together, and toss all the ingredients together, lightly.
3. Shape the mixture into meatballs that are ¾ inch in diameter. You will be able to make about 75 meatballs.
4. In the same skillet, heat 2 tbsp of butter, and toss in the meatballs, a few at a time. Cook until they have browned from all sides. You may add more butter as and when required.
5. For the sauce, let 2 tbsp of the drippings from the meatballs remain in the skillet. Add in the flour and stir slowly till the mix is smooth.
6. Slowly add in the cream with water, and keep stirring to avoid the formation of lumps, till the sauce begins to boil.
7. Add in the salt and pepper, and the gravy seasoning.
8. Toss in the meatballs and cook until the gravy has settled into the meatballs. Once garnished with parsley, this traditional recipe is ready to serve.

Swedish Meatballs with Spicy Plum Sauce

Ingredients
For the Meatballs

• ¾ cup ground Beef
• ¾ cup ground Pork
• ¾ cup ground Veal
• 1 medium Yellow Onion, minced
• 1½ tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp Honey
• ¾ cup heavy Cream
• 1 large Egg
• ½ cup dried Breadcrumbs
• Kosher Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper

For the Sauce

• 3 tbsp Butter
• 2 cups Chicken Broth
• ¼ cup + 2 tbsp Plum Sauce
• 1 large Shallot, minced
• 6 pickled Plums, pitted and minced
• ½ red Bell Pepper

Procedure

1. Combine in a small bowl, the breadcrumbs and heavy cream, stirring until the mixture smoothens.
2. In a skillet, heat the oil and add in the onions. Cook on medium heat till the onions soften, for about 5 minutes.
3. In another bowl, add together, the beef, veal, pork, honey, egg, onions, salt and pepper.
4. Mix in the breadcrumb mixture with the meat.
5. Apply very little oil on your hands, and start making the meatballs, 1 inch in diameter. The oil is to prevent the meat from sticking to your hands.
6. Place them on a plate that has been mildly brushed with oil. You will be able to make about 24 meatballs.
7. Following the same procedure as in the above recipe, saute the meatballs in butter until they have browned on all sides.
8. Remove the fat from the skillet, and add the plums, red peppers and shallots, cooking until they’re soft and lightly brown.
9. Add in the remaining ¼ cup of cream and the chicken broth.
10. Slowly stir in the plum sauce and add the salt and pepper to taste.
11. Toss in the meatballs into the sauce, and cook until the sauce thickens, for about 5 minutes. You are now ready to serve Swedish Meatballs with Spicy Plum Sauce.

Hungarian Style Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients
For the Meatballs

• 1½ lbs ground Chuck
• 1 ounce dried Porcini Mushrooms
• 12 ounces mixed Exotic Mushrooms
• 3 cups Beef Stock
• 1 large Onion, minced
• 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
• 6 thin slices White Bread, cut into ¼ inch cubes
• 6 sheets cooked Pasta
• Salt and Pepper

For the Sauce

• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• 1 cup Sour Cream plus a little extra
• 1 tbsp Sweet Hungarian Paprika

Procedure

1. Boil the porcini mushrooms in the beef stock for 15 minutes. Leave them to cool for half an hour and then drain them and squeeze out all the excess water from the mushrooms. Chop them after rinsing.
2. Combine the beef, onion, bread cubes and seasoning. Make 1-inch meatballs with the mixture.
3. Toss the meatballs in some heated butter till they have browned.
4. After removing the meatballs from the pan, put in the crimini mushrooms and flour and saute. Also add the cream, the stock mixture and the dried chopped mushrooms, and cook it for 3 minutes. Add the paprika.
5. Just before serving, pour in the sour cream and stir. Add the meatballs and pour over one sheet of fresh pasta with some additional sour cream for taste.

Try out these yummy and easy recipes either just for yourself, or for any kind of social gathering at home, and watch how your guests relish it. You may now even be asked to host the regular weekend gathering more often than usual!

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